The Role

Transports, sorts, and washes soiled linen and personal clothing. Processes clean laundry through dryers and folding machine and folds, hangs, and distributes throughout Sunnyside Home.

Works as part of a multi-disciplinary team to create a caring, person-centred, homelike environment where residents feel listened to and cared about.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Transports bags of soiled linen from laundry chute rooms to the laundry processing area and sorts bags into proper holding bins.
• Empties soiled linen bags, checks to ensure linen has been sorted and bagged properly, and corrects as required. Transports to washing machines, loads to appropriate level, and selects appropriate wash program.
• Unloads clean linens and personal clothing from washers and places into carts.
• Loads linen and clothing in dryers and sets appropriate heat levels and drying times. Unloads linen and clothes and inspects condition for damage, stains, and repairs. Informs supervisor or resident care staff when residents’ clothing needs replacing. Folds and sorts residents’ clothing, towels, bed linens, and other personal items. Hangs, folds, and places clothing onto carts for delivery to appropriate home areas, and places items in residents' closets and drawers.
• Counts linens, towels, and other items required for each floor and loads onto delivery carts. Delivers to home areas using the exchange cart system.
• Fills linen orders for special functions (e.g., birthday parties, recreational events).
• Uses a label machine to make resident identification labels and attaches to clothing and personal items using a hot press.
• Writes notices regarding admissions, transfers, discharges, and updates labels on delivery carts.
• Follows infection control guidelines to handle, separate, and wash contaminated laundry identified in coloured bags.
• Maintains records on amount of laundry washed each day according to items washed and machine size used in accordance with established wash program where possible. Notifies resident care staff and/or Lead Hand regarding laundry sorting problems.
• Cleans and sanitizes sorting, washing, and folding areas and equipment. Keeps work area tidy and organized.
• Checks chemical level and pumps daily and changes chemical containers as necessary.
• Ensures industrial washers, dryers, carts, and other equipment (e.g., folding machine, linen-marking machine) are maintained in good working order by cleaning (including lint traps) and requesting repairs as required.
• Ensures all linens and clothing leaving the laundry meet required standards. Reports safety issues/risks immediately and takes appropriate action.
• Interacts with staff, residents, families, and visitors to respond to general questions, discuss operational needs/logistics, and request supplies or services. Contacts appropriate staff for assistance as needed.
• Keeps knowledge current through in-service training and communications.
• Demonstrates/explains work procedure to help train volunteers and/or new staff as directed.
• Participates in team meetings and provides input to improve work procedures.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of reading, writing, and math skills, normally acquired through a grade 12 education and related experience working in a commercial laundry operation.
• Knowledge of cleaning and infection control procedures, Workplace Hazardous Material Information Systems (WHMIS) Regulations and the storage, use, and handling of chemical cleaning agents and hazardous materials, and laundry techniques and procedures.
• Ability to follow written and oral instructions in English.
• Knowledge of and ability to comply with policies, procedures, guidelines, and related legislation (e.g., privacy, health and safety).
• Must have a tuberculosis (TB) test and required immunization(s).
• Ability to work independently and within a team environment.
• Ability to operate a label making machine.
• Ability to demonstrate compassion, validate emotions, support dignity, and promote understanding of those who we serve.
• Communication and interpersonal skills to exchange information with other staff; respond pleasantly and professionally to demands; demonstrate a customer care/service approach; and participate as an effective team member.
• Ability to write daily and weekly laundry records, memos, and maintenance work requests. Ability to read and understand policies, procedures, schedules, washing and drying instructions, machine operation manuals, meeting minutes, and safety data sheets.
• Ability to work shifts, weekends, and statutory holidays as scheduled.
• Must provide an acceptable vulnerable sector police check.
• Ability to support and demonstrate the Region’s values.