Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To perform routine laundry services in Ontario's largest maximum security detention centre with an operational capacity of 1650 male inmates plus 320 in the Toronto Intermittent Centre. Shift work and weekend work may be required.

Duties / Responsibilities :

1. Performing laundry duties by sorting soiled linens and clothing; weighing laundry; loading and unloading washers and dryers; sorting and folding clean linens, clothing, bedding; bagging and arranging for delivery, cleaning washers/dryers, facilitating laundry changes for inmates.
2. Delivering laundry to all areas of the facility by collecting, transporting, loading and unloading carts and vehicles.
3. Keeping an inventory or record of cleaning products and chemicals, linen supplies, counting, recording and tagging offender clothing for identification; recording production data, meeting linen quotas.
4. Maintaining work area by cleaning and disinfecting laundry equipment, containers, laundry carts and reporting mechanical failures of equipment to supervisor.
5. Working with offenders in the laundry area, instructing, evaluating and guiding them in their assigned responsibilities
6. Ensuring safety and security of laundry helpers and security of laundry equipment, cleaning products, chemicals, supplies and work area.

May supervise inmate helpers as required, Custodial Responsibility Allowance may apply. (K-1 Salary Note)

Staffing and Licencing :

N/A

Knowledge :

Knowledge of the laundry process such as treatment of linens and clothing, use of cleaning products and chemicals and the operation of laundry equipment, e.g., industrial washing machines and dryers to ensure proper cleaning methods, prevention of damage clothing and the proper care of laundry machinery.
Knowledge of Workplace Hazardous Material Information System (WHMIS) and Occupational Health and Safety Act and related institution policies and procedures regarding the handling of soiled laundry and supervision of offenders in the laundry area.
Knowledge of security practices/techniques to ensure custody and control of offender helpers and security of work area.

Skills :

Job requires determining and maintaining records of usage and ensuring adequate stock to meet established clothing and bedding quotas. Analytical skills to sort clothing and bedding by type of fabric and colour and to determine appropriate wash cycle or temperature setting for types of materials.
Analytical skills to provide input into offender disciplinary/performance reports, and to recognize security and workplace hazards so that corrective action can be taken promptly.
Good oral and written communication skills to exchange facts and information and follow general instructions regarding laundry tasks, to report mechanical failures of laundry equipment, to record inventory/cleaning logs and to supervise and train inmate helpers in laundry methods and procedures.
Incumbent requires tact and discretion to maintain control of inmate helpers, to deal with behavioural issues as they arise, and to ensure adherence to institutional safety and security policies and procedures.

Freedom of Action :

Incumbent is required to work in accordance with laundry processes and institution policies, procedures and guidelines and relevant legislation, e.g., WHMIS.
Incumbent is required to notify supervisor of problems such as machines malfunctioning or requiring adjustment, of difficulties encountered in meeting established quotas and issues pertaining to inmate supervision not covered by laundry processes and institution rules and procedures. Work is visually inspected by manager on a daily basis.