Treatment Counsellors – OP-26-159

Ongwanada Resource Centre; Kingston; On-site; CAD 44,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

Ongwanada Resource Centre seeks Treatment Counsellors to provide specialized, empirically-based supports for individuals with developmental disabilities and mental health needs within Kingston and Gananoque settings.

You will work on a multidisciplinary team, delivering treatment plans, medication administration, and safety monitoring while coordinating with families and agencies to support community living and discharge planning.

Qualifications

• Graduate of a DSW, BST, BA Psychology, RN/RPN or other acceptable post-secondary program.
• Certifications: CPR/First Aid and related training per Ongwanada standards.
• Must have valid G driving license with driving privileges for transportation duties.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct care including ADLs, medication administration, and CPR/first aid as required.
• Monitor health and safety; observe/report unusual symptoms or changes in condition.
• Assist with data collection, recording and analysis related to behaviour, skills and medical needs.
• Assist in planning and implementing treatment/behavioural support plans and coordinate with multidisciplinary team.
• Participate in planning meetings, supervision, and training activities.
• Utilize video surveillance as a training and observation tool where applicable.

Skills

Health promotion

Harm reduction

Trauma-informed care

Cultural sensitivity

Communication skills

Observation & reporting

Data collection

Team collaboration

Education

Developmental Service Worker (DSW)

Behavioral Science Technologist (BST)

B.A. Psychology

Registered Nurse (RN/RPN)

Job description

File No: OP-26-159
Date Posted: August 14, 2026
Closing Date: Until Filled
Position: Full time and Part time Treatment Counsellors
Location: Various Kingston and Gananoque Community Settings
Dates of Vacancy: Flexible
Hours of Work Part time: Guaranteed a minimum of 24 hours per pay(biweekly)(open availability required)
Hours of Work Full time: Guaranteed a minimum of 80 hours per pay(biweekly)
Wage: Hourly: Start – $32.12 6 Months – $32.70 One Year- $33.16
This posting is for an existing Vacancy

Position Summary
To provide specialized supports which are empirically-based and out-come driven as part of a multi-disciplinary team for individuals with a developmental disability and a mental health diagnosis and/or challenging behaviour. Treatment Counsellors will work under the direction of the Supervisor-Specialized Accommodations & Intensive Supports and will support persons served in a specially designated transitional treatment home, and/or designated long-term specialized accommodation. Treatment Counsellors will be appointed as primary counsellors for specific persons served and will work collaboratively with families, agencies and other members of Ongwanada’s multi-disciplinary team utilizing a bio-psycho-social model.

Duties

Provides direct care with persons served by performing such duties as:

• Working in a manner that incorporates health promotion, harm reduction, trauma-informed care, cultural sensitivity and anti-stigma approaches; recognizes the social determinants of health
• Assisting with activities of daily living, i.e., feeding, dressing, bathing, ambulation and support in toileting and hygiene requirements;
• Observing and reporting any unusual physical or behavioural symptoms;
• Completing ongoing data collection, recording and analysis as it relates to such factors as behaviour, skill acquisition, seizure activity, temperature, weight, specimen collection etc;
• Being alert to any changes in a person served conditions and taking appropriate action as well as reporting changes to the Supervisor- Specialized Accommodations & Intensive Supports and appropriate professional i.e. nurse, physician, psychiatrist, psychologist etc.;
• Accompanying persons served to appointments with professionals and implementing recommendations.
• Transcribing physicians’ orders;
• Monitoring, preparing and administering medication as prescribed with a high accuracy rate;
• Performing Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPI) and first-aid as required.

Assisting in the planning, development and implementation of persons served treatment /behavioural support plans by performing duties such as:

• Preparing and collating assessments and attending support plan meetings as the Primary Counsellor;
• Completing ongoing data collection, recording and analysis as it relates to behaviour;
• Designing/implementing Behaviour Support Plans/treatment strategies as assigned in all environments;
• Assessing needs, designing and implementing programming that will prepare for discharge and their return home.
• Encouraging choice and helping persons served to participate in community living to the best of their abilities;
• Participation in regular staff meetings with the treatment home manager to plan and review the progress of each person served based on observable and measurable outcomes;
• Participation in other staff and meetings as assigned;
• Participation in individual supervision meetings with treatment home manager on a bi-weekly basis;
• Participating in training exercises which will include direct observation, modelling and feedback as well as teaching of others;
• Participation in ongoing data collection, analysis and display to evaluate the efficacy of behaviour support plans/treatment plans designed to reduce challenging behaviours and increase the persons served skills;
• Utilizing video surveillance as an observational and training tool for support in addition to monitoring safety.
• Performs general duties
• Performs organizational and administrative duties
• Performs other related duties

Qualifications, Education, and Experience Required

• Incumbent must be a graduate of a Developmental Service Worker (DSW), Behavioural Science Technologist (B.S.T) or B.A. Psychology or a Registered Nurse (RN/RPN) or another acceptable post-secondary program deemed to be appropriate;
• Incumbent must have successfully completed/maintain Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Training, Advanced Crisis Intervention Training, Behavioural Analysis Training and any other course deemed appropriate by Ongwanada;
• Training in ASIST, anti-human trafficking, overdose prevention and trauma informed care is an asset
• Current CPR/First Aid certificates and complete re-certification as per Ongwanada standards;
• Incumbent must have successfully completed a Pharmacology course deemed acceptable to Ongwanada and maintain medication training in keeping with Ongwanada policies;
• Must possess and maintain a valid G Driving License with full driving privileges in order to provide transportation as required. Applicants will be expected to drive Ongwanada vans as part of their assigned duties;
• Strong interpersonal skills to facilitate professional, warm, friendly, clear assertive communication with persons served, their families, colleagues, agencies and members of the larger community will be required in this position;
• Incumbent must have good oral and written skills, as well as good observational and recording skills;
• Experience working with dual diagnosis individuals as well as highly physically aggressive individuals in an intense work environment is a requirement of this job;
• The incumbent must meet and maintain the physical and cognitive requirements of the position. In addition, the candidate must have maintained a satisfactory attendance record;
• Shift work will be required;
• Experience working in an environment which supports a bio-psycho-social approach would be an asset;
• Competent computer literacy skills and experience working in a vocational, non-vocational or basic life skills program would also be an asset.

Accessibility, Equity, and Human Rights:

Ongwanada is committed to creating an inclusive and accessible workplace. Accommodation is available throughout the recruitment, selection, and employment process in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Applicants requiring accommodation are encouraged to contact Human Resources.

Disclosure: We do not use artificial intelligence to screen, assess, or make selection decisions in our recruitment process.

191 Portsmouth Avenue
Kingston, Ontario K7M 8A6
Map

Hours of operation: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday-Friday

Charitable Business Number: 107796393RR0001
Registered Name: Ongwanada Developmental Services