Developmental Service Worker (DSW)

Full job descriptionDevelopmental Service Worker (DSW)Pediatric & Complex Care

Lending Hand Home Care Corp.

Location: Tillsonburg

Job Type: Permanent Part-Time

Pay: $23.50–$27.50 per hour

Work Location: In person

Position: Active Vacancy / Currently Hiring

About Lending Hand Home Care

Lending Hand Home Care Corp. is a private in-home health care provider supporting individuals and families in their homes and communities.

Our team of dedicated healthcare professionals provides compassionate, individualized support to clients with a variety of developmental, behavioural, and complex medical needs. We are committed to helping clients remain safely at home while promoting independence, dignity, participation, and quality of life.

At LH Care, we believe in holistic, compassionate and consistent care. We are looking for dependable, compassionate, and skilled DSWs who share this philosophy and are passionate about supporting children and families.

Position Overview

We are currently hiring a Developmental Service Worker (DSW) to join our team and provide one-on-one support to our pediatric clients.

The ideal candidate will have experience supporting children with developmental and behavioural needs, as well as experience with complex medical care.

This position involves providing individualized support in the client's home and community while working collaboratively with the family and the broader healthcare and support team.

The successful candidate must be comfortable supporting the client in the community, including accompanying them to activities and appointments as appropriate.

Schedule & Availability

Flexible availability is required.

Typical shifts include:

School Days

• Afternoon/evening: approximately 3:30 p.m.–6:30 p.m.

Non-School Days

• 4 hour shifts
• Typical shifts may include 9:00am-1:00pm or 2:30pm-6:30pm

Weekend, holiday, and PA Day availability is required.

Candidates who can provide consistent availability across multiple shift periods will be strongly considered.

Key Responsibilities

The DSW will provide safe, compassionate, and individualized support, including:

• Provide one-on-one support based on the client's individualized care and support plan.
• Assist with activities of daily living (ADLs), including personal care, bathing, dressing, feeding, toileting, and hygiene as required.
• Support the client with mobility, transfers, positioning, and other physical needs as required.
• Support the client with developmental, behavioural, emotional, and social needs.
• Implement established behavioural and support strategies consistently and respectfully.
• Promote positive interactions, communication, independence, and participation.
• Monitor the client's behaviour, environment, and overall well-being and report concerns promptly.
• Assist with community access and accompany the client on outings, appointments, recreational activities, and other community activities. Valid Drivers License and Vehicle for community outings is required.
• Provide support during transitions, changes in routine, and potentially challenging situations.
• Follow established safety protocols and individualized strategies.
• Assist with health-related routines and care within the employee's training, competency, and role.
• Assist the Community Nurse and other healthcare professionals as required.
• Support client activities, recreation, learning, and skill development.
• Assist with meal preparation, laundry, light cleaning, and other household routines related to the client's care.
• Maintain a clean, safe, and organized client environment.
• Complete accurate and timely care documentation and records.
• Document relevant behaviours, activities, changes, incidents, and other observations as required.
• Complete and submit incident reports when required.
• Respond calmly and professionally during emergency situations and follow established emergency procedures.
• Communicate respectfully and professionally with the client, family, LH Care team, and other professionals involved in care.
• Report actual or potential concerns to the Director or designate.
• Perform other duties related to the position as required.

Pediatric & Behavioural Support

The successful candidate should be comfortable working with children who may have developmental, behavioural, communication, sensory, or emotional support needs.

Experience with pediatric behaviours is strongly preferred.

The DSW should be able to:

• Build trusting and respectful relationships with children and families.
• Recognize and respond appropriately to changes in behaviour or emotional regulation.
• Follow individualized behavioural strategies and established care plans.
• Remain calm and consistent during challenging situations.
• Support positive behaviour and skill development.
• Encourage independence and participation.
• Use appropriate de-escalation and safety strategies.
• Communicate observations and concerns clearly with the care team.
• Work collaboratively with parents, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and other members of the client's support team.

Complex Medical Care

Experience with complex medical needs is considered a strong asset.

The successful candidate must be comfortable working as part of a multidisciplinary care team and following established care plans and clinical direction.

Depending on the client's needs and the employee's training and competency, responsibilities may include supporting health-related routines, mobility, positioning, feeding, personal care, and other aspects of complex care.

All clinical or medical tasks must be performed only within the employee's training, competency, role, and established LH Care policies and procedures.

Community Support

A significant component of this position involves supporting the client outside of the home.

The successful candidate must:

• Hold a valid driver's license.
• Have access to a reliable vehicle.
• Be comfortable driving and accompanying the client in the community.
• Support safe community participation.
• Be willing to participate in recreational activities, appointments, outings, and other community-based activities.
• Promote independence and meaningful community involvement.

Required Qualifications

Required:

• DSW / Developmental Service Worker certificate from a recognized program or equivalent (CYW or SSW)
• Minimum 2 years of field experience.
• Current Safe Management Training certification.
• Current First Aid and CPR certification.
• Valid and recent Vulnerable Sector Screening.
• Valid TB test completed within the past 12 months.
• Valid G2 or G driver's license.
• Access to a reliable vehicle.
• Ability to work independently and as part of an interdisciplinary care team.
• Strong communication and documentation skills.
• Ability to maintain client confidentiality and professional boundaries.
• Flexible availability for weekday, weekend, holiday, and PA Day shifts.

Experience Considered an Asset

• Pediatric experience.
• Experience supporting children with developmental disabilities.
• Experience with complex medical care.
• Experience supporting behavioural needs.
• Experience working with children with communication or sensory needs.
• U-First certification.
• Safe Food Handler certification.
• Experience working with interdisciplinary teams.
• Experience supporting clients in the community.
• Experience implementing individualized behavioural or developmental strategies.

What We Are Looking For

The ideal candidate is:

• Compassionate, patient, and dependable.
• Comfortable working with children and families.
• Confident supporting behavioural and developmental needs.
• Calm and professional during challenging situations.
• Comfortable providing personal care.
• Comfortable working independently in a client's home.
• Adaptable and able to respond to changing needs.
• A strong communicator and team player.
• Respectful of family routines, preferences, and client dignity.
• Comfortable driving and supporting community outings.
• Committed to providing consistent, person-centred care.
• Passionate about helping clients build skills, independence, confidence, and meaningful connections.

Why Join Lending Hand Home Care?

At LH Care, our DSWs play an important role in helping children and families navigate everyday life while providing the consistency, support, and care they need.

You will have the opportunity to develop a meaningful one-on-one relationship with your client while working alongside a supportive healthcare team.

We value compassion, consistency, teamwork, professionalism, and continuity of care.

If you are an experienced DSW who is passionate about pediatric support and wants to make a meaningful difference in the life of a child and their family, we would love to hear from you.

Position Details

Position: Developmental Service Worker (DSW)

Location: Tillsonburg

Job Type: Part-Time / Casual

Pay: $23.50–$27.50 per hour

Work Location: In person

Schedule: Flexible; weekdays, weekends, holidays, and PA Days

Shift Length: Approximately 3–8 hours depending on client and program needs

French language skills are not required.

How to Apply

Please submit your resume outlining your DSW education, relevant experience, certifications, and availability.

We are currently hiring for an active vacancy, and candidates who meet the required qualifications and availability will be considered for the position.

Lending Hand Home Care Corp.

Holistic, compassionate and consistent support.

Pay: $23.50-$27.50 per hour

Expected hours: 3.0 – 20.0 per week

Benefits:

• Casual dress
• Commuter benefits
• Extended health care
• Flexible schedule
• Mileage reimbursement

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Tillsonburg, ON: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (preferred)

Application question(s):

• Do you have a valid G2 or G class drivers license and access to a reliable vehicle?
• Are you comfortable taking clients out into the community?

Location:

• Tillsonburg, ON (preferred)

Work Location: In person