The Spirit of LRCSS and who represented it best in 2022
Every year we gather as a team and recognize staff who exemplify what it means to be a part of Lake Ridge Community Support Services. Our team gives their all each and every day to ensure positive outcomes for the individuals and families we serve and for one another as we grow in the field of ABA. That extends well beyond the clinical aspects of our work to the administrative and right through to the core of our culture. Hence, the Culture and Spirit Award. Here is what it’s all about and who the nominees were in 2022.
The Culture and Spirit award was created to recognize staff who embody and consistently demonstrate the culture and spirit of Lake Ridge Community Support Services in 3 ways.
Reminding others of their strengths, being supportive and helpful to others
Perform above and beyond normal expectations to benefit the community at LRCSS
Creates, promotes and participates in activities that foster the LRCSS culture
This was our fourth year implementing the award, and we had 5 nominees.
1. Brittany McMacken
Brittany is an RBT that exemplifies great leadership. She oversees two programs at LRCSS, the Secret Agent Society (SAS) and Project ImPACT (PI). She took on the role of Program Facilitator this year and has done a wonderful job providing support to her peers.
She is well organized in setting up an intake for both programs, managing waitlists and conducting initial assessments.
Brittany is a role model to her peers. She is a trained SAS and PI facilitator and supports her team in learning to facilitate these different programs, providing feedback and oversight and group coverage when needed.
Brittany maintains a positive attitude and is very enthusiastic about the programs that LRCSS offers. She encourages her peers in their day-to-day tasks and to also maintain a balance in their work and personal life. She sets the example of a healthy work/life balance in how she maintains her weekly schedule.
Brittany is always willing to support different tasks within the agency. She will offer her time to support other programs such as social skills groups, fee-based adult education groups, peer mentorship, training and RTIPS.
Brittany also volunteers for committees, like the Return To InPerson Services committee and for different projects like the new toy cupboard preparation and organization.
Brittany continues to offer her excellent clinical skills to consultative cases in the fee-based program. She works collaboratively with Behaviour Consultants/BCBAs to develop evidence-based and engaging treatment plans and quality services.
Congratulations Brittany!
2. Grace Hoskin
Grace is a very kind, good-hearted and empathetic person. It is always a pleasure to be around her, and receiving feedback from her is always a good experience. She is also very knowledgeable and competent in her role.
Grace always provides insightful feedback, encouraging us to grow in our roles and deliver the best service for clients and families.
Grace always cultivates workplace satisfaction while providing feedback. She also ensures everyone is comfortable sharing their ideas during training sessions and emphasizes diversity and inclusion.
Congratulations Grace!
3. Trish Johns
Trish is quick to respond to others and offer a helping hand. Her unwavering support is appreciated by many daily!
She is always looking for ways to improve services and the overall client journey. This includes analyzing internal processes to ensure efficiency and working with those directly involved to gain their input.
Trish wears many hats and can balance multiple responsibilities, all with a smile and a supportive attitude.
She is respected for her kind, trusting and empathetic approach when working with colleagues. She adds Value to the committees or projects she supports and enhances the teams she works on. For example, she collaborates with team members to better enhance the onboarding experience for employees and strategizes ways to promote overall employee satisfaction with the goal of retention!
Congratulations Trish!
4. Ujeeta Mistry
Ujeeta has a strong skill set in supporting and encouraging her team. Through the Entry to School program, Ujeeta continually supported the team(s) through the ever-changing program, working with the Classroom Leads to take the different strengths that we all had and fostering them to support not only each other but to continue to enhance each of our teams. Ujeeta is never shy to offer a helping hand when needed.
In the Entry to School program, we continually interacted with other agencies as a part of a Multidisciplinary Team. Ujeeta was a fantastic role model in demonstrating different ways of understanding and approaching potential disagreements in various situations. Ujeeta was always respectful of ensuring the team was looking at these situations through an appropriate and respectable lens.
Ujeeta fosters a welcoming atmosphere. She ensures that staff feel supported and recognized for all of the hard work that happens daily. Our teamwork and hard work were recognized and celebrated often and greatly appreciated by the team.
Lastly, Ujeeta is not only an integral part of the ETS team, she also supports the various social activities that happen throughout the year as a part of the Social Committee. These events continually pull all the different parts of LRCSS together into one united team.
Congratulations Ujeeta!
5. …. and now your 2022 Culture & Spirit Award Winner…
This person always reminds everyone around them that they are doing a great job and overall has an amazing attitude. They are always smiling and happy to help with any staff questions.
They always make time for employees and offer an open-door policy regarding questions within the agency. If they don’t know the answer, they take the time to find the information to give an informative response.
This person is a part of multiple committees that bring opportunity to the staff at Lake Ridge. They are always willing to lend a helping hand and often commit their time and energy to put their best into processes, policies, and events for staff. They are someone you can always go to when bouncing ideas off or needing direction or guidance, and they always has a positive attitude.
She always follows through with anything she helps out with. She goes the extra mile to ensure that processes are consistent and thorough and easily understood. Her mind is always innovative and forward-thinking! She is consistently using social media as a platform to spread awareness of the agency, and is an amazing team player.
Lastly, through being on various committees, including the DEB committee, she ensures a culture of equality and inclusion. She promotes innovative ideas from an administrative and human resources lens which has brought the Agency leaps and bounds ahead to ensure a smoother, easier, and more efficient process for everyone involved.
Congratulations Val!!
