Personal Support Worker

**Position Title**: Personal Support Worker - Paediatrics
**Position Type**: Summer Contract, May - August, Full-time (32-44 hrs/week)
**Location**: 5657, 15th Side Road, Milton, ON
**Reports To**: Director of Clinical Services
**Salary/Wage**:$20/hr

**Who we are**:
We envision a world where no child is too complex to receive the love, care, and support they deserve. The Darling Home for Kids provides professional, holistic, high-quality, and personalized hospice, respite and residential care for children with medical complexities and their families.

Our Home is a place of joy and tranquillity, filled with the smiles and laughter of children engaging in unique and enriching experiences. While children create joyful memories within our walls, their parents can take a break from the stress and isolation of caring for a child with such great needs.

By joining our team, you will be growing with us as we embark on our journey to complete a multi-million-dollar capital expansion in 2023. This construction project will expand our walls and increase our ability to provide care for one of the most vulnerable populations in our community. With plans to build new bedrooms and revitalize both our clinical and therapeutic spaces, we are excited to build more space for the moments that matter.

**The Opportunity**:
Working at The Darling Home for Kids is more than just a job; it is joining a group of dedicated professionals who are devoting their careers to making a difference in the lives of families facing the daily challenges of caring for a child with complex medical needs. Our Personal Support Workers are integral members of our team with primary responsibilities to engage our children in unique experiences and to provide them with the best care possible. From developing a positive rapport with our children to assisting them with activities of daily living, including food preparation, feeding, personal hygiene, and maintaining a clean, safe and welcoming home.

**Key Responsibilities**:

- Provides care according to each child’s individual plan of care, and ensures that their emotional, spiritual, physical, comfort and safety needs are met to the greatest possible extent.
- Provides personal care to children including assisting with bathing, dressing, oral hygiene, skin care, hair care and toileting.
- Plans meals and prepares food in accordance with Canada’s Food Guide and based on individual food preferences, cooks and aids with eating.
- Performs general housekeeping duties including surface cleaning, mopping, sweeping, vacuuming, emptying garbage cans, washing and folding laundry, bed making and replenishing household supplies.
- Assists with a child’s daily routines, including exercises, religious and cultural practises, and activities of daily living.
- Engages children in activities and assists with the provision of programming including recreational activities, art therapy, hydrotherapy, pet therapy, music therapy and multisensory Snoezelen therapy.
- Observes and monitors children; reports behavioural, physical and/or cognitive changes to the Nurse.
- Documents interventions and observations in the child’s chart.
- Performs safe lifts and transfers in accordance with policies and procedures; utilizes mechanical lifts including ceiling track and floor-based lift systems.
- Assists children with the use of mobility aids such as wheelchairs, walkers and standers.
- Under the direction of a Nurse, and with proper training, performs delegated acts, such as tube feedings and tip suctioning.
- Accompanies children to appointments and offsite activities as needed.
- Adheres to the policies and procedures of The Darling Home for Kids.
- Maintains the confidentiality of all children, families, volunteers and staff as well as organizational information.
- Adheres to the guidelines under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, including adopting safe work practices, reporting unsafe conditions and demonstrating a commitment to ensuring a safe work environment for all workers.
- Attends mandatory team meetings and participates in care plan discussions and/or meetings.

**Qualifications**:

- Grade 12 education supplemented with post-secondary education in a related field.
- Caring, friendly and positive attitude with the ability to establish and maintain rapport with children and families.
- General experience working with a paediatric population is required.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, fostering effective collaboration in multidisciplinary teams.
- Organization and time-management skills, complete tasks as assigned and ability to follow oral and written instructions.
- Understanding the care requirements of children with special needs.
- Act as a positive role model; teach effective social and interpersonal skills through tasks of daily living and social activities.
- Physical ability to perform the duties of the position. Work may include lifting, pulling, carrying and pushing; considerable wal