Resident Support Worker

Current Competition

Opportunities Yukon is seeking multiple Resident Support Workers for new programming and future vacancies. A 6-month eligibility list will be created to fill future RSW vacancies. This competition will staff full-time and part-time indeterminate positions. Full time shifts (40 hrs/wk) are Monday to Friday 0800 - 1600 or 1600 - 2400. Part time shifts (24 hrs/wk) are Saturdays/Sundays 0800 - 2000 and Saturdays/Sundays 2000 - 0800.

The successful candidates will have experience in support work. Experience as an Auxiliary On Call RSW is an asset. Candidates will be chosen for fit with the particular program i.e. all male or all female. They will be someone who enjoys responsibility, is respectful, accountable, reliable, communicates in English well, verbally and in written form, and demonstrates their skills and care for supporting clients needs as they relate to their emotional, cognitive and physical abilities. 

Job Description
Purpose and Scope 

Under the direction of the Residential Supervisor, the Residence Support Worker is 
responsible for primary care, support, and supervision of residents. The residents may show 
evidence of behavioural, social, emotional or addiction disorders.  

The primary responsibility of this position is to respond to and work therapeutically with 
individuals to effect positive behavioural change, building self-esteem and life skills in a 
residential setting. The incumbent works closely with other community agencies and 
resources to provide and coordinate services that enable clients to live as independently as 
possible. 

Principal Duties, Responsibilities, and Interactions 
Working as part of a team, the position implements and maintains a structured residential 
setting that encourages the development of social skills and personal responsibility by: 
- providing a caring and nurturing environment; 
- teaching and modelling appropriate life skills and household management tasks, such as scheduling appointments, 

housekeeping, cooking, budgeting, personal care, etc. 
- monitoring and assessing residents' strengths and weaknesses and progress towards life goals; 
- providing for the physical and emotional safety of the residents and staff by always knowing who is in the residence; maintaining a guest list of persons who may be with the resident; preventing physical and sexual contact between residents; ensuring a physically safe environment through proper maintenance of the residence. 
- providing and supervising the daily functions of the residents related to meal  preparation, regular care, and maintenance of the residence; 
- attending to residents’ medical needs, booking appointments for medical and dental and ensuring appropriate and complete paperwork; 
- supporting family contact through phone calls, visits, family meals and rituals such as 
birthdays and holidays. 
- transporting residents to and from recreational outings, appointments, family visits,  and cultural and community outings. 

The Residential Support Worker ensures that all residents are accounted for, and the 
residence is safe and secure by: 
• making regular checks of the house and recording in the logbook if a resident is absent without authorization; 
• checking all doors, windows, exits, etc., are secure as appropriate for the residence; 
• checking all emergency equipment at shift changes and notifying the supervisor of needed repairs; 
• following established policies and procedures for response to accidents, trauma or disruptive or dangerous behaviours on the part of the residents, or unauthorized absences, including notification for HSS case managers and supervisors through incident reports; 

Working with the Residential Supervisor, Shift Lead, HSS Case Manager and other supports, 
the position assists in the implementation and assessment of case plans to meet the needs 
of the residents by: 
• assisting in the gathering of information through the observation of behaviours, interviewing family members or other caregivers; 
• assisting residents to achieve goals according to their case plans; 
• assisting residents to achieve goals regarding their life skills and educational objectives; 
• providing documentation that helps in the evaluation of treatment plans and treatment progress through the maintenance of logs (visits, appointments, telephone calls, etc.), behavioural checks, daily reports (ensuring the whereabouts of residents), month-end reports, etc. 
• creating incident reports and forwarding them to appropriate internal and external OY staff, HSS departments and agencies. 

The Resident Support Worker maintains the cleanliness and order of the residence daily, 
which is accomplished by: 
• assisting residents with household laundry 
• menu planning, food ordering/shopping, preparing meals 
• assisting residents with general cleaning of their personal spaces as per the residence schedule 
• assisting residents with the maintenance of the residence yard, driveway, and storage areas.  

Working Environment 
• This position works in an English language environment, residential home setting, providing 24/7 supported living services.  
• Tasks require the use of household appliances and products, computers, printers, fax machines and photocopiers, recreational and sports equipment, vehicles, lawnmowers, and snow shovels. 
• Employees are required to lift up to 50 lbs., carrying groceries, cleaning materials, garbage, paper products, or moving furniture around.  
o Employees may also need to assist with resident transfers, such as into vehicles (depending on the resident's mobility restrictions). 
o Keeping drive and walkways shovelled and free of ice during the winter months.  
• Interaction with residents under varying circumstances-including situations of a highly sensitive nature. Risks include: 
o residents who may have a contagious illness and/or be psychologically or physically harmful; 
o with clients under varying circumstances-including situations of a highly sensitive and potentially volatile nature; 
• Adherence to safety procedures and practices, including the use of PPE, minimizes the risk of injury. 
• Periodic high levels of stress and pressure. 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required 
• Ability to adapt and remain calm and poised in all situations. 
• High degree of compassion and respect for the dignity of residents using a clientcentric approach.  
• Communicate clearly with residents in a culturally safe manner.  
• Experience working to achieve diplomacy and conflict resolution; 
• Effective initiative, judgment, and decision-making capabilities. 
• Highly organized and able to work as a team to accomplish client and program goals.  

Conditions of Employment  
• Vulnerable Sector RCMP Security Check  
• Yukon Class 5 Driver’s Licence and Driver’s Abstract 
• First Aid/CPR 
• TB Check