Life Enrichment Assistant - RECREATION

The Rekai Centres is seeking a highly qualified and passionate Life Enrichment Aide to join our friendly, person-centered team and support the creation of an Emotion Based Dementia Care at our Sherbourne Place location.

Emotion Based Dementia Care unit is person-focused and place an emphasis on emotional wellbeing over the completion of tasks and routines more commonly found in the care sector. We believe emotions matter most!

Are You:

· Passionate about dementia care?

· Knowledgeable about what great dementia care should look, sound, and feel like?

· Aware that great dementia care is about being and not doing?

· Authentic and bring your true self to work?

· A warm and nurturing leader that displays compassion and a belief in learning through mistakes?

· Current and up-to-date with dementia best practice and evidence?

· A believer in continuous learning?

· A believer that emotions matter most?

· A leader with high levels of emotional intelligence?

Position Overview

The Life Enrichment Aide is responsible for:

· Implementing innovative therapeutic recreation programs that reflect resident’s strengths, needs and interests

· Supporting innovative environmental design to support the unit through an emotion based dementia care lens.

· Facilitating 1:1 and group recreation and leisure activities

· Evaluating existing programs

· Inputting documentation into Point Click Care & Activity Pro

· Participating in family care conferences and staff meetings

· Organizing resident outings

· Participating in research activities

· Performing other related duties as assigned

The Life Enrichment Department at The Rekai Centres implements recreation and leisure programs that target the social, emotional, cognitive, physical, and spiritual health domains.

The Life Enrichment Department provides guidance and direction to recreation volunteers in order to support all domains of health for our residents. The Life Enrichment Aide is responsible for a holistic care-giving and-receiving approach while respecting human dignity and acknowledging the various abilities of the residents.

The Life Enrichment Aide works in collaboration with a team of professionals and exhibits sound professional judgment and initiative while working within the established philosophy, objectives, guidelines, legislations, policies and procedures, and the Mission, Vision and Strategic Directions of The Rekai Centres and is also expected to sit on at least one active committee with the home.

Main Responsibilities

· Assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates recreation programs

· Completes MDS documentation and creates a goal-oriented care plan for each assigned resident

· Documents resident participation in programs using Activity Pro

· Plans, initiates and provides opportunities that foster participation in meaningful leisure activities based on the residents’ functional ability and development

· Observes, records, and reports relevant information related to the resident as it pertains to recreation and works in collaboration with other health care professionals

· Work collaboratively with the Emotion Based Dementia Care Educator to evaluate and sustain the foundational concepts within the Emotion Based Dementia Care Model

· Participate in the training and education of frontline staff through orientation, ongoing education, yearly updates, and specialized training

· You will inspire and lead others to deliver Emotion Based Dementia Care through role modeling and the communication of the emotion-based care vision

· In regard to recreation programming, you will ensure full implementation of the model and the day-to-day practice of the Emotion Based Dementia Care methodology

· Participate in research for the purpose of advancing knowledge around practice in dementia care and emotion-based models of care

Qualifications:

Required Education:

· Recognized 2-year Diploma and/or Degree in Activation & Gerontology, Social Service Worker and/or Therapeutic Recreation.

· Experience working with individuals with dementia or cognitive impairment

· Gentle Persuasive Approach (GPA) and U-First Training

· Experience in Montessori and/or DementiAbility Methods.

· Experience in Snoezelen programming

· Experience on an interprofessional team

· Experience in Palliative and End of Life Care

· Knowledge of symptoms associated with stages of Alzheimers Disease and other Dementias

· CPR/First Aid an asset

· Other related Dementia Based training

Skills and Abilities

· Minimum four (4) years related experience working with older adults with Dementia diagnosis in a health care setting

· Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the delivery of therapeutic recreation services

· Ability to work independently

· Demonstrates critical thinking and sound-decision-making skills in crises situations

· Confidently exhibits creative problem-solving skills and ability to make decisions independently

· Strong interpersonal and communication skills

· Demonstrates leadership skills

· Ability to work effectively on a multidisciplinary team

· Excellent listening, oral and written communication skills

· Ability to interact positively with residents, families, other health care providers and staff with a pleasant and cooperative attitude, demonstrating sensitivity, empathy and warmth

· Ability to adapt and understand residents’ interests, strengths and needs, assisting them to meet their fullest physical, emotional, social, cognitive, and spiritual potential

· Commitment to promoting a culture of respect that supports safety, ethical practice, cultural awareness and organizational health

· Basic computer skills – Microsoft (Word, PowerPoint & Excel) – E-mail, Internet, Video Calls ie. Zoom

· Physical and mental capabilities to perform the duties of the position including the ability to work with residents with various and sometimes challenging medical conditions; exposure to pets such as resident cats and pet therapy dogs; and dealing with stressful situations relating to agitated, confused, aggressive or hostile behavior of residents

· Demonstrated regular attendance in current and previous employment

· Previous experience in RAI/MDS coding, Activity Pro and Point Click Care program an asset

· Demonstrated skills in the areas of therapeutic recreation program planning and leadership

· Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing

· Demonstrated ability to adjust to new or unexpected events, problem solve, and to deal effectively with conflict situations

· Knowledge on how to practice community liaising and building community partners

Conditions of Employment:

· Must be legally entitled to work in Canada

· Current (within 6 months) Satisfactory Criminal Record check with a Vulnerable Sector search and Adult Abuse Registry Check

· Satisfactory TB Screening

· Must adhere to the Rekai Centres Covid-19 Immunization Policy

Completion of an EQ during interview

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: $22.17-$22.45 per hour

Expected hours: 37 per week

Benefits:

• Casual dress
• Company events
• Dental care
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• RRSP match
• Vision care

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Evening shift
• Overtime
• Weekends as needed

Supplemental pay types:

• Overtime pay

Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 2024-07-30
Expected start date: 2024-07-31