Autism Support Worker - Jobs in Orillia

Job Description

Autism Support Worker (1 Year Contract)Position: Autism Support WorkerDuration: 1 Year ContractLocation: Flexible within our East, Central and West Region office locations. Closing Date: September 17, 2024To review the full job description please visit our careers page (www.binnoojiiyag.ca/careers). The Application Form on our careers page is required to be submitted with an updated resume for your application to be considered completed.Please submit your application to careers@binnoojiiyag.ca Position Summary: This position will support our partnership with Mackenzie Health. Mackenzie Health has committed to walk alongside our agency as we support the needs of our Indigenous children, youth and families who have a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or suspected ASD.This position will be reporting to the Clinical Services Supervisor while being supported by the Lead Autism Consultant through Mackenzie Health. The Lead Autism Consultant is vital to delivering wholistic assessments and treatment recommendations to Indigenous children and youth who have a diagnosis of or are believed to fall on the spectrum of ASD. The Autism Support Worker will carry out these recommendations alongside the Lead Autism Consultant to our Indigenous children, youth and families while also applying an Indigenous lens to the work. This position will also support this partnership by developing and facilitating a series of Indigenous based psycho-educational workshops for Indigenous parents of children with, or suspected, ASD. The content for the workshops will be developed using a Two-Eyed Seeing method through a collaboration between Traditional Indigenous Knowledge brought by Dnaagdawenmag Binnoojiiyag Childamp; Family Services and Mackenzie Health #39;s Centre for Behaviour Health Sciences (CBHS) who brings the experience of offering similar workshops to the mainstream population.Responsibilities:The Autism Support Worker is a unique position that requires an individual who has strong cultural knowledge and required education and experience to navigate the western mental health field to be able to bring these two views together in building a strong, culturally based network of support to our children, youth and families.Therefore, the Autism Support Worker will work closely with the Lead Autism Consultant who will guide them in their day-to-day work. Clinical:

• Assist the Lead Autism Consultant in implementing and monitoring of skill promotion and behaviour intervention programs in a wholistic Indigenous manner.
• Ensuring an Indigenous lens is applied to identify a child or youth’s gifts and strengths and to build a strong network of support based on those gifts.
• Participate in Circle to identify the gifts of the child or youth and the needs the care providers identified.
• Ensure that the ABA program is family lead and child centred with cultural components woven throughout.
• Ensure active and effective liaison and communication between the partner agencies and families.
• Identifying other wholistic needs of the child or youth to the Clinical Supervisor and assist in making the necessary referrals for services.
• Assist families in navigation of services and funding options for children with Autism through the Ontario Autism Program (OAP).

Workshop Developmentamp; Facilitation:

• Review, develop, and facilitate a series of workshops designed to deliver a Two-Eyed Seeing approach for caregivers of children with ASD, or suspected ASD. This approach integrates Indigenous and Western knowledge systems, offering caregivers a wholistic perspective on supporting their child #39;s unique needs.
• The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring that the workshops are culturally sensitive, evidence-based, and effective in equipping caregivers with practical tools and strategies.
• Seeking guidance from our Elder/Knowledge Keepers in the development and implementation of these workshops and seminars to community agencies and care providers.

Other responsibilities to include:

• Support, as required the Lead Autism Consultant the following:
  • Set up baseline data collection core data questionnaires and preliminary data analysis.
  • Prepare treatment material for consultants and the child/youth and care providers as required and whereappropriate.
  • Ensuring cultural bundle items are available, utilized and provided to the child and youth and their care providers.Offering teachings and demonstration of cultural ways of knowing and being.
• Support in building a network of support around the children/youth and their care providers under the guidance of the Clinical Services Supervisor:
  • Liaise with local agencies and supports as requested by the care providers.
  • Refer and connect children, youth and caregivers to community education and support programs (e.g., Ontario Autism Program funding and programs provided for children under the spectrum).
  • Ensure that all important adults to the child/youth are involved in the program and plan.
  • Ensure that traditional activities and culturally grounded supports are offered and part of the program and future planning.
  • Assist individuals and families to identify their need for other treatment programs available within Dnaagdawenmag Binnoojiiyag Child and Family Services as well as externally. Make internal referrals where required.
  • Support referrals to agree upon community supports where appropriate once the ABA program is completed.
  • Collaborate with local on and off territory community agencies where required.
• Administer the ABA Program:
  • Applying the ABA program within the child or youth’s home or community-based setting on a regular basis for the length of time as determined by the -Lead Autism Consultant.
  • Maintain confidential records of client sessions and contacts as per policy of Dnaagdawenmag Binnoojiiyag Child and Family Services and Mackenzie Health.
  • Support care providers to complete feedback through midpoint and end of service surveys.

Other Duties:

• Other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience Requirements:

• A college diploma in a related field with at least six months of experience working with children and youth who experience Autism Spectrum Disorder, mental health and concurrent disorders or the equivalent of a Human Service Certificate with at least three (3) years of similar experience.
• Current experience and knowledge of ABA and behaviour therapy as it applies to the areas of developmental disabilities and may also include other special populations (e.g. brain injury, dually diagnosed).
• Experience working within Child Welfare and/or Indigenous Child-Wellbeing setting would be considered an asset.
• Mental Health First Aid, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training and Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Training would all be considered an asset.

Availability Requirements:

• Our office hours are 8:30am - 4:30pm, Monday to Friday, with a one-hour unpaid lunch. However, based on the needs of those we serve, our frontline staff regularly find themselves working outside of these hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.

About Dnaagdawenmag Binnoojiiyag Childamp; Family Services:Dnaagdawenmag Binnoojiiyag(Nog-dah-wen-mawg) (Bin-ooh-zhee-yug)Dnaagdawenmag Binnoojiiyag Childamp; Family Services is a multi-service Indigenous Child Well-Being Agency. We provide a stable foundation for children, youth, and families, through wraparound services that are culturally based and family-focused.We seek to support our families in the way they deserve, with care and authenticity, and by recognizing and respecting spirit.We form a wholistic, inclusive, and nonjudgmental circle of care. We seek to honour and support those we serve, with a constant commitment to growing our base of knowledge and expertise. We are an agency that delivers culturally-intelligent services to our partner First Nation communities in Ontario. With our team of dedicated staff, we work with children, youth, and families as early as possible to help them navigate various obstacles and access services available to them. We offer services such as Childamp; Youth Mental Health and Addictions, Youth Justice, Youth in Transition, Child Welfare, and Alternative Care.