Full Time Residential Counsellor

**Job Summary**: The Full Time Residential Counsellor will work with a group of adults who deal with mental health issues. They will follow person plans for each resident as set out by the senior and full time counsellors. They will help teach life skills and assist and educate members with daily chores. They will fulfill all other duties as designated by the senior counsellor and be available to work flexible hours.

**Responsibilities**:

- Provide support and education to individuals in all areas of faith, health, safety, activities of daily living, personal hygiene, mobility, medical needs including arranging and attending medical appointments (where needed/necessary)
- Developing and implementing ISP/IPP plans in conjunction with the individual and their team; assisting the individual to attain the goal stated in their ISP/IPP
- Delegates routine tasks to others where appropriate
- Schedules and attends medical and consultative appointments
- Discusses necessary information with the Residential Counsellor Supervisor and co-workers at the beginning and conclusion of scheduled shifts as well as maintains communication and cooperates with team members during shifts and at team meetings
- Provides supports based on the person’s needs and desires as per Individual Support Plan.
- Enhances self-determination through:

- Imparting full information and options available
- Support to follow through on personal decisions
- Providing information on personal rights, how to exercise rights and the resulting responsibilities and providing information on health-related matters
- Encourages personal growth and learning from life’s experiences and opportunities
- Enhances public awareness through respectful and dignified interactions
- Ensures human rights are upheld
- Presents as a positive and professional role model to individuals
- Educates persons with a developmental disability and or mental health regarding their responsibilities in maintaining respect
- Maintains individuals’ confidentiality
- Develops supports by determining and prioritizing needs and ensures that guidelines are developed and followed through
- Takes personal responsibility for resolving service issues
- Networks in the community to develop inclusion opportunities
- Responds to problems promptly
- Other related duties as assigned

**Life Skills Development**
- Assists the individual to determine his or her personalized goals by supporting them to pursue his or her dreams/wishes/desires/needs
- Identifies areas of need and helps accordingly with all aspects of daily living skills as per the do-with model
- Responsible for all life skills ongoing evaluation, monitoring and assessment of the individuals’ skill levels; and adjustment of manner of support to suit learning/communication styles and goals
- Encourages and assists individuals to research, identify, connect to, and maintain a social support network of their chosen community, i.e., family, friendships, spiritual etc.

**Programming Responsibilities**
- Takes initiative to help in the implementation of programs identified for each individual; plans ahead for contingency plans
- Works in collaboration with the individuals to plan appropriate programs based on the interests and needs of the individuals
- Provides help to individuals with regards to his or her activities done in leisure time by planning and participating in activities
- Promotes and advocates for community inclusion and participation
- Implements and develops the ISP/IPP in conjunction with the individual and his or her team; assists the individual to attain the goals as stated in his or her ISP/IPP
- Provides education and assistance to individuals with regards to awareness of one’s Judaic heritage or any other religious or spiritual background

**Interpersonal Skills and Communication Development**
- Supports individuals to increase their ability to understand and express wants and needs; accesses services and supports to enhance communication abilities
- Adjusts expressive language to suit the communication needs of the individual
- Promotes family involvement by ongoing communication with family members and significant others
- Maintains ongoing communication between the individuals’ day, recreational, respite and/or vocational programs, employers and residential staff members
- Assists individuals and families to identify their concerns, increase awareness of and access to resources and appropriate educational materials
- Refers and link individuals to a range of community resources, including housing, legal supports, health supports, etc.

**Administrative Responsibilities**
- Completes mandatory and recommended trainings as scheduled either in-class or through E-learning, and external trainings where applicable
- Assists in the location specific orientation and training of new employees, relief staff and students on placement as required
- Reads on an ongoing basis any new documentation, as directed by the