Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Child Development Program – Communication, Learning and Behaviour (CLB) and Complex Continuing Care (CCC)

Year 1 Practicum, January to May 2026

Name of Practicum Site, Unit or Program:
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital

2 days a week: Child Development Program – Communication, Learning and Behaviour (CLB) Team
1 day a week: Complex Continuing Care (CCC) Inpatient Unit

Location:
Hybrid practicum will be onsite at Holland Bloorview Hospital (150 Kilgour Road, East York, ON M4G 1R8) on Fridays and will primarily be working virtually the other days.

Description of the practicum site and student activities:

Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital is Canada’s largest children’s rehabilitation hospital focused on improving the lives of kids with disabilities. The student will be working with the inpatient Complex Continuing Care Team (CCC) and the outpatient Communication, Learning, and Behaviour (CLB) teams at Holland Bloorview. This is a shared practicum where the student will work with both the CLB and the CCC team on different days of the week.

For 2 days per week, the student will work alongside the CLB social workers who provide support to children and youth with a new diagnosis of ASD and their families. The CLB team is an outpatient program that assesses children who are suspected of having a developmental disorder such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and display complex and challenging behaviour. Interdisciplinary diagnostic services are provided depending on the child’s needs. Clients are assessed up to and including the age of 18.

Student activities may include:

providing psychosocial assessment, psychoeducation, supportive counselling, information and referrals to community resources (e.g. therapy, parent supports, daycare, respite, recreation, and government funding), and facilitating resource groups for parents/caregivers.
students will also be involved in screening phone calls with families to help parents/caregivers prepare for their child’s ASD assessment at Holland Bloorview.
the CLB social workers provide a hybrid of in person and virtual care to families via phone and video (zoom).

For one day per week, the student will have an opportunity to work alongside two inpatient social workers on the Complex Continuing Care (CCC) inpatient unit. The CCC unit serves a variety of clients ranging in ages 0-18 years old with a wide range of medically complex diagnoses. Social work collaborates alongside an interdisciplinary team to facilitate rehabilitation with the goal of transitioning and reintegrating back into the community. Clients in this service have multi-system disease and/or compromised respiratory systems that require frequent and ongoing specialized assessment and intervention. Clients may require a range of therapy services to meet their rehabilitation needs.

Student activities may include:

Completing pre-admission phone calls prior to clients’ admission
- Co-facilitating family team meetings with supervisor
- Finding appropriate community and funding resources that are relevant to clients’ needs
- Shadowing the process of clients’ inpatient journey from the time of admission to discharge.

Practicum Requirements:

☒ Immunizations per PHA Guidelines

☒ N95 Respirator/Mask Fitting

☒ Covid Vaccinations

☒ Influenza Vaccination (Flu shot)

☒ Police Reference/Vulnerable Sector Check

☒ Comfort working with the population being served

☒ Comprehensive report writing and documentation

Other requirements:

Students are required to have up-to-date immunizations.

The health status of students and faculty from an educational institution within the Province of Ontario will not be under the supervision of Holland Bloorview except for first aid. The educational institution will ensure that all students and faculty meet the following health criteria:

▪ Be screened for measles, mumps, rubella, and chicken pox (Varicella) and in the case of nursing students, Hepatitis B;

▪ Complete a two-step baseline tuberculosis test (And please note, where positive tests are determined a negative CXR (Chest X-ray) must be accompanied with the test results and the results shall be sent to the attention of the Student Coordinator, Teaching and Learning);

NOTE: you will sign a “Declaration” stating your immunizations are up-to-date and you can show proof if asked.

Does your practicum require any previous experience?

Is this practicum in-person, remote or hybrid?

Hybrid. Student must be comfortable working from home and working onsite at the hospital.

Will this practicum involve direct work or a mix of direct and indirect?

Mix of direct and indirect client activities

Number of practicums offered:

Field Instructor name and credentials:

Melanie Leitner, MSW, RSW

Tamara Davis, MSW, RSW

Emily Chan, MSW, RSW

Anna Hensen, MSW, RSW

Application deadline:

October 9, 2025

Do you require a resume? Or resume and cover letter?

Resume and cover letter

Accessibility Considerations:

Will the student have access to a private space for notes or computer use? No

Are there breaks between clients/patients/meetings? Yes

Is the practicum considered fast-paced? Fast

Is there a high noise level in the practicum? Medium

Is the site wheelchair accessible? Yes

What are the physical demands of the practicum? None

Are there any other accessibility considerations that potential applicants with disabilities should be aware of? None

To apply for this practicum, please send a cover letter and resume to miri.ben.dat@utoronto.ca by 4pm October 9, 2025. Applications will be sent to the site.