Position Title: Home Support Worker
Position Type: Full-time, 40 hours per week
Wage: $25-28 per hour
Posting Summary:
Home Support Workers serve as ‘behaviour therapists’ for children, youth and adults with highly complex behavioural and emotional disorders and/or developmental conditions. Their purpose is to create safety and stability for these individuals and their families, while pursuing the skill development necessary to help the individual and family reduce their level of service.
The most important qualities of a Home Support Worker (HSW) are #1, their *comfort* with extreme behaviours: Some of our clients in this program can exhibit extreme anger, intense language, and aggressive behaviours. Staying calm and safe, and knowing how to deescalate tough situations is essential. #2, their *commitment* to their shift. The consequences of a HSW dropping a shift are catastrophic for most of Pivot Point’s Complex Care families: This cannot happen. #3, how well they *urgently pursue goals* that will help the client and family lower their level of support needs.
HSW's are not exclusive to any one discipline, but instead typically take direction and implement treatment plans from a team of Lead Professionals (usually Behaviour Consultants and Counsellors) by working either in client homes, staff residences, their local community, or within our community offices.
Are YOU comfortable with more challenging behaviours? Some of our clients can exhibit extreme anger, intense language, and aggressive behaviours. Staying calm and safe, and knowing how to deescalate tough situations is essential.
Can YOU commit to your shifts? Sometimes the consequences of dropping a shift can be catastrophic to our Complex Care families. We’re looking for consistent and stable staff.
Can YOU urgently pursue goals? Our clients and their families need your help to improve their situation - right away - by learning new skills, and building the resilience they need to be successful without our support one day.
Can YOU work under the guidance of a team of Lead Professionals? Our treatment plans include lesson plans provided by our Behaviour Consultants and Counsellors, but possibly psychiatry, SLP, OT, Dietician, etc.
Duties and Responsibilities
● HSW’s must be able to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team including Behaviour Consultants (BC),Counsellors, Social Workers and Occupational, Speech and other Therapists
● HSW’s work in the client’s home (and other home-like sites) to independently implement the therapeutic programs created by Lead Professionals
● HSW’s
● HSW’s complete data tracking and session notes after each shift
● HSW’s are accountable to their clients and to their multi-disciplinary team
● HSW’s reports to their multi-disciplinary team per case, and generally to the Complex Care Program Manager
● Must have a reliable mode of transportation
● HSW’s can .
● At times, HSW’s may be invited to work overnight shifts. These are often deemed “Night Attendant” positions, and have other special considerations.
Qualifications, Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities
● High School Diploma (Or GED Equivalent)
● At least 6 months experience working with special needs populations (preferably with autism but work with other disorders is also strongly considered)
● Basic computer skills are required for logging data and session notes.
● HSW shifts occur round-the-clock, so shifts may occur at any time of day. Shift lengths range in duration from 8-24 hours depending on the Service Location and associated contract, including evenings, overnights, weekends, and holidays. Overnights may require you to remain awake.
● HSWs provide their availability on a quarterly basis and will be scheduled within their provided availability, but a set number of recurring hours cannot be guaranteed.
● Willingness to learn and grow
● Diverse languages are an asset
● Ability to set boundaries with compassion and consistency
● Dependability & consistency in attending sessions
● Ability to express one’s own needs and take initiative for the client’s benefit
● Ability to communicate effectively with co-workers & caregivers
● Have a reliable vehicle and a valid Driver’s License with a clean driving record (Driver's Abstract will be required)
● Willingness to obtain Emergency First Aid and Mandt Training
● Willingness to complete a Criminal Record Check as a condition of employment
● All Home Support Workers must successfully complete Centralized Screening as a condition of employment and for working in the Complex Care program. Failure to clear Centralized Screening will result in termination of employment. As part of our Funder's screening process, three satisfactory references are required. This requirement is set by the funder and not by Pivot Point.
● Post-secondary education is preferred in a related area of study including:
○ Disability and Applied Behaviour Analysis
○ Applied Behaviour Analysis
○ Special Education Assistant
○ Child and Youth Care
○ Community Support Worker
○ Early Childhood Education
○ Psychology or Social Work
Working Conditions
● Home Support Workers work in client homes, group homes, and in local communities to implement therapeutic change strategies. Some of our clients in this program can exhibit extreme anger, intense language, and aggressive behaviours.
● HSWs are operate as professional caregivers.
● Home Support Workers should be prepared to assist with personal care and bedside care needs as required, which may include supporting clients with dressing, bathing, toilet training, or cleaning up bodily fluids such as feces or vomit.
● Willingness and ability to support with housekeeping tasks including but not limited to: washing dishes, sweeping/vacuuming floors, making beds, laundry, refilling supplies, making grocery lists.
● Ability to cook meals that incorporate clients dietary restrictions and special/required diets, which may include feeding the client.
● Willingness and ability to perform duties that are health related as required. Including but not limited to: administering medications, caring for wounds and changing dressings, and any other required health related action.
● The personal belongings of each staff member must be mindfully managed, as some Complex Care clients can damage the personal property of others when in a rage. Similarly, individuals with long hair may be encouraged to wear hats, or to tie their hair back for their shifts to help limit risks of hair pulling.
● Staff will be required to chart data and add sessions notes from each shift, sometimes from their own home offices or personal devices.
● Staff are encouraged to maintain good mental health hygiene as part of a healthy and balanced approach to work. This includes managing stress, seeking support when needed, and engaging in self-care practices to support personal well-being and job performance. The organization provides resources and support to help staff maintain their mental and emotional health to ensure a positive and supportive work environment.
● Ability and willingness to support clients and families during times of stress, tumultuousness, disruption of families and medical events.
● Willingness to work with clients who may exhibit challenging behaviors, including aggression.
● Willingness to follow safety protocols, including de-escalation techniques, regular team check-ins, and MANDT training.
● There is potential for workers to experience verbal aggression, such as swearing, or physical aggression, which could result in injury. (Risk Mitigation Measures are client centered and are in place for all sites. Measures include but are not limited to: Alarms, Locks, Fire Risk Management, Plexiglass on Windows, Locked Sharps, Furniture Secured to floor or removed entirely, Safe Rooms, Internal Emergency Support Lines, Double Staffing where appropriate, MANDT 3.0 training required for all Home Support Workers, online and in-person training).
Why join the Pivot Point team?
Pivot Point specializes in intensive therapeutic interventions for children, teens and adults with Autism and other diverse abilities. This might be YOUR opportunity to join a comprehensive clinical team in your community, so you can move YOUR career to the next level.
If you have a passion for helping individuals with diverse abilities and highly complex care needs, join Pivot Point so we can work together to create positive change!
Pay: $25.00-$28.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Dental care
- Employee assistance program
- Extended health care
- Life insurance
Work Location: In person
