Position Title: Behaviour Support Worker
Location(s): Within one of our 8 locations located across The Guelph-Wellington Region
Wage Rate (Range): $21.97 to $27.60 per hour
Department: Residential and Respite Services Team
Reports to: Manager, Residential and Respite Services
WHY YOU’LL LOVE WORKING AT HOPEWELL
As a Hopewell team member, you’ll be changing lives. Hopewell is the only organization in Guelph Wellington licensed to serve people with developmental disabilities of all ages. Working with children, youth, and adults with diverse support needs, the work we do is varied, challenging, and meaningful. You’ll be enriching the lives of supported individuals through all kinds of activities delivered through our core residential, respite, and recreational support services.
Unified by a shared purpose and passion – to come together and support some of our community’s most vulnerable people – our team of approximately 150 is a tight-knit community where each member feels valued and supported to do their best work. Our team may be small, but we are mighty, and as a member, you’ll have direct and close connection to leadership. You are not only empowered but also encouraged to bring forward any ideas that can advance the quality of care we deliver.
Since 1983, Hopewell has supported over 7,500 supported individuals and their families. This has all been made possible by people just like you who are relentlessly dedicated and driven to make a difference in the lives of people with disabilities.
WHAT WE OFFER
To recognize your contributions, in addition to your hourly wage, we provide:
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A competitive group benefits package (available for permanent full-time staff)
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An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) (available for all staff)
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Retirement Savings Plan with employer contribution matching up to 3% (available for permanent full-time staff)
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Industry-leading, on-the-job training and educational programs such as:
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Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (NVCI) Training
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Medical Support and Health Promotion (medication administration, bowel management, and supporting with meals)
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Eligibility for professional development funding for specialized training programs, conferences, and/or workshops to support your career growth
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Opportunities for career advancement: We make every effort to promote from within and have had many team members develop in their careers from support worker roles to leadership positions
JOB SUMMARY
The Behavioral Support Worker works closely with the supported individual to implement behaviour support, care, interventions, and service plans and assist with essential activities of daily living and optimal management of behavioural issues, anxiety, and other challenging moments.
You will be supporting between 4 and 21 individuals during a shift, on-site at one of our 8 locations within Guelph Wellington. The care you’ll be providing is tailored to support the unique and complete set of needs of each individual, and considers their complex cognitive, behavioural, and/or medical conditions, their physical health and treatment, their psychological development, and their need for social connection.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Advocacy & Behaviour Support
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Advocate for supported individuals with various stakeholders (family and care partners) and facilitate for the client needs with internal and external contacts
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Work collaboratively with care team, individual supported, and their family in order to evaluate needs, plan for continued services, write case reviews, and contribute to the creation and continuous updating of Individual Service Plans (ISP)
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Perform direct and indirect client interventions based on empirically sound principals of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA)
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Observe, gather data, and document supported individuals’ progress and services delivered, on an ongoing basis, and keep Senior Behaviour Therapist informed of changes
Daily Living & Fostering Independence
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Support the independence of individuals with daily living programs (e.g., toileting, supporting with meals, grooming etc.)
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Instruct, advise, and/or assist individuals with managing household cleanliness, grooming, hygiene, nutrition, and other personal care needs
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Perform housekeeping duties, such as cooking, cleaning, washing clothes or dishes, or running errands
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Manage petty cash and facilitate purchasing for supported individuals
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Accompany supported individuals to doctor appointments
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Transport individuals via Hopewell vehicle or accompany them on public transit
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Conduct healthcare-related tasks as directed by physicians or regulated healthcare professionals. Training will be provided and tasks include:
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Dispensing medication
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G-Tube feeding
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Monitoring vital signs
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Lifting and transferring (mostly from seat or seated position to wheelchair; bed lifts are widely used across all locations)
Leadership & Administration
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Act as lead during shifts, serving as a main contact for parents or family members, ensuring activity schedules are followed, behaviour support plans are followed and medication is administered
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Write and document events that occurred at the residence by the end of each shift as well as incident reports and contravention of legislation and standards if needed
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Maintain and demonstrate knowledge of First Aid, CPR, CPI, WHMIS, Occupational Health and Safety Act, fire prevention, and safety procedures (training will be provided)
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Engage emergency services should an emergency arise during shift
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Mentor peers, new employees, and volunteers
WHAT YOU OFFER
At Hopewell, we’re committed to providing the highest level of service to our supported individuals. In addition to sharing this commitment, you offer the following required skills and strengths:
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Experience working with people with developmental disabilities, dual diagnoses, and complex behavioural needs
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Knowledge of current best practices in the field of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA)
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University or college degree/diploma in a relevant field
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Prioritization of supported individuals: You put supported individuals’ needs first, and are responsive to their explicitly and implicitly communicated needs in a nurturing and caring manner
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Willingness to engage in ongoing learning: We will provide you with on-the-job and ongoing training so that you are equipped with the skills you need to provide exceptional care
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Detailed and always striving for accuracy: The written paperwork and reports you complete on shift will enable you and your team to maintain quality of care, making detail and accuracy essential
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Utmost professionalism: You always conduct yourself professionally and in an ethically and legally compliant manner, maintaining a positive attitude with everyone you engage with in the workplace
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Clear communication: At Hopewell, we’re here for each other, and you can and should recognize and report any concerns and improvement recommendations to your leader or manager
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Physical fitness: When required, you must be able to undertake lifting of people following guidelines for proper back care, lifting, and transferring as required by the program
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Flexibility: You’ll be provided ample notice with 4-week schedules prepared 2 weeks in advance. But you’ll also have the chance to schedule additional shifts at varying locations when open shifts match your availability and seniority level
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Hold a valid class G driver's license
Passion is just as important to us as experience and skill. Even if you don’t have every qualification noted above, but you connect with the mission of making a difference in the lives of people living with disabilities, we still want to hear from you, and invite you to apply. We also encourage you to apply early. A job offer may be made before the closing of this posting.
If you plan to join us, please apply in the following way:
A. Apply to the role right here on our careers page in advance
ACCESSIBILITY & ACCOMMODATIONS
Hopewell is committed to the principles of anti-oppression, and employment equity. We strongly encourage members of Indigenous, ethno-racial, LGBTQ2+, immigrant, refugee, differently abled and other equity seeking groups to apply and self-identify. We welcome the unique contributions that all candidates bring to Hopewell in helping to create an inclusive and diverse working environment. Accommodations are available upon request for candidates at any and all points in the selection process. Should you require accommodation, please contact: Melissa Bevcar @ 519-836-9641 ext.221
Please be aware that only candidates chosen to progress for an interview will be contacted due to the large volume of applications received.