Field Placement Specialist , ECE - Regular Part Time

Mohawk College • Hamilton, ON

4d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Field Placement Specialist (FPS) is responsible for the facilitation and coordination of the field placement process for the assigned program(s). Collaborating closely with the academic departments and community partners, the incumbent oversees the alignment of the field placement experience with the academic program to ensure the applied learning opportunity enhances and is directly relevant to the student’s classroom learning. The FPS continuously oversees students to promote their success in placement and the acquisition of vocational and essential employability skills. Equally as vital, the FPS must establish and maintain relationships with community stakeholders that ensure the continuance of existing field placement opportunities and elicit new field placement opportunities.
The incumbent makes students aware of the Pre-placement requirements by developing and delivering field placement preparation courses, in-class workshops, assignments, case studies and collaborates with program staff to determine placement eligibility. The FPS is responsible for sourcing, assessing, and procuring placement opportunities for students. The incumbent organizes the overall field placement process, field placement interviews, agency expectations, and student essential employability skills, and is the principal point of contact for students, preceptors, and agencies. With a high level of critical thinking, the FPS identifies, responds to, investigates, and determines course of action for a diverse number of inquiries and issues from students, staff, faculty, other departments, and placement agencies. The FPS provides ongoing support and resources to students that promote student success and retention.
Responsibilities include: building relationships, advising, mentoring, guiding, developing essential employability skills, fostering professionalism and self-empowerment, coaching, referral, active problem solving, presentation and knowledge transfer, developing and coordinating agency outreach strategies, negotiating, initiating and implementing alternative placement plans, managing records, documenting, analyzing and reporting.
The FPS is responsible for sourcing and communicating accurate program standards through the development and maintenance of manuals, forms, and testing materials, as well as online resources, and agency and student meetings. The FPS functions as a principal resource for students, faculty and agencies to consult with and provide direction regarding field placement related college policies and procedures.

Requirements

• A minimum of a two-year Human Services related diploma in Early Childhood Education, Recreation & Leisure, Recreation Therapy, Educational Assistant/Support, Social Service Worker, or Child & Youth/Social Worker, Special Needs Education, Autism & Behavioural Science.
• Registered Early Childhood Educator in good standing with the College of ECE.
• A minimum of three years of practical related experience in the designated field of placement, ideally serving a multi-diverse, multi-cultural community.
• Strong ability to handle multiple assignments at one time.
• Strong critical and creative thinking skills.
• Excellent communication and customer services skills (verbal and written).
• Solid negotiation, conflict resolution and team building skills.
• Familiarity with external professional organizations (e.g. regulatory, accreditation) and related legislation (i.e. WHMIS, Human Rights, Harassment Policy, Privacy Act, etc.).
• Advanced knowledge of MS Office.
• Demonstrated commitment and understanding of human rights, equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility.
• The ability to communicate and work effectively with diverse students, employees, and communities.

