Developmental Worker

Job Summary

The Developmental Worker works hands on with Hope’s Home children with complex medical or behavioural needs, to help each child learn, grow, and reach their full potential. They build and maintain a warm, caring, trusting and responsive relationship with each child. By working closely with the Hope’s Home team and outside professionals, they help create and implement each child’s individualized program plan that supports the child’s developmental goals and objectives. This position reports to the Early Learning & Childcare Manager and does not have any direct reports.

Responsibilities

Direct Care Duties

• Engage in active supervision to protect and promote the psychological and physical safety, health and well-being of each child being cared for.
• Adheres to children’s personal care plans as advised by supporting professionals (e.g., meals, adaptive equipment etc.).
• Attend to child’s personal care duties for example: dressing, feeding, personal hygiene, toilet training.
• Develop and implement behavior intervention plans in collaboration with managers and families.
• Implement intervention and strategies to support observed behaviours.
• Work with the Physical Development Consultant (PDC) or management to understand child’s Personal Program Plan goals and implement and document the daily activities to enhance child’s growth and meet established goals.
• Implement therapies as directed by management and/or supporting professionals.
• Under the direction of the PDC and/or manager, incorporate the adaptive equipment in daily activities with the children.
• Create and implement integrated programs that align with each child’s goals.
• Create and provide developmentally appropriate programs that are focused on new skill development supporting the child’s PPP goals.
• Assist the Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) to create an environment that promotes the development of all children’s physical, emotional, social, communicative, cognitive, and creative skills.
• Promotes inclusion by creating and supporting opportunities for children to:
  • interact with one another, and
  • participate with their community.
• Ensure ratios and Activities of Daily Living (ADL) points are being maintained throughout the day.
• Prepare and secure children for transportation.
• Provide a variety of toys and activities to keep children engaged and progressing.
• Perform general cleaning duties such as laundry, cleaning/sterilizing toys, dishes etc.

Administrative Duties

• Collaborate daily with the floor team to understand the programming needs and adaptations required of each child.
• Maintain and update communication books with schools and/or parents/guardians.
• Complete a monthly anecdotal record for each child in their care.
• Sign off on daily therapy checklists and required documentation.
• Monitor the child and complete comprehensive evaluation and/or developmental checklists (milestone achievements) as child progresses.
• Prepare documentation and track occurrences of behaviours by means of Behaviour Communication Reports (BCR) and progress notes.
• Complete necessary documentation required for communication and manager signature, such as minor injury reports, unusual occurrence reports etc.
• Complete forms and assessments as requested by each child’s supporting professionals.
• Train on and use on all adaptive equipment, technologies, and therapies.
• Communicate any deficiencies or adjustments that need to be made to adaptive equipment.
• Maintain daily communication with each child’s family using Hope’s Home approved communication methods.
• Participate in meetings with caregivers and professionals as required.
• Maintain collaborative working relationships with the team, families, outside agencies, and community services.
• Participate in on-going professional development, training, and staff meetings.

Occupational Health and Safety

• Create a psychologically safe work environment (resolve conflicts in respectful ways and ensure a fair resolution, provide an environment where employees feel safe and supported to share ideas, listen, learn from, and seek to understand the ideas of others).
• Complete all required OHS training.
• Monitor, report and resolve any safety hazards in the work environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum Grade 12 education.
• First Aid/CPR Training.
• Working towards completion of at least one of the following programs:
  • Disability Support Worker,
  • Education Assistant,
  • Rehabilitation Worker,
  • Recreational Therapist,
  • Kinesiology Degree- Adaptive Physical Activity,
  • Early Childhood Education, or
  • other relevant and applicable education focused on diverse needs.
• The following knowledge and experience are considered assets:
  • experience working with children with diverse,
  • Transferring Lifting and Repositioning (TLR) training,

• knowledge of adaptive equipment, and
• behaviour management training.

Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to work with children of all ages and abilities.
• Able to receive instruction, implement and receive feedback.
• Able to work independently and as a team player.
• Strong collaborator and communicator (both verbal and written) with staff, families, and outside agencies.
• Demonstrated organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to observe and accurately assess children, the environment and daily program effectiveness.
• Flexible and adaptable to changes in the work environment.

Working Conditions

• Monday to Friday workdays with varied start and end times between 7am and 6:00pm.
• Physically able to safely work with objects or persons of varying sizes:
  • Handling ~100 lbs occasionally,
  • ~50 lbs regularly, and
  • ~25 lbs continuously.
• Physical position changes consistently throughout the day (sitting, standing, kneeling etc).
• Fast paced, noisy environment.
• Work with adaptive equipment and technologies.
• Work outdoors with the children in all types of weather conditions.
• Exposure to (ELC & SL):
  • cleaning chemicals and products, and
  • blood and body fluids.
• In city travel may be required on occasion.

Monday - Friday
6 hours daily (30 hours weekly)
Start Date (ASAP)