Program Counsellor (Disability Support)

Pegasus Community Project for Adults with Special Needs; Toronto; On-site; CAD 25,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Pegasus Community Project for Adults with Special Needs in Toronto, ON seeks a dedicated care professional to support adults with developmental disabilities. The role involves acting as Primary counsellor for 1–3 participants, ensuring safety, coordinating medical and personal needs, and facilitating activities and goal progress.

You will collaborate with specialists, organize annual meetings, and help design recreation programs across community settings.

Qualifications

• Post-secondary diploma or degree in developmental disabilities or related field from an accredited institution.
• Minimum 2 years' experience supporting people with developmental disabilities.
• Valued attitude toward people with disabilities.
• Ability to work independently or in a team.
• Ability to perform delegated tasks with minimal supervision.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• First Aid/CPR and Safe Management certification or willingness to obtain.
• Medication administration certification or willingness to obtain.
• Police clearance within last 3 months or willingness to obtain.

Responsibilities

• Provide physical and emotional support to program participants and ensure safety.
• Serve as Primary counsellor for 1 to 3 participants.
• Supervise and maintain care for participants during program hours.
• Maintain and track participant personal and medical items.
• Maintain communication with families and group homes to meet needs.
• Complete daily checklists and monthly reviews, including activities and goals.
• Assist participants with annual personal goals and tracking progress.
• Collaborate with specialists; collect data and set up meetings.
• Organize and co-lead annual PGPR meeting and assist with final report.
• Design and implement recreation programs for adults with special needs using a community recreation centre as home base.
• Support participants in various locations within the community.
• Coordinate with Pegasus staff and recreation centre staff to foster a positive environment.
• Participate in annual reviews for participants when requested.
• Assist participants to reach goals outlined in annual PGPR.
• Collect data and follow Behavioural Support Plans when warranted.
• Maintain professional attitude toward participants, families, and caregivers.
• Communicate positively with families, group homes, and community members.
• Advocate for participants as appropriate.
• Dispense medication and maintain logs as directed; perform G-tube administration if directed.
• Maintain confidential records for each participant.
• Provide orientation and training for new staff, placement students, and volunteers.
• Oversee program operation in supervisor's absence and attend staff meetings.
• Volunteering for events outside regular hours and manage petty cash.
• Follow agency health, safety, and welfare policies and procedures.

Education

Post-Secondary diploma or degree in developmental disabilities or related field from an accredited institution

Minimum of 2 years' work experience supporting people with developmental disabilities

Shared a valued attitude toward people with disabilities

Ability to efficiently arrange and perform a wide variety of tasks independently or as part of a team

Ability to perform delegated tasks with minimal supervision

Excellent group work skills and good written and verbal communication skills

Certified in First Aid/CPR, and Safe Management, or willing to receive training

Certified in medication administration, or willing to receive training as required

Vulnerable Sector Police Clearance within 3 months or willing to obtain one

Willingness to learn new skills such as sewing, crafting, and painting

Job description

Responsibilities

• Provide physical and emotional support to program participants as needed; make provision for participant’s safety. This may include personal care related to hygiene needs.
• Assume the role of Primary counsellor for 1 to 3 participants. Duties as a Primary counsellor will include:
• Supervise and maintain the care and needs of the participant during their time at the program.
• Keep track of allitems (personal and medical) that may beneeded.
• Maintain good communication with family and/or group home to ensure these needs are met and anticipate future requirements (supplies,personal and medical).
• Maintain daily checklists and complete a monthly reviewincludingparticipation in scheduled activities,job/volunteer placement(s), medical documentation and goal progress.
• Assist the Primary participant(s) to make decisions regarding annualpersonal goals, to develop the procedure, schedule and track goal progress.
• Collaborate with specialist (BT, PT, etc.) assisting the Primary participant(s); collect data, maintain communication and updates, set up meetings as needed.
• To organize and co-lead the annual PGPR meeting. Assist the Supervisor to complete final report.
• Design and implement, under the direction of the Program Supervisor, appropriate recreation programs for adults with special needs, using a community recreation centre as a home base.
• Support the participants in a wide variety of locations and environments throughout the community as it is an integral part of the program.
• Cooperate with other Pegasus staff members and staff members of the recreation centre in establishing a supportive and positive working environment.
• To participate in annual reviews for other participants (PGPR/IS) when requested.
• Assist all participants to reach their goals set out in the annual PGPR.
• Ability to collect and document data when required as well as follow Behavioural Support Plans when warranted.
• Maintain a professional attitude toward participants, their families and caregivers.
• Maintain positive communication with families, group homes and caregivers.
• Maintain positive communication with users of the recreation centre, and with other members of the community.
• Advocate on behalf of the participants in an appropriate manner.
• Dispense medication and maintain medication logs as directed by the Program Supervisor. Perform specialized tasks, such as G-tube meal administration, when directed by the Program Supervisor.
• Cooperate in maintaining complete and confidential records for each participant.
• Participate in the orientation and training of new staff, placement students and volunteers, as directed by the Program Supervisor.
• Assume responsibility for staff supervision and overseeing of proper program operation, in the absence of, or when delegated by, the Program Supervisor.
• Attend and participate in staff meetings as required.
• Occasionally volunteer for and/or attend events outside of regular work hours.
• Use petty cash appropriately following all Internal Financial Controls put in place.
• Follow policy and procedural items established by the agency for the health, safety and welfare of the participants in the program, staff, volunteers and members of the community. Follow all policy and procedural items established by the agency, as they pertain to employee conduct and performance. Follow all Occupational Health and Safety policies.

Qualifications

1. Post-Secondary diploma or degree in developmental disabilities or related fieldfrom an accredited institution
2. A minimum of 2 years' work experience supporting people with developmental disabilities, or related work
3. Share a valued attitude toward people with disabilities
4. Ability to efficiently arrange and perform a wide variety of tasks independently or as part of a team
5. Ability to perform delegated tasks with minimal supervision
6. Excellent group work skills and good written and verbal communication skills
7. Ability to perform lifts/transfers and participate in sports, including swimming, skating etc
8. Certified in First Aid/CPR, and Safe Management, or willing to receive training
9. Certified in medication administration, or willing to receive training as required
10. Vulnerable Sector Police Clearance issued by local police station no more than 3 months old or willing to obtain one
11. Willing to assume additional formal training as required. Willingness to learn new skills such as sewing, crafting, and painting

Hours

• Monday – Friday, 8:30am – 3:30pm
• Occasionally will be asked to work an evening or weekend in exchange for equivalent time off during regular program hours.