Responsibilities

• Organize, facilitate and oversee the overall field placement process.
• Provide knowledge, expertise, and insight regarding meaningful and available placement opportunities that will advance students towards the acquisition of vocational and essential employability skills to achieve goals and aspirations after graduation.
• Communicate with support staff and managers from the Continuing Education department, OYAP, Apprenticeship and Post-Secondary programs to oversee the field placement assignments for students from the assigned programs.
• Communicate with students, on an individual basis, to establish placement preferences and explore out of region placement opportunities that align with program and student goals to meet the needs of out of area students.
• Advise students on agency specific placement requirements and outcomes.
• Compile and review student and agency placement requests to assess and determine field placement suitability.
• Approve and notify students of their placement agency and monitor the security of their placement during interview process.
• Request feedback from agencies, analyze and review findings with the student and create and implement a course of action that will chart the student on a route to success when a student is unsuccessful in securing a placement opportunity.
• Inform students on the College’s placement protocol, policies, and procedures.
• Report and track student’s completion of required pre-placement documentation.
• Coach students in leveraging the connections they are making between placement opportunities, employability skills, program learning outcomes, institutional learning outcomes, program vocational outcomes, and ultimately future employment goals.
• Review and confirm accurate completion of placement documents and assignments, e.g., evaluation form, incident and/or accident reports, attendance form, placement logs, Placement Confirmation Forms, insurance forms and other program specific expectations.
• Document, compile, and analyze data to support sound decision making regarding student progression.
• Determine and document the grade requirements met /not met.
• Enter student grade requirements met /not met into eLearn course and FastSuite, completion of incomplete grade forms, grade change forms, and participate and recommend during student promotion meetings.
• Document student progression which may be used during appeal process.
• Collaborate with Field Placement Coordinator and/or faculty in program areas to determine suitability of new placement opportunities based on needs and/or issues of the students.
• In collaboration with program faculty, determine readiness, placement eligibility, and progression based on the completion of placement related activities, placement performance, and tasks effecting placement requirements such as logs and goals.
• Consult with Associate Dean to establish relevant guidelines.
• Oversee students in field placement settings.
• Initiate and guide field placement visits both on campus and/or at the agency; monitor student’s progress; problem solve any placement agency and student issues.
• Apply fact finding techniques to coach students through self-reflection and self-evaluation.
• Collaborate with relevant parties, determine course of action with complex field placement issues, in conjunction with Associate Dean and Field Placement Coordinator.
• Promote student retention by providing outreach, advising, coaching, and guiding towards the utility of available College and external supports and resources.
• Identify and effectively resolve with a high degree of analysis potential or developing issues or concerns by either the preceptor and/or student.
• Assess placement issues and direct to appropriate college supports.
• Document and summarize student’s performance, determine the need for intervention and develop and implement student success agreements.
• Monitor student’s progression towards completion of placement hours/days, initiate alternative plan of action if student is not meeting requirements.
• Decide and institute changes to field placement experiences, e.g., sequence and duration.
• Identify potential student issues and implement strategies to guide students to success; take action to resolve student placement issues by meeting with student and creating a restorative plan for success.
• Use critical thinking and analysis to recommend, develop and implement contingent success agreements that are agreeable to all involved parties.
• Maintain confidentiality of student information and documents (i.e. CAAP, Success Agreements, medical documentation, vulnerable sector police checks).
• Respond to health and safety related concerns.
• In collaboration with the Occupational Health and Safety Office, facilitate health and safety process prior to commencement of placement, and/or in the case of a student incident or injury at their field placement.
• Coordinate the student's return to field placement in consultation with Occupational Health and Safety following an injury or illness at the placement.
• Develop and maintain significant, productive relationships at all levels with community partners/placement agency which elicit future placement and employment opportunities for students.
• Engage the community as an ambassador of the College, demonstrating leadership, and exemplifying the College’s strategic priorities, promoting positive working relationships with faculty, staff, students, and community partners.
• Inform preceptors on placement requirements, policies, and procedures to ensure their agency can meet the established protocol.
• Ensure placement agencies can provide learning opportunities that are aligned with learning outcomes.
• Engage and initiate strategic networking initiatives to cultivate and maintain a network of contacts in the wider community to enhance field placement opportunities.
• Create, promote and recommend opportunities outside of placement for students to engage placement agency, assist with on-campus simulated program interviews, and promote College wide initiatives to agencies such as Community and Employment Services job-fair, Destination College.
• Partner with local agencies and organizations to build awareness of the profession and to stay current with trends, training, and to provide opportunities to network.
• Provide outreach and respond to crisis, provide direction as requested, collaborate with the placement agency to determine how students can better meet the needs of the agency while still meeting their learning goals.
• Research, source and inform trends/best practices concerning placement.
• Advise of relevant issues from faculty, agencies and students for program adoption of procedures and policies.
• Act as a bridge between theory to practice and the MAESD essential employability skills.
• Provide recommendations to academic staff on placement policies and procedures.
• Assist in the development of administrative processes, document trails, other metric systems for purpose of capturing performance data, including agency and student satisfaction results, participation levels, and other placement employment success measures.
• Contribute to inter-departmental planning and strategy implementation in addressing systemic issues that impact placement.
• Collaborate with database administrator to build and expand database to manage placement efficiencies and processes, develop electronic forms, and share relevant placement information.
• Attend and contribute to promotion meetings, program and advisory committee meetings, program and departmental meetings, student conferences with Coordinator and program staff, Open House and meetings with community programs.
• Collaborate with Faculty and/or Coordinator in meetings to review students’ progress.
• Provide recommendation to Faculty based on performance in the field and documentation.
• Use data to generate reports and contribute during curriculum and program advisory and promotion meetings.
• Investigate and initiate contact with community agencies regarding placement opportunities and inquiries.
• Advise on updated procedures in place for community partners, preceptors, and new agency requirements.
• Contribute to the attainment of the college’s strategic priorities by leading and/or undertaking special projects approved by or assigned by the manager.
• Update community partner profiles and programs, gather and compile data to support sound decision making by the college and its partners in relation to placement trends/shifts.
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Access to professional development opportunities.
• Option to enroll in Defined Benefit pension plan (CAAT) with contributions matched by Mohawk College.
• Discounted rate for full-service athletic facility and instructor-led classes.
• Opportunities to engage in wellness events and activities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree