Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To perform a full range of duties related to the care, custody, control and supervision of offenders for a
correctional facility on an assigned shift.

Duties / Responsibilities :

Within an assigned internal/external area of the facility, and through rotational posts, the position:

1. Takes charge of an assigned area to maintain custody of, and supervise all offender activity occurring
on that post (e.g. to account for and allow movement/access of offenders, visitors, professionals,
volunteers; to facilitate participation in institution programs, visits, medical/dental services, food
services, fresh air and video court).

2. Processes offenders on admission and discharge including verifying committal warrants and holding
document(s), updating computerized offender management records systems, ensuring proper receipt,
storage and recording of offenders' personal property such as money and clothing within established
facility practices, policy, processes and institutional standing orders.

3. Interacts with offenders to maintain security and safety of all persons in assigned area, instructs
offenders in expectations of the facility, reports and controls risks and behaviours (e.g., escapes,
infractions of rules), and acts as a role model on a day to day basis.

4. Conducts searches of offenders, their living areas and the facility property for irregularities and taking
appropriate corrective action to maintain security and safety of the facility, offenders and staff.

5. Responds to emergencies including but not limited to medical, fire, escape attempts and offender
disturbances in accordance with institutional standing orders and ministry policies and procedures.

6. Provides institution/community escort duties for offenders (e.g., visits, transfers between institutions,
hospitalization, medical appointments, court attendance, temporary absences) to ensure the safety of
offenders, staff, visitors and the public.

7. Maintains communications with a range of contacts (e.g., offenders, co-workers, supervisors, clinical
and medical staff) including preparing written reports regarding incidents, offenders' conduct/behaviour,
accidents or injuries sustained by staff or offenders and action taken, preparing daily log entries and
completing forms to meet legal and/or legislative requirements; and participating in case management
meetings and reviews as required. Maintains ongoing discussions to provide and/or exchange
information, provide updates and discuss issues internally.

8. Deals with the public, external agencies and professionals visiting the facility including answering phone calls, testifying/presenting evidence at court hearings, coroner's inquests and ministry investigations.

Managers have the right to assign additional duties

Staffing and Licencing :

• Minimum 18 years of age.
• Proof of eligibility to work in Canada.
• Minimum grade 12 or equivalent education.
• Successful completion of ministry administered aptitude, cognitive and psychological tests.
• Current certification in Emergency First Aid, Cardiopulmonary Heartsaver (CPR) and Automated
External Defibrillator (AED).
• Successful completion of the Fitness Test for Ontario Correctional Officer Applicants (FITCO).
• Passing of the Correctional Officer Enhanced Security Clearance process.
• Passing of the Correctional Officer pre-employment medical exam.
• Successful completion of Correctional Officer Training and Assessment (COTA) program.
• Oral French skills at the advanced-minus level.

Knowledge :

Job requires knowledge of:
• correctional theory and principles included in the Correctional Officer Training and Assessment (COTA) program (e.g. The correctional system, effective communication, offender management and intervention techniques, offender programs and services, and workplace safety and security);
• Institution Standing Orders (ISO), policies and procedures; Ministry of Correctional Services Act and regulations; Ministry Statement of Ethical Principles; relevant sections of legislation such as the Criminal Code, Canada Evidence Act, Occupational Health and Safety Act, Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA), Human Rights Code, Bill 168; and relevant facility programs and processes to complete documentation and ensure compliance in order to maintain the safety and security of offenders, staff, the general public and the facility;
• Emergency First Aid, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Heartsaver (CPR) and Automated External
Defibrillator (AED) certification to respond to medical emergencies;
• court procedures to testify/present evidence at court hearings, Coroner's inquests, and ministry
investigations;
• ministry reporting requirements to prepare reports in accordance with established policies and procedures;
• diverse cultures and populations to understand and integrate individual and group differences when interacting with others; and,
• computerized offender management system in order to input/retrieve offender data.

Skills :

Job requires:
• observation skills to allow effective proactive/reactive assessment of offender behaviours and interactions and to determine appropriate course of action;
• analytical/reasoning skills to recognize changes in offender behaviour and make referrals to appropriate institutional personnel or professional staff (e.g., psychologist, chaplain, social workers) for suitable action;
• conflict resolution skills to recognize and understand situations that may produce conflict and use strategies to resolve, de-escalate and minimize the effects of conflict;
• crisis intervention skills to recognize and assess a crisis or potential crisis situation, and to prioritize and implement appropriate solutions in an attempt to resolve the crisis;
• team work to work cooperatively with other staff towards a common goal;
• written and oral communication skills to convey facts and information through respectful verbal and non-verbal communication with offenders, staff, supervisors and the public;
• written communication skills to complete required reports, documentation, and to maintain accurate counts;
• interpersonal skills to act as a role model to offenders and to communicate with offenders, staff, supervisors and the public; to foster two way open communication to ensure accurate interpretation of messages, and to interact with others in a consistent, fair, firm and non-judgemental manner;
• persuasion skills to motivate offenders to participate in activities and to adhere to institutional rules and regulations;
• Oral French communication skills at the advanced level.

Freedom of Action :

Job requires working in accordance with institution standing orders, policies and procedures and relevant sections of legislation such as the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services Acts and Regulations, Criminal Code, Occupational Health and Safety Act and Human Rights Code when making decisions in response to medical or behavioural emergencies, breaches of institutional security or offender behavioural problems to maintain the care, custody and control of offenders in the assigned area and to ensure the safety and security of all offenders, staff and the public. Job requires making well Informed decisions while Integrating past knowledge and experience and seeking advice/guidance/direction from an operational manager for situations not covered by institution standing
orders, policies and procedures manuals (e.g., special offender requests, unusual behaviours, contraband). Job requires assessing situations that may require an intervention and determining the most appropriate course of action to effectively control the situation without putting oneself or others at risk. Work is reviewed on an ongoing basis throughout the shift to ensure the standards of care, custody and control are maintained.