Behavioural Personal Support Worker
LOFT Community Services
- Toronto, ON
- $48,766-50,006 per year
- Permanent
- Full-time
LOCATION: Toronto, ON – BSS @ BSTR TC
COMPENSATION: $48,766 - $50,006 Annually ProratedLOFT Community Services is a unique and dynamic charitable organization that supports people living with complicated issues such as mental and physical health challenges, substance use challenges, poverty and homelessness. Serving approximately 19,633 annually and providing 1,861 units of supportive housing last year, LOFT is one of Ontario’s largest mental health service providers of its kind. LOFT is also recognized as a Nonprofit Employer of Choice™ Award (NEOC) recipient.
To help fulfill its mission, LOFT is hiring a Behavioural Personal Support Worker.Job SummaryThe Behavioural Personal Support Worker is part of a team that provides direct care, education and support to seniors who are demonstrating responsive behaviours that may be associated with various types of dementia, delirium, mental health, addictions or other neurological conditions who are ALC or at risk of becoming ALC in the acute care setting of the geographical areas of Ontario Health Central or Ontario Health Toronto. The PSW provides expertise and assistance with personal care and assistance with activities of daily living for persons served within the program with behavioural challenges. Working with Psychogeriatric Case Manager, the PSW will enhance the quality of life for individuals with responsive behaviours in hospital. The PSW is part of a team that provides behavioural support services to individual persons served, transitional management between health care providers and ongoing training for persons served, family, caregivers and clinicians. Note: Occasional evening and weekend hours may be required. Frequent travel will be required using own vehicle.The Behaviour Support Transition Resource Team (BSTR) provides direct care, education and support to older adults and their care partners, who are demonstrating responsive behaviours/personal expressions that may be associated with various types of dementia, mental health, substance use or other neurological conditions who are designated ALC or at-risk of becoming ALC in hospital settings. The team works within hospitals in Toronto, York Region and South Simcoe and completes a comprehensive behaviour support assessment and creates a person-centered Behavioural Support Plan. Transition support is provided to those individuals who are being discharged from hospital to their next care destination. Serving over 700 individuals per year, the Behaviour Support Transition Resource Team plays a key role in supporting hospital staff in the management of responsive behaviours/personal expressions.What You Will Do:
- Act as the Primary PSW for assigned person(s) served. Follow the weekly schedule of required visits;
- Perform and record complete and accurate observation of the person served and their responsive behaviour during initial 2 week period after being enrolled in the program. Assist in identifying triggers for the responsive behaviour;
- Documents activity according to agency standards in client information system and reports observational data using specified tools (BSO-DOS, ABO’s, Standard Behaviour Questionnaire etc.);
- Assists the Psychogeriatric Case Manager in the development of a Behavioural Support Plan towards the management of responsive behaviours;
- Offers suggestions to the development of individual Behavioural Support Plan with special emphasis on strategies to manage responsive behaviours;
- Actively practice the suggested interventions and continually adapt the interventions and strategies to ensure the best possible outcome for mitigating the responsive behaviours;
- Uses the agreed upon strategies to address responsive behaviours and reports to other team members when responsive behaviours are escalating;
- Accepts direction from the Psychogeriatric Case Manager regarding the Behavioural Support Plan and scheduling of visits to the person served;
- Model the effective interventions/strategies to hospital staff, caregivers and/or family members using peer-to- peer mentoring;
- Attend Behavioural Support Plan meetings/Discharge meetings and/or rounds etc. within the respective hospitals;
- Participates in multi-disciplinary conferences, care conferences for the person served, and staff development conferences;
- Shares responsibilities for care of the person served by working together with other staff members;
- Actively assist and support the transition of persons served to their next care destination;
- Meets the needs of persons served by communication, observation and direct care
- Reports any changes in conditions or abilities as well as any observations to the team as per the Health Service Provider protocols
- Works in compliance with the Health and Safety Act and its regulations in performing duties in a safe manner and follows all health and safety policies, procedures and legislation;
- Follows standard infection control practices and enhanced precautions as instructed;
- Vaccines (COVID-19 and others) are a requirement of the job unless you have an exemption pursuant to the Ontario Human Rights Code in accordance with LOFT’s Communicable Diseases policy and program guidelines
- It is an expectation of the position that most of the work will be conducted in hospitals and compliance with their occupational health polices and protocols will be required (associated costs will be reimbursed)
- Complete other duties, from time to time, as assigned by the Director of Behavioural Support Services and/or Program Director.
Must Haves
- Completion of a post-secondary education in Human Services (i.e., Personal Support Worker Certificate, Health Care Aide Certificate, Registered Practical Nurse Certificate)
- Experience with vulnerable, older adults and seniors with serious mental illness, cognitive and addiction challenges who exhibit responsive behaviours
- Knowledge of GPA, P.I.E.C.E.S., U-First or willingness to receive such training
- Knowledge and proven experience working with clients in a PSR (Psychosocial Rehabilitation) approach
- Ability to organize and work with individuals and groups in the areas of assessment, problem solving and crisis management
- Sound understanding or and commitment to the principles of the Behavioural Supports Ontario Project
- Ability to interact with clients in a positive and supportive manner
- First Aid and CPR certification
- Good oral and written skills; excellent computer skills; ability to follow written and verbal instructions
- Valid drivers’ license and access to own vehicle is required
- Physically able to perform demanding body mechanics (i.e., lifting, transferring, etc.)
- Ability to work effectively in a team environment
- Demonstrated effectiveness working with minimal supervision with proven reliability and trustworthiness
- Ability to communicate in a different language, an asset.
- A comprehensive compensation and benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and long-term disability
- Defined Benefits Pensions Plan
- 24/7 Employee Assistance Program
- E-learning program available all year round
- Starting vacation time above minimum standard,
- Additional paid personal and paid sick days
- Professional development budget available to help you nurture and shape your career
- Corporate Gym membership rate with GoodLife Fitness
- Access to Perkopolis, a comprehensive corporate discount program
- Access to unlimited DEI trainings through partnership Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion
- Tuition reimbursement program
- Maternity-leave top up program