Personal Support Service Worker

PERSONAL SUPPORT SERVICE WORKER (PSSW)

ABI- Acquired Brain Injury - Collegeview

Two (2) Bargaining Unit, 

Permanent Part time Position; Monday 12:00pm-8:00pm, and  Saturday-Sunday 3:00pm-11:00pm

Casual Position; shifts include: 7:00am-3:00pm (day), 3:00pm-11:00pm (evening), 11:00pm-7:00am (overnight) 

Existing Vacancies

Compensation: $$23.11/hour - $25.62 /hour

About Cota

Cota is an accredited not-for-profit organization that has been providing community-based support to people living with mental health and cognitive challenges for over 50 years. At present, our wide array of services delivers much needed support to over 4,000 people/year who live with mental health challenges, psychogeriatric mental health conditions, acquired brain injuries, developmental disabilities, dual diagnoses and/or the experience of homelessness.  These services include, but are not limited to, case management, supportive housing and adult day program services.  A full listing of our services can be viewed on our website at  https://cotainspires.ca/  

Cota is presently seeking a dynamic and innovative individual to join our amazing team in the capacity of the role outlined within this posting.  If you feel you have the skills and qualifications to perform the duties of this role while consistently exemplifying Cota’s values of Hope, Respect, Dedication, Equity, Accountability, Collaboration and Innovation, we would love to hear from you.

Role Overview

The PSSW supporting this role is required to provide direct 1:1 hands on personal care support, ensure safety, security and wellbeing for all the 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, maintenance and supporting personal care need requests, if required. In addition, the PSSW is required to support the common areas as needed, supporting weekly community in-person grocery shopping expectations as per program need.

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.
  • 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, communal 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 Candidates Require:

• 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.

Application Details:

Please complete the application below before April 8, 2025 at 4:00pm. 

Cota is deeply committed to promoting diversity, advancing equity and fostering a culture of inclusion. Being part of Cota, you know that we recognize everyone's contribution. We are also respectful of each individual's dignity, unique experience, potential and protected rights in line with the grounds laid out by the Ontario Human Rights Code. As an equal opportunity employer, we remain dedicated to sustaining an experienced workforce that reflects the diversity of the clients and communities that we serve.

Additional Information:

Interviewing 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. 

Screening Process: Please note that Cota uses AI to screen potential applicants for all roles

Accommodation: Cota is an equal opportunity employer and strives to ensure that its recruitment and selection processes meets the needs of all persons with disabilities. As such, Cota will provide reasonable accommodation for any applicant, as requested during the recruitment process. For any recruitment related accommodation needs and/or requests please contact the HR Department via hr_recruitment@cotainspires.ca

Cota values diversity: We welcome applications by qualified candidates from equity-deserving groups, including people with disabilities, Indigenous and racialized people, and queer, trans- and gender non-conforming people.

Scent Free: Cota encourages a scent-free environment. Onsite employees, students, volunteers, and visitors are asked to refrain from wearing fragrances and other scented personal care products (i.e. perfumes, deodorants, lotions, hairs.).