Music Therapist

Job Description: Music Therapist

Job Title: Music Therapist

Reports to: Director of Clinical Care

Compensation range: $30 - $40 per hour

Hours of Work: 6 hours per week (2 days per week; 3 hours per day)

About Hill House Hospice

Hill House Hospice provides expert medical care and compassionate support to individuals facing serious illnesses, ensuring they can live life to the fullest in a home-like setting. Thanks to the generosity of donors, community partners, and government funding, our hospice delivers high-quality care with dignity and respect in the final stage before death. These services are provided at no cost to residents and families.

About the Role

Hill House Hospice is seeking a compassionate and creative Music Therapist to support residents and families through individualized and shared music therapy experiences at end of life. Through intentional use of music, this role promotes comfort, emotional expression, connection, and legacy‑building.

Working collaboratively with the interdisciplinary care team, the Music Therapist plays an important role in holistic hospice care, supporting residents, families, and staff with sensitivity, presence, and creativity.

Key Responsibilities

1. Resident Care and Therapeutic Support

• Conduct comprehensive music therapy assessments addressing residents’ emotional, psychosocial, cognitive, spiritual, and physical needs in alignment with end‑of‑life goals.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate individualized music therapy care plans in collaboration with the interdisciplinary hospice team.
• Provide individualized and small‑group music therapy sessions at the bedside and in residents’ rooms using live and/or recorded music.
• Use music therapy interventions to promote comfort, relaxation, emotional expression, dignity, and quality of life, including support with symptom management.
• Facilitate reminiscence, life review, and meaning‑making through music therapy interventions.
• Adapt sessions responsively based on residents’ changing condition, energy level, cognitive status, and personal preferences.
• Provide calming and supportive music presence throughout the hospice setting.

2. Legacy-Building and Meaningful Projects

• Facilitate legacy‑building initiatives such as songwriting, personalized music creation, recorded messages, and other meaningful audio keepsakes.
• Support residents and families in creating lasting musical memories and tributes that honour life experiences and relationships.

3. Family and Caregiver Support

• Offer music therapy support to families and caregivers to encourage connection, emotional expression, and shared moments.
• Facilitate joint music experiences and memory‑making when welcomed.
• Provide grief and bereavement support through music‑based and supportive presence approaches, before and after death as appropriate.
• Offer compassionate emotional support through conversation, active listening, and presence, even when music is not desired.

4. Interdisciplinary Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with the interdisciplinary hospice team members to support holistic, person‑centred care.
• Participate in care discussions, informal team communication, hospice events, memorials, and staff wellness initiatives as appropriate.
• Share music therapy expertise to support team understanding.

5. Documentation and Program Development

• Complete timely, accurate, and professional documentation of assessments, interventions, and outcomes in the electronic medical record.
• Contribute to the ongoing development, integration, evaluation, and sustainability of the music therapy program within the hospice setting.

Qualifications, Abilities, and Assets

• Accredited Music Therapist (MTA) in good standing with the Canadian Association of Music Therapists (CAMT).
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Music Therapy (or equivalent combination of musical and counselling experience).
• Experience in hospice, palliative care, mental health, or related settings strongly preferred.
• Strong vocal abilities and proficiency on at least two accompanying instruments (e.g., guitar, piano).
• Compassionate presence and comfort supporting individuals and families at end of life.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively within an interdisciplinary team.
• Comfort with electronic documentation systems.

Hours of Work

• Part-time/casual - 6 hours per week (2 days per week; 3 hours each day).
• Flexible scheduling based on resident and family needs, which may include occasional evenings or weekends.