RESOURCE EDUCATOR

Job ID: 47515

Job Category: Community & Social Services

Division & Section: Children’s Services, ChildSvcs South District

Work Location: 1118 Finch Ave. W., 433 Bloor St. E., 325 Milnes Ave., Toronto

Job Type & Duration: Full-time, (2) Permanent, (1) Temporary (12 month) vacancy

Salary: $37.11 – $40.65

Shift Information: Monday to Friday, 35 hours per week

Affiliation: L79 Full-time

Number of Positions Open: 3

Posting Period: 12-JUL-2024 to 02-AUG-2024

Reporting to the Resource Supervisor, Every Child Belongs Unit, the Resource Educator works within child care and/or EarlyON Child and Family settings. In doing so, the Resource Educator will demonstrate an understanding of the educational issues facing various priority and equity-deserving communities in Toronto as an important aspect of the role. This includes planning and adapting programs/services to support diverse populations and help minimize barriers to accessing early learning and child care services.

Children’s Services is committed to fostering an inclusive, accessible environment where all employees and members of the public feel valued, respected and supported. We believe that advancing reconciliation, equity, and inclusion are critical to achieving our mission of promoting access to high-quality early learning and child care services for Toronto families and children. We are dedicated to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of the public and the communities in which we live and serve.

Major Responsibilities:

• Processes referrals for placement of children with extra support needs (special needs), sets up appointments with the applicant prior to admission, arranges in-person and virtual (i.e., internet video or telephone) visits, and meets with the agencies and consultants involved with the child and/or family to set up support services.
• Provides information regarding licensed early learning and child care programs to the family, explains procedures/policies and other related issues within the community, completes all necessary forms, supports placement into licensed programs, and maintains waitlist when required.
• Provides service support to more than one location.
• Arranges training for staff in licensed early learning and child care programs, families and early learning communities.
• Plans and develops individual programs for children in consultation with early learning and child care staff, parents and specialists to promote inclusion in the early learning and child care programs.
• Works with early learning and child care staff and parents to implement individual in-centre and at-home programs, makes referrals to specific agencies, obtains/maintains required consultation services for children, and sets up workshops and meetings.
• Observes and monitors children, works with early learning and child care staff and families and to develop Service Plans. Carries out assessments, and provides ongoing consultation recommendations. Prepare assessments/ progress reports, etc. Sets up specific goals and objectives for children.
• Evaluates programs, and recommends new activities and/or modified programming to improve effectiveness in meeting developmental needs of children.
• Provides models through verbal instruction for various intervention strategies to early learning and child care staff and families.
• Reviews progress, and discusses concerns/achievements through regular contact with early learning and child care staff and families.
• Provides support to children and families, early learning and child care staff and the community. Assists early learning and child care staff in identifying children with support needs and in programming for them. Observes and assesses children’s behaviours to ensure programs meet identified individual and group needs.
• Recommends referral of children to external support agencies as necessary.
• Performs teaching of specific skills in regards to the care of the child. Makes special adaptations to equipment, if necessary, and develops augmentative communication systems and/or orders same. Discusses children’s progress/strengths/needs/health with families and early learning and child care staff, answering questions regarding children, programs and the program.
• Prepares progress reports for children with extra support needs.
• Provides recommendations and consultation for licensed early learning and child care centres to meet the needs of children in such program to promote inclusion.
• Provides ongoing training regarding support needs of children to staff, families, volunteers and students in licensed early learning and child care programs. Conducts workshops.
• Assists in training and evaluating Resource Consultant students on academic placements. Participates in educational assessment conferences and inter-agency and family case conferences. Facilitates the child’s transition from the early learning and child care programs to the school system, and advocates for families and children by liaising and working collaboratively with external agencies, school system and families.
• Maintains a current knowledge of early intervention techniques for children and their families. Attends and reports on workshops, courses, conferences and reviews books and literature. Represents the Children’s Services Division in the promotion of inclusion, on community and professional committees and updates supervisor and other staff.

Key Qualifications:

Your application must describe your qualifications as they relate to:

1. Post-secondary education in the human services field such as Early Childhood Education, Social Services, Child & Youth.
2. Graduation from a Resource Teacher Certificate Program or equivalent (See Notice below).
3. Considerable experience in an early learning and child care environment including working with children with extra support needs (special needs) and their families.

