Day Camp Inclusion Counsellor JM

YMCA ofSouthwestern Ontario


POSITION PROFILE

Job Title Day Camp Inclusion Counsellor Date Prepared April 2024
Job Level Department Camping Branch
Job Status Full Time PartTime Seasonal Prepared By Jessi Miles


JOB DESCRIPTION

Position Overview
Day Camp Inclusion Counsellors are responsible forproviding directed, low ratio support to children with special needs. They are caring, enthusiastic and patient and integrate campers as much as possible into the daily program itinerary. This position must have theability to work at any London day camp site as the staff areassigned based on registrations.


Core Responsibilities
Describe the mandatory core functions of this position.
Provide inclusion support to campers with special needs at a ratio as low as 1:1

Ensure safety and well-being of camperswith constant supervision

Adapt programming and activities to the abilities of the child

Integrate camper into regular camp programs as much as possible


Education / Experience
Describe required academic, technical, and business education requiredand how it will be used. In addition to education, describe required work experience and how it will be used.
Each candidate needs to be at least 17 years or turning 17 years old during the 2017 calendar year and possess:

Current Standard First Aid and CPR B or C

YMCA Healthy Child Development

Verification of a clear Criminal Record with Vulnerable Position Screening

Experience supporting children with special needs in a recreational setting

Experience working in day or residential camp

Positive, caring, enthusiastic, encouraging attitude

Must have own transportationor ability to get to any London day camp site as assigned

Participation in non-violent crisis intervention training is recommended

Participation in All Kids in Camp Inclusion Conferenceis recommended


Supervisory / Managerial / Coordination
Describe to what extent policies and/or guidelines will be developed, or interpreted, and number and skills of people supervised. Describe the type of training and/or direction to be given to other employees, and/or the extent of scheduling work for others.
N/A


Financial / Budgeting
Describe the extent of budget development, responsibility for expense, capitaland cost control. Also describe the extent of responsibility for selection of assets and effect on product pricing.
N/A
Working Conditions
Describe the work environment required, including mental, emotionalandphysical characteristics of the environment such as heat, cold, dust, use of chemicals,hazards, travel, stress, mental attention, judgement needed and if 24 houron call duty is involved.
Will be requiredto work with children between 4 to 16 years old who have physical, emotional, or behavioural disabilities and present with a wide range of abilities.

Requires working in an outdoor environment in all weather conditionswhen assigned to an outdoor site, orworking inside a YMCA branch when assigned to a branch day camp.

The role is physical in nature with a lot of standing, walking, running, playing, swimming and possibly liftingif the assigned camper’s needs require it

This role may involve some personal care or hygiene duties depending on the campers needs


Problem Solving Decision Making and Judgement
Describe the difficulty of problems requiring solution. Are issues routine in nature or more complex with little or no assistanceavailable in reaching decisions. Describe the impact of decisions on the organization in terms of financial, organization guidelines, organization effectiveness, precedent decisions, and/or customer relations.
Inclusion Counsellors are regularly presented with challenges that will require creative problem solving. The majority of problem solvingrequirements will be adapting the activity or camp program to the abilities of the camper assigned to them for the week.

Some decisions will require the support or guidance of the Site Director and their supervisor. These are generally focusedon breaches to the camper code of conduct and behavioural policy.

Inclusion Counsellors will be requiredto communicate with camper families on a regular basis to provide updates or seek guidance to adapt programs


Creativity and Innovation
Describe to what degree creativity is required. This would largely applyto roles where programs, services or activities are created. Would include situations wherea portfolio of work may be developed. This does not extend to creativity in problemsolvingas that is contained in the category above.
Develops new ways or adapts existing ideas to help us achieve desired results

Modifies programming to meet camper’s abilities

Provides ideas to modifyprogramming to be more inclusive

Seeksto discover and build on other’s experiences

Accepts mistakes as opportunities for innovation and learning

Encourages others to take leadership in being creative and innovative


Relationships (internal external)
Describe the frequency of relationships, both within and outside the organization and the typical position of the people most frequentlycontacted.
This role is integratedinto the site specificday camp program and requires staff to build relationships with the Site Director, Counselling Manager, Supervisor of Day Camps and Branch Leadership staff.


Additional Responsibilities
Describe any additionalresponsibilities this position may be requiredto do throughout the course of their position.
Contribute to the success of the YMCA day camp

Participate actively in all staff trainings and meetings

Assistwith extended care and/or bus transportation as assigned

Report equipment malfunction or loss to supervisor

Prepare weekly inclusion report highlighting successes and challenges

Supporting and promoting the YMCA core values

Uphold the YMCA code of conduct and camper behaviours policy

Assist with Camping Branch programs and activities

Support philanthropic initiatives and goals of the YMCA

All other duties as assigned


Behavioural Competencies
Child and Youth focus

Creativity and Innovation

Concern of Health and Safety

Teamwork


Reviewed By Jessi Miles Date Reviewed April 2024
Approved By Dave Newnham Date Approved April 2024
Last Updated By Jessi Miles Date Updated April 2024