Program Assistant, Development and Rehabilitation - Permanent Casual

cheo; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 40,000 - 49,000; Full time

Job summary

CHEO seeks a Program Assistant to support the Recreation Therapy and ASD Respite programs across multiple Ottawa locations. You will ensure smooth daily schedules, assist Attendants, and help run activities in the evenings and on weekends.

The role involves direct client interactions and maintaining safe, organized spaces at the Thurston, Smyth, and Industrial sites and in community settings. Key duties include coordinating activity logistics, setting up and cleaning spaces, and ensuring

Responsibilities

• 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.
• 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.
• 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 gat

Job description

Compensation Pay Range: $28.93-$35.51

Job Description

Ottawa is built on un-ceded Algonquin Anishinaabe territory. The peoples of the Algonquin Anishinabek Nation have lived on this territory for millennia and we honour them and this land. Their culture and presence have nurtured and continue to nurture this land. CHEO also honours all First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples and their valuable past and present contributions to this land.

CHEO is one of the few stand‑alone, global leaders in pediatric health and is home to more than 6,500 staff, clinicians, scientists and researchers, as well as volunteers - all of whom work together to help children and youth achieve their best lives. Within its own walls and through partnerships with community providers, CHEO has transformed from a 20th century acute care hospital into a 21st century integrated child and youth health system.

Ranked in the top 1% of Canadian hospitals for the digitization of its clinical infrastructure, CHEO combines excellence in clinical care, research, and education to advance seamless care that’s provided where, when, and how it is needed. CHEO’s Research Institute is dedicated to world-class clinical, translational, and basic science research covering a wide range of children’s health concerns. CHEO has been named Canada’s best health-care employer by Forbes in 2024, 2025 and 2026 and is ranked second among Canadian hospitals on its list of Canada’s Best Employers for multiple consecutive years. For the 14th consecutive year in a row, the editors of Canada’s Top 100 Employers has recognized CHEO as a top employer in the National Capital Region. Every year CHEO helps more than 500,000 children and youth from Eastern Ontario, western Quebec, Nunavut and Northern Ontario.

POSITION SUMMARY

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...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 gat