About the Company & Role
Jess Jones Recreation Therapy is seeking experienced, compassionate, and dependable Life Enrichment Specialists to provide therapeutic respite and meaningful leisure-based support to children, youth, and adults with disabilities, neurodivergence, complex needs, mental health needs, sensory differences, and/or behavioural support needs.
This is not passive respite or basic supervision. Life Enrichment Specialists at JJRT support clients through intentional therapeutic strategies, meaningful recreation, co-regulation, relationship-building, and individualized support.
JJRT works as part of a multi-disciplinary team, collaborating with professionals such as Social Workers, Registered Behaviour Analysts, Occupational Therapists, Recreation Therapists, educators, caregivers, and other allied professionals. Life Enrichment Specialists must be able to follow behaviour plans, care plans, intake notes, safety plans, sensory recommendations, and individualized support strategies with consistency and professionalism.
The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 2 years of direct experience supporting individuals with complex needs and must have current CPI, BMS, or equivalent crisis prevention / behaviour management training.
This role requires emotional maturity, strong communication skills, reliability, creativity, and the ability to remain calm and professional during challenging moments. The Life Enrichment Specialist will play an important role in helping clients experience connection, autonomy, regulation, confidence, joy, and meaningful participation through leisure and recreation.
Responsibilities
- Provide therapeutic respite and life enrichment support for children, youth, and/or adults with disabilities, neurodivergence, mental health needs, sensory differences, behavioural needs, or complex support needs.
- Develop and facilitate meaningful leisure, recreation, creative, social, sensory, life skills, and community-based activities based on each client’s strengths, interests, goals, and support needs.
- Use therapeutic strategies such as co-regulation, structured choice, visual supports, sensory-informed support, modelling, emotional validation, strengths-based language, transition support, and environmental adaptation.
- Work collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team, which may include Social Workers, Registered Behaviour Analysts, Occupational Therapists, Recreation Therapists, educators, caregivers, and other allied professionals.
- Review, understand, and follow client intake information, behaviour plans, care plans, sensory plans, safety plans, transition plans, communication recommendations, and individualized support strategies.
- Implement strategies and recommendations developed by JJRT leadership and/or external professionals with consistency, accuracy, and professionalism.
- Support clients during moments of anxiety, dysregulation, communication frustration, sensory overwhelm, behavioural escalation, transitions, or community participation.
- Use CPI/BMS-aligned approaches when responding to challenging situations, while maintaining dignity, safety, and professionalism.
- Support clients with communication needs by adapting language, pacing, visuals, gestures, technology, or other communication tools as appropriate.
- Assist with personal care, daily living skills, routines, community access, and structured leisure participation when required and within the agreed role expectations.
- Communicate clearly and professionally with families, caregivers, supervisors, and team members before, during, and after sessions as needed.
- Maintain accurate documentation, including session notes, observations, progress updates, incidents, strategies used, and recommendations for future support.
- Communicate observations, concerns, progress, triggers, successful strategies, and support needs to the appropriate team members.
- Participate in training, team communication, reflective practice, and debriefing to support quality care and strong team culture.
- Maintain clear boundaries within the Life Enrichment Specialist role while contributing meaningfully to the broader therapeutic and support team.
- Represent JJRT’s values of Connection, Creativity, and Curiosity in all client, family, and team interactions.
Qualifications
- Minimum 2 years of direct experience supporting individuals with disabilities, neurodivergence, complex needs, behavioural needs, mental health needs, or high-support care needs.
- Current CPI, BMS, or equivalent crisis prevention / behaviour management training is required.
- Education, training, or experience in Developmental Services, Education, Child and Youth Care, Recreation Therapy, Social Services, Behavioural Science, Psychology, Personal Support Work, or a related field.
- Experience supporting individuals with autism, ADHD, developmental disabilities, sensory processing differences, communication needs, anxiety, trauma histories, emotional dysregulation, medical complexity, or high-support needs.
- Experience working as part of a multi-disciplinary team or willingness to collaborate with professionals such as Social Workers, Registered Behaviour Analysts, Occupational Therapists, Recreation Therapists, educators, and caregivers.
- Ability to read, understand, and follow behaviour plans, care plans, intake documentation, safety plans, sensory recommendations, and individualized support strategies.
- Strong ability to follow direction, implement professional recommendations, and communicate when clarification or additional support is needed.
- Valid First Aid and CPR certification.
- Valid Vulnerable Sector Check.
- Valid G-class driver’s licence.
- Access to a reliable vehicle and proof of automobile insurance.
- Strong caregiving, communication, documentation, and professional boundary skills.
- Ability to remain calm, respectful, and grounded during challenging situations.
- Ability to work within scope while maintaining professionalism, confidentiality, and consistency across client care.
- Comfort supporting clients in homes, community settings, and program environments.
- Ability to work independently while remaining connected to a collaborative team.
- Positive, reflective, and open to feedback, training, and ongoing professional growth.
- Alignment with JJRT’s values, culture, and belief that leisure, recreation, and relationship are powerful tools for well-being.
Training in trauma-informed care, sensory processing, autism support, mental health, dementia care, therapeutic recreation, or regulation-based approaches.
Skills in art, cooking, music, movement, nature-based recreation, games, life skills, community outings, or other leisure-based activities is advantageous.
Pay: From $22.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company events
- Discounted or free food
- Flexible schedule
- On-site gym
- On-site parking
Work Location: Hybrid remote in London, ON N6H 5L6
