Permanent Full Time Treatment Counselor - Ongwanada

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.

File No: OP-25-278
Date Posted: August 6, 2025
Closing Date: Until Filled
Location: Specialized Accommodations
Date of Vacancy: September 29, 2025
Hours of Work: 80 hours per pay
Wage: Hourly: $32.12 6 Months – $32.70 One Year – $33.16

For the complete position description please contact careers@ongwanada.com or visit our Careers page.

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, SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE 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.

Please submit a Cover Letter and Resume quoting file number to:

Human Resources Specialist
Ongwanada
191 Portsmouth Avenue
Kingston, ON K7M 8A6
Fax (613) 548-8135
Email: careers@ongwanada.com

Please note consideration will be given to internal bargaining unit members before proceeding with external applicants.