PT Enhanced Acquired Brain Injury Support Worker (Alder House)

ROLE PURPOSE

This role will contribute to the establishment and operation of a Fraser Health-funded Assisted Living program for individuals who are living with an acquired brain injury and require support to live more independently in the community. The Enhanced Acquired Brain Injury Support Worker will build relationships and assist residents to transition into and live successfully in the residence, ensuring service users physical, emotional, social, educational, and medical needs are met. This role provides enhanced support to individuals to enhance their quality of life, prepare for community re-integration, and to maintain the goals of their rehabilitative plans.

STATUS AND CLASSIFICATION

Unionized; this position requires union membership. This position is open to applicants of all genders.

HOURS (16 hours per week)

3 positions available

Friday to Saturday, 2300-0700

Friday to Saturday 1500- 2300

Sunday to Monday 1600-0000

REPORTING AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

• Reports and is accountable to the Program Manager of the residence or their designate
• Participates actively in staff, and staff/service user meetings

• Participates as a member of the Connective services team to ensure quality and continuity of services to service users

• Liaises with professionals from other agencies or government bodies as required

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Programs

• Under the general guidance of the Program Manager assumes a primary or key worker role with assigned service user(s) through providing supervision of service user(s), recreational activities, supporting in community. Keyworkers are expected to complete needs assessment, service plans, quarterly progress reports, and any other reports required to support their key service user(s)
• Demonstrates and models for service user’s healthy lifestyle behavior and coping skills
• Is aware of and works to implement the person-centred services plan established for each service user, including behaviour support plans developed in collaboration with Fraser Health
• Ensures communication occurs between the various program partners including Fraser Health staff and other multi-disciplinary team members alongside the Program Manager
• Provides emotional support to the service user by listening and potentially interpreting service user’s behavior to define an issue and apply appropriate support or intervention
• Meets with each service user on a routine basis to discuss progress and plan future interventions
• Assists service users with life skills, including establishing identification and bank accounts, schedule reminders, meal planning and food preparation, household management/cleaning, budget planning, money management and ensuring taxes are completed annually
• Maintain confidentiality when participating in assessments, goal setting and providing progress evaluation reporting
• Assists the Program Manager and/or care team in the identification of potential problems and reports any difficulties
• Support service users with self management of physical and emotional health, including:
  • teaching individuals about health conditions and helping them work towards self management of their personal health conditions;
  • helping service users to enhance communication and interpersonal skills (e.g.: managing stress, anger and conflicts; setting boundaries; making decisions);
  • providing personal wellness skills training and support, with the support of health care professionals (e.g. diet/weight management, exercise, medication management, smoking cessation supports, strategies for relapse prevention).
  • facilitating access by booking and/or attending appointments to relevant community-based health resources including: general medical/dental care, nursing, pharmacy, substance use support, counselling, mental health services and other rehabilitation services; and
  • facilitating access to sexual health resources.
• Assists clients with personal care, including but not limited to hygiene, dressing, and grooming, as well as basic health-related tasks, such as assisting with dressing changes
• Acts as an on-site advocate for each service user as they navigate their treatment and care options. This includes communicating with health care providers on behalf of the service user, keeping notes of medical visits and providing interpretation of specific conditions, and supporting with completing forms, applications and paperwork as needed
• Participates in social, recreational, employment, educational, and other programs as appropriate to assist the service user’s case/care plan
• Contributes to the evaluation of the service users progress and makes both written and oral reports to be available to the remainder of the staff team
• Maintains service user’s files including statement of goals, person-centred services, summaries, case notes, reviews and closing reports
• Provides emotional support and feedback to service users and their families
• Dispense medication and supports medication management as needed
• Provides transportation and assists service users to attend appointments
• With other members of the care team, plans, develops, and delivers in-house programs to address the needs of the service users designated under the Community Care and Assisted Living Act. This may include cooking, exercise groups, gardening, social groups, psychoeducational groups, music therapy, and/or art therapy. Staff will be required to research, train, and implement programs based on the needs of the service users
• Participates in ensuring the work environment is positive by implementing all aspects of the Employers policies including Respect in the Workplace Policy and Violence Prevention Policy.
• Develop positive relationships with family, community, and other support systems of service users to support greater independence and success
• Ability to respond to complex critical incidents, and health related concerns in a calm and effective manner. Support for service users and colleagues during and after the incident.
• Consult and collaborate with health care professionals and social workers to develop, implement, and evaluate individualized strength-based care plans, including “Wellness Plans.” Plans include assessing for Health, Life Skills, Personal Care and Behaviour Support requirements.
• Employ techniques for managing behavioral changes or emotional difficulties associated with brain injuries, such as memory challenges, mood swings, and frustration management.
• Regularly assess clients emotional and behavioral challenges and provides emotional support, feedback, crisis intervention and skill building to residents and their families
• Follows all relevant Connective, Fraser Health Authority and Assisted Living and Community Care Act policies, procedures and guidelines

Community

• Identifies social, economic, recreational, employment, and educational services in the community that will meet the needs of the resident
• Collaborates with a multidisciplinary team and consults with team psychologist and psychiatrists to develop, implement, maintain, and adjust individualized treatment plans
• Maintains effective liaison with other agencies, professionals, government officials, and the community to contribute to the success of the person-centred services plan of the service user

