McMaster Children’s Hospital (Hamilton)

Year 1 or Year 2 Practicum, April- August 2026

Name of Practicum Site, Unit or Program:

3B1 Adolescent Inpatient Unit – Pediatric Eating Disorders

Location:

McMaster Children’s Hospital. 1200 Main Street West Hamilton, Ontario.

McMaster Children’s Hospital is the Regional Centre for Pediatric Eating Disorders for the Hamilton, Niagara, Haldimand, Brant Local Health Integration Network (HNHB LHIN 4). Our team of adolescent medicine physicians and clinicians provides comprehensive care for youth under 18 who have a diagnosis of an Eating Disorder. The program was established in 2001 and provides 3 levels of service (outpatients, day treatment and inpatients) to children and youth in our community. This placement takes place on the 8 bed inpatient unit.

Our staff are very skilled at working with children and families affected by an eating disorder. We are leaders in Canada in the delivery of outpatient Family Based Treatment (FBT) for eating disorders. Family Based Treatment is a treatment approach that involves the family in the recovery process.

Social workers on the unit are responsible for conducting assessments with new patients/families, counselling families on FBT/FBT strategies, providing psychoeducation about eating disorders, participating in multidisciplinary rounds.

Practicum Requirements:

☒ Immunizations per PHA Guidelines

☒ N95 Respirator/Mask Fitting

☒ Comfort working with the population being served

☒ Comprehensive report writing and documentation

For Year 2 Practicums only, select Fields(s) of Study:

☒ Children and their Families

☒ Mental Health and Health

Does your practicum require any previous experience?

Previous background in Mental Health preferred. Knowledge/experience with CBT/DBT an asset.

Is this practicum in-person, remote or hybrid?

In-person only

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

Direct work.

Number of practicums offered:

Field Instructor name and credentials:

Nicole Roblin, MSW, RSW

Katherine Craig MSW, RSW

Application deadline:

Feb 19, 2026

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? Limited.

Are there breaks between clients/patients/meetings? Yes

Is the practicum considered fast-paced? Yes

Is there a high noise level in the practicum? Medium

Is the site wheelchair accessible? Spaces are very small in most areas of the unit, however, accommodations can be made (meetings can take place in larger spaces).

What are the physical demands of the practicum? None.

Are there any other accessibility considerations that potential applicants with disabilities should be aware of? Small space on unit/limited space may make using a wheelchair or other mobility device challenging, however, some accommodations can be made as needed.

To apply for this practicum, please send a cover letter and resume to miri.ben.dat@utoronto.ca by 4PM Feb 19, 2026. Applications will be sent to the site.