Program Assistant, Development and Rehabilitation- Permanent Casual

CHEO; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

CHEO seeks a Program Assistant to support Recreation Therapy and ASD Respite programs across multiple sites in Ottawa. You will help run daily activities, supervise shifts, and coordinate logistics for evenings and weekends.

You will work with a multidisciplinary team, assist with registrations and materials, and ensure safety and proper setup at each site.

Qualifications

• Graduate from a related post-secondary education program (Essential).
• Experience supporting children and youth with physical/developmental disabilities is preferred.
• Excellent communication with children, families and team members.

Responsibilities

• Serves as the primary on-site operational point person on shift for Recreation Therapy and ASD Respite activities.
• Communicates daily activity schedules, logistics, and assists Attendants with workflow and shift execution.
• Organizes registration, scheduling logistics, and activity arrangements for programs.
• Maintains inventory and assists with documentation and reporting.
• Guides volunteers and participates in ongoing professional development.

Skills

Verbal communication

Organization

Adaptability

Team collaboration

Microsoft Office

Epic EMR knowledge

Education

Post-secondary education in related field

Tools

Epic EMR

Job description

The Program Assistant works as an integral operational support to the Recreation Therapy and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Respite programs, ensuring the smooth execution of daily schedules and activities. Serving as the primary on-site operational point person during programming, this position actively carries out daily therapeutic recreation and respite activities while serving as a central resource and workflow contact to assist Attendants with shift execution and logistics.

This position is required to provide services across multiple locations, including the Thurston Site, Smyth Site, Industrial Site, and within community settings. The required working hours include evenings and weekends (Saturdays and Sundays).

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Execution, Setup & Sanitation

• Serves as the primary operational point person on shift to execute daily Recreation Therapy, ASD Respite, and Out-of-Home (OOH) Respite activities as planned.
• Acts as a central shift contact to communicate daily activity schedules, share logistics, and assist Attendants with workflow transitions and shift execution.
• Develops, organizes, and implements structured individual and group activities for programming under the clinical direction of the supervising therapist.
• Performs full setup, teardown, and environmental preparation for all daily activities, group sessions, and specialized community outings.
• Performs mandatory cleaning, sanitization, safety checks, and routine maintenance of program spaces, facilities, and therapeutic equipment before, during, and after shifts.
• Maintains a clean, orderly environment across all program sites and ensures all materials are stored properly after use.

Direct Client Care & Safety

• Performs direct physical care required for clients attending programs, including lifting, transferring, assisting with toileting, positioning, and feeding, in accordance with client care plans and safety protocols.
• Strictly maintains safety standards, universal precautions, and individualized client treatment plans during all activities.
• Educates clients and their families on program safety practices and their role in maintaining a safe environment.

Administration, Scheduling & Logistics

• Organizes, plans, and executes client registration processes, shift scheduling logistics, and activity arrangements for ASD Respite, Recreation Therapy, and OOH Respite programs.
• Maintains accurate inventory records for resource materials and equipment; routinely reviews, tracks, and orders required program supplies.
• Assists with progress note documentation, administrative reporting, and the preparation of therapeutic activity materials.
• Responds to general inquiries from families and community service providers regarding Recreation Therapy services and programs.
• Assists as requested with administrative tasks related to intake, such as gathering information for client referral screenings, compiling and updating info packages, and distributing materials to families.
• Communicates and liaises with families and interdisciplinary team members regarding client status or service delivery, with the consent and oversight of the supervising therapist.
• Works collaboratively within an interdisciplinary team structure and attends discipline-specific, program-based, and client-related team meetings as requested.
• Orients, guides, and supports volunteers assigned to the program, ensuring they understand their assigned daily tasks.
• Participates in ongoing professional education, skill development, and program improvement activities.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Graduate from a related post-secondary (College or University) education program (Essential)
• Minimum two (2) years of recent, related work experience supporting children and youth who have physical and/or developmental disabilities with associated behavioral and learning difficulties (Essential)
• Demonstrated flexibility working within various clinical settings and in collaboration with various supervising therapists (Essential)
• Excellent verbal communication skills as they relate to children, youth, families and other team members (Essential)
• Ability to problem-solve, adapt to a frequently changing operational schedule, and organize daily logistics (Essential)
• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary team environment (Essential)
• Good computer skills, experience with Microsoft Office and Epic is an asset (Essential)
• Valid Ontario driver’s license and access to a vehicle (Essential)

Should you require accommodation during any phase in the recruitment process, please contact Human Resources at [e-mail]. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential and will be handled in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act