Residential

• Supervises the activities and daily living of the service users in the residence while on shift including maintaining case notes and the logbook, monitoring behavioural routines to de-escalate potential threats to self or others, and overseeing the execution of person specific care plans
• Provides support, guidance, cues and prompts to assist with daily living to service users
• Along with the other residence staff, monitors and ensures effective operation of the residence including quality control concerning cleaning equipment, indoor and outdoor maintenance, inventory, and food services
• Provides input into meal scheduling and participates in meal preparation, including food inventory
• Responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining housekeeping strategies and processes areas both inside and outside, involving the residents in this process when deemed appropriate
• Responsible for the weekly grocery shopping for the residence and involves the residents in this process
• Organizes and oversees the preparation of meals and involves the residents in this process
• Assists with the details of the operation of the facility, including but not limited to administrative support through writing reports, planning groups, coordinating of family visits, scheduling clinical contractors, managing and supporting patient finances, scheduling and planning cultural supports, and income/ministry assistance
• Recognizes, analyzes, and deals with potential emergency situations such as a service user’s aggressive behavior to ensure no harm comes to them and/or the public often using persuasion or influence methods to manage the service user’s behavior. Reports problems to the supervisor.
• As necessary, accepts responsibility of being on-call and carrying the residence pager

Other

• Participates in staff and service user/staff meetings
• Assists with site safety orientation and training on job specific duties, program knowledge, and organizational policies and procedures to new Connective staff, including Health Care Aides and Volunteers, as well as external clinical contractors
• Assists with the orientation of new service users, which includes but is not limited to the review of the residence handbook, activity calendars, meal planning, and complaint process
• Complete Fraser Health Authority required training, including but not limited to:
  • Training on Brain Injuries
  • Adapted communication strategies for aphasia
  • Training on Violence Prevention
  • Training on Harm Reduction

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Functions independently while on shift and adheres to Residence Policy and Procedures

• Maintains constant vigilance while working in a constant high stress environment, often dealing with service users who are uncooperative, displaying behavioral issues and posing potential physical risk on staff.
• Often supporting Service users who present with mobility and behavioural challenges. Service users at times may present extremely aggressive physical and verbal behaviours.
• Service users may have a history of trauma, substance use, mental heath conditions, brain injury and/or other complexities and may demonstrate a combination of challenges including physical and cognitive impairments, poor impulse control, and challenging behaviours.
• Ability to assess for substance use withdrawal symptoms (physical / psychological / behavioural) and relapse signs (emotional / mental / physical)
• Ability to think critically and be prepared to set up safety measures including barricades and other de-escalation tactics when service users escalate
• Constantly navigate difficult and complex situations, make critical decisions and work in a high stress, and emotionally charged environment

• Demonstrates a level of physical fitness to effectively carry out the required duties of the program and to meet the operational needs of the residence

• Participate in professional development activities to maintain competency in the field of practice or area(s) of expertise.
• Work in compliance with all health and safety policies, procedures and guidelines and the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Assisted Living and Community Care Act.
• Follow all Connective policies, procedures, and directives.
• Report in writing all accidents, injuries, and incidents.
• Is a member of CUPE local 1936-11

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

• Diploma in behavioural sciences, social work, community social services or criminology or equivalent with two years related work experience
• A combination of education and experience may be considered

• Experience working with people with acquired brain injuries and substance use

• Ability to establish and maintain therapeutic rapport with service users.
• Ability to Advocate on behalf of service users.
• Ability to work with a culturally diverse population.
• Working knowledge of community, social and health resources.
• Ability to observe and recognize changes in the service users’ level of functioning service using advanced critical thinking skills.
• Knowledge and ability to integrate anti-oppression, anti-racist, trauma-informed, critical disability, LGBTQ2S-positivity, harm reduction, recovery approach in support to mental health and strengths-based principles into practice.

• Ability to respond well in crisis situations
• Experience working in Assisted Living or other relevant residential setting

• Experience with service users with a history of conflict with the law, self-harming/aggressive behaviors, concurrent disorders, developmental disabilities and/or spectrum disorders, interaction with social agencies and experiencing psychiatric/personality disorders.

• An understanding of providing service to people with different learning abilities
• Demonstrated good working knowledge of the technical details important to the functioning of group residences
• Knowledge of theory, principles, and practices in case planning, behaviour modification techniques, and psychosocial rehabilitative techniques
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English

• Demonstrated ability to teach skills and work effectively with others
• Knowledge of theory, principles, and practices in the fields related to the particular residence
• The successful candidate should exhibit flexibility, empathy, and a strong commitment to fostering a positive and empowering environment for service users.

REQUIREMENTS

• Successfully complete a Criminal Records Check
• Successfully complete a character reference check
• Provide a record of work history
• Current Emergency First Aid Certificate
• Class 5 driver’s licence
• Personal transportation that is in good repair, insured for business up to $1,000,000 for liability, and which can be used to transport residents
• Food Safe Certification

COMPENSATION

As Connective is a unionized environment, the starting wage is $30.95 per hour. The wage will increase with every 2,000 hours worked up to a maximum of $35.52 per hour.