PERSONAL SUPPORT SERVICE WORKER - PSSW

ABI- Acquired Brain Injury - Collegeview

One (1) Bargaining Unit,  Casual Position

Support all 3 shifts, days, evenings, and overnights including the C/A overnight support 

Compensation: $22.44 hour

About Cota

If you're looking to contribute your expertise at a community-based organization making a positive impact in the lives of thousands of people each year - Cota would love to hear from you!  

We provide a collaborative and inclusive work environment that emphasizes employee support, learning opportunities and excellence in our field. We offer flexible hours and employer-paid benefits for some classifications along with other perks and wellness activities. 

For 50 years, Cota has been supporting adults with mental health and cognitive challenges to live well within their community. We provide person-centred support to help individuals find inspiration and hope in themselves, so they are better able to pursue meaningful change in their lives. 

To find out more about us and our programs/services and employee benefits please visit our website!

Role Overview

The overnight PSSW-Common Area oversees the program ensuring the safety, security and wellbeing for all service users. The PSSW participates in supporting the meal program, household management, including pest control preparation in the common areas and office; supporting unit safety checks and supporting personal care need requests, if required.

About the Team

Recruiting an experienced Personal Support Service Worker (PSSW) to work at our Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Collegeview Program. Collegeview is a supportive housing program operating out of an apartment in the Yonge St. /College St. area of downtown Toronto. This program provides rent-geared-to-income accommodation and supports to adults living with an ABI requiring various levels of physical, cognitive, and behavioral support. Service users reside in their own apartments and share a communal kitchen, dining area and lounge. The goal of the program is to assist service users to live well within their community in a supported environment. This includes, but is not limited to, assisting with activities of daily living (ADLs) and other individual goals so that they can maintain their housing and lead productive lives within the community.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Assists with the implementation/carrying out of client Support/Goal Plans

• • Provides input into each client's Support/Goal Plan. 
  • Responsible for implementing personal support services based on Support/Goal Plan.
  • Assumes a primary role in assisting clients with Personal Support Services.
  • Liaises regularly with the assigned Primary Workers and applicable Supervisor/Manager,  to confirm requirements and plans for personal support services and to ensure accurate and timely provision of those services to clients.
  • Direct Personal Support Provision. 
  • Provides direct assistance to clients in areas of daily living tasks and personal care (such as feeding, dressing, personal hygiene, toileting, managing medication), and/or
  • Provides necessary supports required to assist a person with disability  to safely access and participate in community activities, and/or
  • Observes/plans daily living routines, supervises clients, monitors and ensures the personal safety and welfare of individuals. 
  • Assists with clients' laundry routines and the maintaining and/or cleaning of clients' units/rooms.
  • May provide other personal support services, identified by the assigned Primary Worker within the context of the care/goal plan and authorized by the applicable Supervisor or Manager.

• Supports the maintenance of safe/clean environment
  • .Directly assists with maintaining the site in a clean and orderly state, including
    • Cleaning/setting up vacant tenant units in order to prepare them for occupancy.
    • Cleaning common areas such as common rooms/lounges, common kitchen, and building exterior space area as scheduled, or, as required.
  • Assists with any pest control/eradication efforts, as required.
  • Continually assesses the environment for safety and security issues and recommends action to address any deficiencies.

• Documentation and Data entry
  • Documents all client contacts/interactions in the appropriate client chart according to Cota's documentation guidelines
  • Enters data relating to client interactions into Cota's database system according to data collection guidelines. 
  • Assists with other data collection activities within the program, as determined by the applicable Supervisor or Manager.   

• Other Responsibilities:
  • Participates in team meetings and provides input and ideas for improving services, efficiencies and ongoing program planning
  • Coordinates with the team shift-to-shift to plan community outings and group recreational activities.
  • Adheres to all Cota's policies and procedures and follows established applicable program guidelines, procedures and practices, including all IPAC-related measures in place.
  • Adheres to all applicable legislation, in particular, the Ontario Human Rights Code.
  • Complies with all Health and Safety policies and procedures to ensure the protection of workers and clients and that health and safety concerns or incidents are responded to promptly.
  • Works cooperatively, respectfully and constructively with clients, team members, management, other service providers, and external stakeholders.
  • Ensures that confidentiality of clients, employees and Cota information is maintained at all times.
  • Undertakes other related and/or delegated duties, as assigned.

The Successful Candidate Requires:

• A minimum of High School Diploma required as well as certification as a PSW or Health Care Aide.
• Ability to provide personal care (i.e. Toileting, bathing, safe lifts and transfers) and other activities of daily living and household management (i.e. Cooking, cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping, community escorts).
• Valid Crisis Prevention and Intervention Certificate (CPI), First Aid/CPR Certificate, ASIST and Safe Food Handling Certificate preferred
• Ability to lift 10-25 lbs. 
• Basic computer literacy (Word, E-mail, Internet).
• Good interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and written). 
• Good judgment, the ability to work independently as well as cooperatively with others.
• Effective communication skills to interact with team, case managers, program manager, etc.
• Demonstrated client-centered and customer focus approach.
• Sensitive to challenges experienced by marginalized groups such as poverty and access issues.
• Direct experience providing personal support services to people who have mental health, cognitive and/or substance use challenges is required.  
• Previous experience working with the specific target population supported by the recruiting Cota program, will be considered an asset.
• Availability to work day, evening and weekend shifts.

Other Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Casual PSSW required to support all 3 shifts, days, evenings, and overnights including the C/A overnight support.

Application Details

Please forward a cover letter and your current resume on or before November 8th, 2024 4:00 pm with the reference EX312. 

Cota's Values & Commitment

Cota's core values of Hope, Respect, Dedication, Equity, Accountability, Collaboration and Innovation are at centre of who we are and what we do.

As an equal opportunity employer, we remain dedicated to sustaining an experienced workforce that reflects Cota's commitment to recognising everyone's contributions, respect of everyone's dignity, unique experience and potentials.

Cota will not condone or tolerate any acts of discrimination or harassment under any of the grounds protected under human rights legislation. This commitment extends to the hiring process and throughout the course of employment.

Cota's Diversity Statement

Cota remains respectful of all protected rights in line with the grounds laid out by the Ontario Human Rights Code (OHRC). Cota is also strongly committed to diversity and especially welcomes applications from racialized persons/persons of colour, women, Indigenous/Aboriginal People of North America, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2S+ persons, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas.

As part of our hiring process, you may be asked to complete demographic survey. This survey is voluntary and any information provided shall remain anonymous and confidential, only being used for the purpose of workforce reporting.

Cota's Accessibility Statement

Cota is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our entire hiring process as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities. For any recruitment related accommodation needs and/or requests please contact the HR Department via email to hr_recruitment@cotainspires.ca

Additional Information:

Interview Process: Cota may choose to conduct parts/all of the hiring process virtually. Please note that as part of maintaining an agile workforce, all Cota staff may be required to be reasonably reassigned to support the operational needs of our essential services.

Scent Free: Cota encourages a scent-free environment. Any staff or visitor attending any of our sites should please refrain from wearing fragrances and other scented personal care products (i.e. perfumes, deodorants, lotions, hairspray, etc.) 

We would like to thank all those that apply; however, due to high volumes of interests, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Thank you, Cota's HR Department.