Residential Support Worker

Position**:Permanent Part-Time - Residential Support Worker**

Job ID: CCH-2534

Bargaining Status: C.U.P.E. Local 4891

Hours of Work: Saturday and Sunday - 3:00pm to 11:00pm

Service Area: 63 Spencer Program, Mental Health and Addictions

Reports To: Program Manager

**Salary**: $24.25 per hour

Start Date: ASAP

**About CommunitiCare Health**

We are a community health care agency that provides a full range of community health care and support services, making us a distinctive agency in Toronto offering a blend of community support services, community mental health and addictions services, supportive housing, inter-professional primary care and home care services. We are community governed. We continually look for ways to serve our clients and our community better and to provide enhanced access to equitable care.

**Position Statement/Summary**

Residential Support Workers are responsible for providing a range of services to clients, consistent with the values and goals of the program/agency. They provide hands-on assistance to address the physical/cognitive, mental health and addictions needs of clients. RSWs are required to provide support to clients with daily living activities and assist with shopping, food preparation, cooking, food serving, and client supervision. This position requires that individuals assess potential crisis situations and intervene accordingly, while maintaining established routines of the program including all security, fire, general health and safety procedures. Residential Support Workers facilitate the overall smooth running of the program and building, consistent with the philosophies of the agency and under the direction of the Program Manager.

**Key Responsibilities**

1. Establish a working relationship with clients that supports their dignity, personal empowerment and facilitates addressing their psychosocial, behavioral and medical needs.

2. Provide support and assistance to clients in such areas as personal hygiene, cleaning personal space, informal supportive counselling, food preparation, social recreational activities and other needs as they occur.

3. Assess crisis situations as they arise and deal with them according to program procedures.

4. Assist clients to resolve interpersonal conflicts.

5. Provide support to clients in maintaining appointments with professional supports in the community as assigned.

6. Support clients in their medication regime if needed.

7. Liaise with clients’ personal and professional supports in the community.

8. Maintain accurate records as determined by program protocols, including client files, shift entries, incident reports, and medication records.

9. Participate in supervision and staff training, as determined by the Program Manager.

10. Participate in direct service activities to ensure the efficient operation of the program and the building, including cleaning, cooking, serving food, resident intervention, medication supervision, and perform minor maintenance services to maintain the safety standard of CCH properties (such as changing light bulbs, salting, snow shoveling, toilet plunging, pest control preparation, etc.).

11. In the event of unforeseen staff illness/emergency an employee may be required to extend their scheduled shift in order to provide coverage until a replacement staff can be located to cover the next shift.

12. Plan and implement group programming.

13. Documentation of client interactions in accordance with CCH policies, procedures and protocol

**Agency Responsibilities**

1. To be aware of and adhere to agency policies and procedures found in the Employment Policies & Procedures Manual.

1. Work within the standards outlined in CCH Employment Policies & Procedures Manual.

2. Reflect the philosophy of the organization and to follow all policies and procedures.

3. Adhere to provincial and CCH privacy and confidentiality guidelines.

4. To accurately adhere to the agency data reporting requirements.

5. To participate on agency committees.

6. To participate in agency special events.

7. To engage in ongoing professional development.

**Qualifications**
- A degree or diploma in health/social services and/or relevant experience within the mental health system.
- Understanding of the link between systemic discrimination and mental health using an anti-discrimination/anti-oppression framework.
- Sensitivity to the stigma, marginalization, and poverty experienced by many clients.
- Ability to interact with clients in a positive and supportive manner while respecting their autonomy and individuality using Recovery Model principles.
- Knowledge of available community and mental health resources in the City of Toronto.
- Strong counseling and crisis intervention skills.
- Knowledge of a trauma-informed approach.
- Ability to communicate effectively and work within the context of a team.
- Group facilitation skills an asset.
- Ability to lift a minimum of 30 pounds.
- Personal characteristics of flexibil