You must also have: 

• Skills, knowledge, and confidence working with diverse populations and community organizations.
• Understanding of the educational issues facing Indigenous, Black and equity-deserving groups (e.g., peoples with disabilities, racialized peoples, members of 2SLGBTQ+ community, etc.).
• Ability to incorporate culturally approaches and values related to diverse populations into service delivery.
• Ability to develop and maintain program plans, prepare reports and maintain records. Ability to provide related training and guidance to early learning and child care staff, families and volunteers.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing with early learning and child care staff, children, families, school officials, teachers, external agencies and the public.
• Knowledge of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, Child Care & Early Years Act, Child and Family Services Act and Human Rights Act, and the ability to meet the specifications of these acts and any other regulations that may apply to this work.
• Familiar with virtual platforms for communicating and meeting (Webex, Zoom or Microsoft Team meeting as an example).

Notes: 

• All successful candidates will be required to undergo a pre-placement medical assessment, provide a current Vulnerable Sector Police Reference Check, and have a valid Standard First Aid/CPR certification.
• Applicants are required to demonstrate in their resume that their qualifications match those specified in the job posting. Additional information submitted after the job posting closing date will not be accepted.
• Assessment may include an interview, written and/or practical test. Location of assessment to be determined.
• Work location reflects what is known at the time of posting.
• Every effort will be made to choose the right candidate(s) to represent the diversity of the community in the Resource Educator role.

Notice: 

Resource Teacher Certificate equivalency is defined as graduation from a specialized post secondary program that includes education as well as practical/field placement experience in working with children with extra support needs (special needs).

If you have completed a program other than a Resource Teacher Certificate program, you are required to submit the course outline/s with your resume and cover letter.

Toronto Children’s Services has set up three (3) virtual information sessions for this job posting, hosted by Nancy Hendy, Program Manager, Every Child Belongs. 

Information Session #1: 

July 18, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. 

Meeting Number: 2632 986 6999

Meeting Password: uiRxuNDk787

1. Go to https://toronto.webex.com/toronto/j.php?MTID=m0269464d5998accc7b267c219bc0f895
2. If requested, enter your name and email address.
3. If a password is required, enter the meeting password: uiRxuNDk787
4. Click “Join”.
5. Follow the instructions that appear on your screen.

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Audio conference information if you wish to dial in by telephone.

Canada Toll: +1-416-915-6530

Information Session #2: 

July 19, 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. 

Meeting Number: 2631 920 1854

Meeting Password: 4iMrdMdKq32

1. Go to https://toronto.webex.com/toronto/j.php?MTID=m4c3c693f0e5925294a399f98edf5a2f5
2. If requested, enter your name and email address.
3. If a password is required, enter the meeting password: 4iMrdMdKq32
4. Click “Join”.
5. Follow the instructions that appear on your screen.

——————————————————-

Audio conference information if you wish to dial in by telephone.

Canada Toll: +1-416-915-6530

Information Session #3: 

July 25, 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. 

Meeting Number: 2632 586 6526

Meeting Password: exJPPiXS466

1. Go to https://toronto.webex.com/toronto/j.php?MTID=m0460da0d53139bd92b18c9f8598939f4
2. If requested, enter your name and email address.
3. If a password is required, enter the meeting password: exJPPiXS466
4. Click “Join”.
5. Follow the instructions that appear on your screen.

——————————————————-

Audio conference information if you wish to dial in by telephone.

Canada Toll: +1-416-915-6530

NOTE TO INTERNAL FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME CITY OF TORONTO EMPLOYEES: City of Toronto employees must apply to full-time or part-time employment opportunities posted on the City’s Internal Job Posting Portal.

Toronto is home to more than 2.9 million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities. As the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is a global leader in technology, finance, film, music, culture, and innovation, and consistently places at the top of international rankings due to investments championed by its government, residents and businesses. For more information, visit jobs.toronto.ca or follow us on Twitter at Twitter.com/CityTOjobs, on LinkedIn at Linkedin.com/company/city-of-toronto or on Facebook at Facebook.com/CityTOjobs.

How to Apply:

For more information on this and other opportunities with the City of Toronto, visit us online at https://jobs.toronto.ca/jobsatcity/. To apply online, submit your resume, quoting Job ID 47515, by Friday, August 2, 2024.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

The City is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to creating a workplace culture of inclusiveness that reflects the diverse residents that we serve. Learn more about the City’s commitment to employment equity < https://jobs.toronto.ca/jobsatcity/content/Hiring-Policies-and-Statements/?locale=en_US >.

Accommodation

The City of Toronto is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive organization. We are committed to providing barrier-free and accessible employment practices in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).

Should you require Code-protected accommodation through any stage of the recruitment process, please make them known when contacted and we will work with you to meet your needs. Disability-related accommodation during the application process is available upon request. Learn more about the City’s Hiring Policies and Accommodation Process < https://jobs.toronto.ca/jobsatcity/content/Hiring-Policies-and-Statements/?locale=en_US>