Early Interventionist

**Job Description**:
**POSITION PURPOSE**

This position is responsible for providing families with early intervention services, resources and caregiver coaching to support the growth of children with a developmental disability and/or risk of developmental delay. Responsibilities include providing home-based, family-centred support, that promotes a child’s development, independence, participation, engagement, and inclusion within daily routines. It also supports parents/caregivers to access and coordinate with other community services, where appropriate.

**MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES**
- Understands typical and atypical child development and related health implications to provide appropriate early intervention services and supports.
- Reviews referral, contacts parent/caregiver to set up initial in-person meeting and orients them to services and obtains necessary consents.
- Reviews/confirms eligibility with family, provides introduction and overview of service delivery model (Routines Based Model of Early Intervention).
- Reviews current supports and services family has in place and interviews family to review the routines of the day and indicate areas of concerns.
- Reviews information gathered during interview and through observations to complete a Family Service Plan (FSP) which includes outcomes to enhance child’s participation in everyday routines and informs service delivery for each family.
- Meets with family/caregiver to formalize Family Service Plan (FSP) including feasibility of goals and what routines goals will be implemented; reviews/updates plan every 6 months or as required.
- Provides ongoing support and caregiver coaching to family to discuss and implement intervention mechanisms/strategies related to the FSP outcomes.
- Reviews aspects of plan at every visit for relevance and updating.
- Implements the Routines Based Model of Home Visiting and demonstrates the ability to achieve and maintain York Region fidelity to this parent coaching model of intervention.
- Recommends appropriate professionals, services and agencies in the community to customers as required, and with consent, initiates referrals as needed.
- Through a caregiver coaching model of service delivery, provides information to and supports family through in-person and virtual visits to achieve child and family outcomes.
- Supports families with the transition to school process by attending meetings, completing reports and sharing information.
- Liaises with other professionals such as Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Speech-Language Pathologists and partner agency staff to facilitate/coordinate service options available for referrals.
- Performs other duties as assigned, in accordance with Branch and Department objectives.

**QUALIFICATIONS**
- Successful completion of a Community College Diploma in Early Childhood Education or approved equivalent combination of education and experience AND a one year post graduate Resource Teacher certificate.
- Minimum two (2) years experience in working with children (ages 0-6 years) with special needs, their families and community partners and experience developing and implementing Family Service Plans.
- Satisfactory Vulnerable Sector Check.
- Understanding of typical/atypical development to support developmental progress and practices.
- Knowledge of related legislation, standards, acts, regulations and guidelines as they pertain to the role including but not limited to the Ministry’s Infant and Child Development Program guidelines and Child and Family Services Act.
- Knowledge of case management for children with special needs.
- Demonstrated ability in the Region’s core competencies.