Child and Youth Resource Specialist

CHILD AND YOUTH RESOURCE SPECIALIST

Peel Inclusion Resource Services (PIRS) Program

Contractual Position

(37.5 hours per week)

File #24-020

EveryMind Mental Health Services is seeking a dedicated and knowledgeable Resource Specialist with a robust background in Early Childhood Education within the Child & Youth Mental Health Sector for its PIRS initiative on a contractual basis.

EveryMind is a recognized child and youth mental health organization that delivers a comprehensive range of high-quality mental health services for children, youth, and their families who are facing or are at risk of mental health, social, emotional, and/or behavioral challenges. Our services are provided in a dynamic, client-focused environment that emphasizes respect and inclusion, collaboration, learning, innovation, and accountability.

Peel Inclusion Resource Services (PIRS) is a collaborative effort between the Region of Peel and various community organizations, including EveryMind, aimed at providing special needs resources to facilitate early intervention and successful inclusion of children with special needs in licensed childcare settings.

The Resource Specialist is an integral member of the PIRS team, primarily responsible for delivering special needs resource support to childcare providers and parents/caregivers of children aged 0-6 years, as well as school-aged children when necessary, attending licensed childcare programs in Peel Region. The Resource Specialist is tasked with fostering early intervention and the successful inclusion of children with special needs by offering both direct and indirect services to childcare providers and parents/caregivers, enabling them to support the child's optimal development and functioning within the childcare environment. Additionally, the Resource Specialist is responsible for enhancing capacity by collaborating with childcare programs, families, and communities while promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The contract duration extends until the end of December 2024, with a start date as soon as feasible.

Salary Range - $58,923- $68,932 (5 step band) over 5 years

Please note that salaries are commensurate with experience and typically commence at the beginning of the range.

• Be part of an organization recognized as the lead agency in child and youth mental health services for the Region of Peel, known for excellence in service delivery.
• Enjoy a strong focus on workplace wellness, including paid personal leave days, in addition to 11 paid public holidays; 4% of your salary in lieu of benefits; and 4% of base salary in lieu of vacation.
• Contribute positively to the mental health and wellbeing of children and youth.
• Access exceptional training and development opportunities, including an Education Assistance Plan to support further education in your field.
• Benefit from hybrid work options available in many of our services, allowing for remote work opportunities.
• Company-provided laptop and cellphone for employees.
• Free, confidential 24/7 counseling and mental health support for you and your family through our Employee and Family Assistance Program.
• Experience a workplace culture that champions Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Anti-racism (DEIA) with employee-led internal committees focusing on various community engagements.
• Opportunity to participate in staff forums addressing DEIA issues.

The incumbent will:

• Deliver services through various methods: In Person, In Community, and Virtual.
• Collaborate with childcare providers to ensure an optimal learning environment for all children by conducting inclusion assessments and providing relevant strategies and recommendations.
• Adhere to specific childcare program policies and procedures established by PIRS, in line with licensing requirements.
• Offer consultation services, learning and development opportunities, mentoring, and modeling to childcare professionals to enhance their capacity to work with children with special needs and support healthy development within childcare programs.
• Develop Individual Program Plans for each child on their formal caseload, in partnership with the child's family and educators, incorporating recommendations from other professionals involved.
• Assess the child's strengths and needs using various developmental and environmental tools to identify necessary supports for progress in all areas of development.
• Evaluate the strengths and needs of childcare programs using environmental tools to enhance staff skills and improve program quality.
• Coordinate referrals, attend appointments, and consultation visits with therapists, doctors, and other service providers, seeking support from the PIRS Specialized Consultation Team as needed.
• Regularly collaborate with teachers/childcare providers to review Individual Program Plans, progress, and next steps.
• Provide learning and development opportunities for childcare providers to enhance their skills in meeting the needs of children and childcare programs.
• Manage cases and maintain accurate records for each child on the Resource Specialist's formal caseload, monitoring progress towards long and short-term goals through ongoing documentation.
• Prepare a Summary of Service Report when a child transitions out of formal services/support or into the school system.
• Actively engage as part of the EVERYMIND 0-6 multidisciplinary team.
• Maintain the integrity and fidelity of the PIRS model by participating in reflective supervision, professional development, and training opportunities.
• Promote continuous quality improvement within PIRS services by participating in working groups and/or committees as needed.
• Stay informed about best practices and relevant legislation pertaining to children's services.
• Provide supervision to students as required, completing all necessary documentation.
• Actively participate as part of the childcare program support team.

• Early Childhood Education Diploma AND Resource Consultation Certification OR an Early Childhood Education Diploma with Advanced Studies in Special Needs OR a Bachelor's Degree in Child Studies.
• Registration with and in good standing with the College of Early Childhood Educators.
• A minimum of three years' experience working with and programming for children with special needs.
• Proven experience supporting the inclusion of children within the 0-6 age range.
• Current and satisfactory Vulnerable Sector Police Check completed within the last 6 months prior to hire.
• Excellent English language communication skills, both written and oral. Proficiency in additional languages spoken by residents of Peel Region is an asset.
• Competence with computer-based technology for data entry, information sourcing, and report writing, including MS-Office.
• Understanding of child development through a mental health and trauma-informed lens.
• Ability to work within and serve a diverse community effectively.
• Sound knowledge of various philosophies utilized within the childcare sector.
• Valid Ontario Driver's license (Full G Class) and access to a vehicle, with comfort in driving throughout the Peel region and surrounding areas.
• Flexibility to work varied hours, including evenings, based on client and program needs.
• A satisfactory Vulnerable Sector Police Check and Pre-Employment Medical screening (including TB test, MMR, TD, Polio, Covid-19 Vaccination) are required.

EveryMind is dedicated to fostering a highly qualified, diverse, and inclusive workplace that reflects the full diversity of the community we serve, creating an environment that welcomes individuals from all backgrounds, allowing our employees and clients to be their authentic selves.

We encourage applications from individuals belonging to historically marginalized groups, including but not limited to Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour, individuals with varying abilities, LGBTQ2S+, and other equity-seeking groups.

We are committed to creating a barrier-free and accessible workplace for everyone, including our hiring processes. EveryMind will make every effort to accommodate any accessibility needs of candidates throughout the hiring process, in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. Please inform us if you require any accommodations during the hiring process.

We appreciate your interest; however, only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. If this position aligns with your interests, please submit a cover letter and resume through the designated link.

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