WAY Mental Health Support is an accredited children’s mental health centre that supports children, youth and their families throughout Southwestern Ontario. Since 1969, over 5,000 youth have lived in our group homes and thousands more have benefited from a variety of community programs. WAYS Mental Health Support has over 200 staff with a consolidated management team and a volunteer Board of Directors.
 
At WAYS our mission is to engage with at risk children, youth and families through counselling, learning, skill development and advocacy to achieve healthy, independent lives and positive self-esteem. As a Residential Counsellor – Casual you will provide critical coverage for our residential teams, along with helping to ensure a safe and comforting environment for our youth. You will have the opportunity to work with some truly dedicated staff in a supportive environment that builds on the strengths of every employee.

Job Description and Specifications                                                                                                                          

Job Title                                             Night Residential Counsellor

Reprting To                                    Program Supervisor

Position Summary

The night staff is responsible, within the residence, to ensure that the residents are appropriately supervised and cared for during the night shift and that the residential milieu is safe and secure. This includes telephone security check-ins with other designated units.

Major Duties

• As required, makes visual checks on each resident until asleep and hourly visual checks thereafter to ensure the personal, property and building safety. Site telephone security check-ins will be completed according to unit specific timeframes.
• Supervises the residential milieu
• Provides each resident with appropriate and necessary physical care
• Be aware of resident’s background and attend to the ethnic, cultural, religious, sexual orientation, health and special needs
• Records and administers medication and first aid
• Provides counselling and manages crisis situations as the need arises. This includes residents leaving without permission or aggressive or disruptive behaviour.
• Be aware of residents’ special needs and ensure residents’ individualized program plans are followed
• Provide the resident with a positive role model
• Attends staff meetings and staff training as required
• Performs basic housekeeping and food preparation
• Complete regular inventories as assigned
• Ensures completion of shift routines, prepares reports, completes inventories and conducts file audits as required
• Maintains resident files electronically and hard copy as required
• Follows existing policy and procedures in order to provide safety and security to the residents
• On occasion, may be responsible for duties related to emergency admissions
• Completes all documentation and daily notes according to agency procedures
• Record expenses assigned to petty cash and submit receipts
• Participates in performance feedback in the identification of strengths and weaknesses

Because of the changing nature of work and the work to be done, the responsibilities and duties may be altered from time to time.

Education          

• Community College Diploma in child and youth work or equivalent specialization or a University degree in social science

Experience         

• Experience as a frontline worker in a residential setting is preferred

Orientation

• 520 Hours in the position will be required to become fully familiar with the role

Licences / Certificates / Training

• Valid class G driver’s licence
• Current Certificate in First Aid / CPR
• Current PMAB training
• All mandatory training as specified by agency policy

Skills / Ability / Knowledge

Communication

• Verbal communication skills necessary to convey shift information to incoming staff and to persuade resident to change behaviour
• Good verbal and written skills to communicate information to residents, families, co-workers and community services.  Verbal communication skills necessary to convey information, participation in or lead group discussions and influence team members in group decision making.  Residents often require persuasion to change behaviour.
• Ability to provide services in French is an asset

Problem Solving

• Has sound knowledge of problem solving skills to develop creative, evolving plans for residents and their families
• Understands and solves problems, which can simultaneously involve many systems

Manual / Technical Skills

• Operates a motor vehicle, kitchen equipment and appliances
• Proficient in the use of computer hardware and software applications

Human Relations

• Relates with sensitivity to residents and families

• Skills include tact, diplomacy, persuasion and patience
• Have the competency to work with residents of diverse backgrounds regardless of their gender, ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, physical and mental abilities, religious beliefs and socioeconomic class
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries at all times

Working Conditions

Environmental

• All workplace sites are smoke free. The possibility of risk of injury, communicable or infectious diseases and the disagreeableness of handling body fluids exists.
• May work alone in a residence; deal with crisis independently, subject to consultation through on-call system

Mental Stressors

• Irrational and threatening resident behaviour and proximity to distress are an integral part of this job

Hours of Work

• Full-time status is based on 40-hour week a week
• Part-time status is based on an average of up to 32 hours a week
• Evening and weekend work is required