Child Development Specialist

The Brenda Strafford Foundation - Heart Home Network (“HHN”) serves women and children impacted by family violence through providing a safe shelter and housing complimented by comprehensive support services for all participants. HHN offers a continuum of care designed to help families develop their potential and transition to safe and healthy lives in the community upon their departure.

As a growing organization with a bold and innovative strategic direction, HHN offers a dynamic work environment for talented individuals seeking an opportunity to be part of changing futures for women and children who have suffered the impacts of domestic violence. If you are interested in lending your talents to our important mission, we are currently seeking a friendly, detail-oriented, and efficient **Child Development Specialists **to join our growing team.

This position is responsible for the day-to-day support of children in the Child Development Centre (RHC). The Child Development Specialist serves children from a trauma informed relationship-based approach that respects all children capabilities. They support the Child Development Team in planning and implementing curricula that supports the development and social, emotional, and physical growth of each individual child is demonstrated by providing relevant spaces, materials, and interactions connected to completed Ages & Stages Questionnaires. The RHC is a welcoming environment for all participants, prioritizing trauma-informed practices and taking an intersectional approach each participant lived experiences.

**Roles and Responsibilities**:
**Program Delivery**
- Observe and support children’s development, behaviours, physical state, and health
- Provide positive and consistent guidance to staff and clients following a trauma informed relationship-based approach. Work collaboratively with clients and other programs within the organization to provide a comprehensive continuity of care
- Oversee and participate in daily set-up and clean-up of program
- Approach conflict resolution with solution-focused civility and empathic collaboration with children, parents, and colleagues
- Collaborate with the Manager, Child Development to create an engaging and relevant monthly curriculum that fit the needs of HHN children
- Take a lead role in planning and coordinating events to maximize the RHC utilization

**Cross Organization Collaboration and Compliance**
- Work collaboratively with community partners, stakeholders, and other HHN teams.
- Maintain accurate documentation & updating outcome tracker relevant to families accessing the RHC
- Responsible for completing child development assessments for new children at HHN, their follow-up and complete Developmental Support Plans (DSP’s) based on the outcomes of the assessments in collaboration with their Case Manager and Family Counselor.
- Communicate with the Manager, Child Development when interventions are necessary
- Oversee Resilient Hearts Centre booking calendar with HHN’s internal ratio and needs standard.
- Monitors and evaluates program operational effectiveness and advises the Manager, Child Development of changes required for improvement and innovation.
- Where/When required support with the recruitment, supervision, and performance management of RHC staff team according to organizational mission, vision, principles, policies, and procedures.
- Contributes and assists the Manager, Child Development with the submission of program reports, maintaining the financial budget, and organizational objectives.

**Schedule**:
Monday to Friday - Day Time Hours

**Qualifications & Requirements**:

- Degree or diploma in Early Childhood Development, Social Work or a relevant field
- One (1) years’ experience working with children in the family violence sector, children high support needs children or related experience is an asset
- Current CPR and First Aid Certificate or willing to obtain
- Maintains professionalism and confidentiality in all aspects of work
- Ability to work from an intersectional approach to reduce barriers for families who are experiencing high levels of crisis
- Maintain positive team working relationships with all departments
- Uses problem solving and critical thinking skills to support decision making
- Interacts with participants with cultural humility, safety, and grace
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite is an asset
- Extensive knowledge of local and regional community resources, programs, and services for individuals and families would be an asset
- Flexible availability and willingness to adapt schedule to meet program needs
- Required to pass police security clearance and child intervention check
- Valid driver’s license of six (6) years with clean drivers abstract of three (3) years is an asset
- Fluency in a second language is an asset
- The Brenda Strafford Foundation values and promotes the diversity of the people it hires and serves. We are committed to creating a divers