Client Services Assistant Spiral Garden

Join us in building a world of possibility! Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital is Canadas largest pediatric rehabilitation hospital and a top 40 Canadian research hospital. Serving over 9000 families annually in both inpatient and outpatient programs and services Holland Bloorview is renowned for its expertise in partnering with clients and families to provide exceptional care and is the only organization to ever achieve 100 per cent in three successive quality surveys by Accreditation Canada.

Holland Bloorviews vision is to support the most meaningful and healthy futures for all children youth and families. We are an academic hospital fully affiliated with the University of Toronto. All clinical staff are expected to contribute to the academic agenda through one or more of the following activities: supervising students teaching academic service scholarship and research.

Holland Bloorview has won numerous awards including Greater Torontos Top Employers Canadas Top Employers for Young People and Canadas Most Admired Corporate Cultures. We offer an inspiring inclusive innovative and collaborative work environment with competitive compensation and benefit packages and programs that support ongoing learning and professional growth.

Program Summary

The Spiral Garden is an integrated outdoor art/garden/play program for children and youth ages 6-18 yrs old with physical disabilities and developmental delays. Lead by professional Artists and Musicians participants will interact and play through music visual art movement drama gardening and other arts activities. CSAs support clients who require one to one facilitation so they can have a safe successful and fun experience in Spiral Garden. Nursing support provides care for medical interventions.

Position Summary

The Client Services Assistant (CSA) provides direct assistance for an assigned program participant drawing on prior knowledge and experience of working with children and/or youth with disabilities to provide support safely professionally and effectively. The CSA supports and encourages the strengths of participants facilitating their fullest possible participation in program activities while maintaining participant and program safety.

There are 5Client Services Assistant positions available. Applications will be reviewed as they are received and we encourage applying early!

Key Responsibilities

• Provide 1:1 assistance for assigned participant. This may include support with activity participation (e.g. hand-over-hand support) mobility (lifts/transfers/repositioning and transportation) personal care (e.g. toileting) eating communication behaviour support and self-regulation.
• Encourage and support participants in communication working with others problem solving decision-making task planning and organizing and peer socialization.
• Apply crisis intervention/de-escalation strategies calmly and effectively and respond quickly to situations that may occur.
• In collaboration with the Care Coordinator and Artists provide assistance to other participants of your group as need arises. This could include lifts and transfers personal care or support with de-escalations etc. Support lunch and break times.
• Collaborate with program staff volunteers and families to meet program goals.
• Contribute to the larger team including site preparation and clean-up participation in group activities such as arts activities music etc.
• Contribute to daily debriefing meetings.
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives support the maintenance of a safe and healthy work environment and advance a culture of client/patient safety through work and daily practices.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

CSA candidates with either or both of the following experience profiles will be considered:

1. Past work experience in lifting transferring and/or positioning clients supporting eating (i.e. spoon-to-mouth) and personal care (i.e. changing briefs) for clients with disabilities ages 6 to18. This experience would typically be gained through work in a PSW DSW or similar role.
2. Past work experience in supportingchildren and/or youth with autismto participate in recreational/educational activities including applying knowledge and skills in the areas of behaviour support and self-regulation. This experience would typically be gained through a behaviour therapist camp integration counsellor education assistant or similar role. Candidates with this experience should also be willing to be trained in some or all of the personal care skills listed above (i.e. lifting transferring eating).

All candidates should have:

• Successful completion of a Diploma in Developmental Service Work Personal Support Worker certificate/diploma nursing education child youth worker/development degree/diploma behavioural science degree/diploma or an equivalent combination of relevant experience and education is required
• Previous work experience with children and youth with physical disabilities developmental delays and/or who are neurodivergent is required
• Current ability to independently provide physical assistance to participants (lifts transfers positioning eating/feeding) as needed
• Excellent verbal communication skills as they relate to participants families and other team members
• Proficient written communication skills to write understand and effectively act on written materials from participants families and members of the staff team
• Demonstrated ability to be flexible and to quickly assess and respond to participant support needs
• Demonstrated organizational skills and ability to efficiently manage working hours
• Demonstrated initiative and self-direction to work independently at times
• Ability to take direction and receive feedback and to work in collaboration with staff/clients/families

You will stand out with:

• Experience with creative arts (music art drama music) facilitation and participation preferred
• CPR certification CPR HS (Heart Saver) certificate recommended
• Non-Violent Crisis Intervention (NVCI) Certificate an asset
• American Sign Language (ASL) qualifications an asset

Required Experience:

Junior IC