Attendant for Handicapped Students

**Replacement**
**Attendant for Handicapped Students**
**15.5hrs per week**
**Mary Gardner Elementary School**

**NATURE OF WORK**
The principal and customary work of an employee in this class of employment consists in assisting handicapped students in participating in activities related to their schooling. He or she assists a student in moving from one location to another, ensures his or her well-being, hygiene, and safety according to the instructions received in keeping with the individualized education plan.

**CHARACTERISTIC FUNCTIONS***
The employee in this class of employment assists the student in moving from one location to another; he or she guides his or her wheelchair, helps him or her to change position and, if necessary, to transfer to another chair. For his or her added comfort, he or she helps him or her drink and eat during snacks and meals and, if necessary, reheats foods; helps him or her get dressed and undressed. He or she ensures his or her personal hygiene; he or she helps him or her wash; he or she helps him or her in the washroom; if necessary, he or she changes his or her diaper and washes him or her. He or she ensures his or her safety when getting off and on vehicles.

He or she assists teachers in conveying to students’ basic concepts regarding cleanliness, dressing, drinking, and eating. He or she helps students to use or, handles for them, the materials, and objects necessary for preparing and carrying out pedagogical and student activities. He or she may be required to accompany a student to physiotherapy, occupational therapy or body and muscle relaxation sessions. He or she records observations concerning a student’s needs and behavior and may be required to inform teachers, parents and other designated staff members and give his or her advice on the measures specified in the individualized education plan concerned.

He or she supervises students during recess, meal periods, naptime and recreation time and accompanies them to the pool. He or she helps them to understand and respect school rules.

If necessary, he or she administers medication according to medical requirements and the school policy in effect and to the parents’ instructions; he or she administers first aid. He or she takes the necessary measures to help the student calm down following a crisis while ensuring his or her own safety and that of others.

He or she washes and, if necessary, disinfects articles of clothing, dinnerware, tables, esthetic devices, and material used for student activities. He or she may be required to use a computer and the various software needed to perform his or her duties. If need be, he or she performs any other related task.

**REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS***
Hold a Diploma of Vocational Studies (DVS) in assistance to patients or residents in health care establishments, a Secondary V School Diploma or a diploma or an attestation of studies recognized as equivalent by the competent authority and have one (1) year of pertinent experience in those areas requiring self-discipline, general concepts in psychology and human relations skills.

**BOARD REQUIREMENTS**
- Working with children.
- Experience working with severe challenging behaviors.
- Working with special needs children.
- Working with teaching staff and pedagogy.
- Positive interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work in a team setting.
- Bilingual.

**OTHER REQUIREMENTS***
Hold a certificate dated no more than three (3) years attesting to the successful completion of:

- a standard first aid course of a minimum eight (8) hour duration.
- a refresher course of a minimum six (6) hour duration updating the skills acquired in the course mentioned in paragraph 1.