Program Implementer, Provincial Preschool Autism Services - Eastern Zone (Sydney)

Nova Scotia Health and IWK Health•Mira Road, NS

1d•CA$34 - CA$43•Hybrid

About The Position

IWK Health is an academic health sciences centre providing tertiary and primary care for children, youth, adults, and families across the Atlantic region. The Provincial Preschool Autism Service (PPAS) is a partnership between IWK Health, Nova Scotia Health, Hearing and Speech Nova Scotia, and Autism Nova Scotia. It offers person and family-centred services to preschoolers across Nova Scotia who are suspected of or have a diagnosis of autism. The service aims to provide an efficient, sustainable, and integrated continuum of health services using a needs-based model responsive to the individual needs of children and their families. Services include clinical intake and care coordination, family and health professional education, the QuickStart NS parent coaching toddler program, autism diagnostic assessment, interprofessional autism interventions, intensive intervention for children with significant social communication and behavior needs, and transition to school supports. The Program Implementer, reporting to the Manager, Provincial Preschool Autism Services, provides intervention within Autism Interprofessional Interventions, foundational education and parent coaching for caregivers and families, and intensive intervention for children with the greatest social communication and behavior needs. This involves direct service provision to preschool-aged children with autism and their families based on an intervention plan, and standardized delivery of PPAS-adopted evidence-based interventions and promising practices based in Applied Behaviour Analysis. Intervention is delivered in various settings, including clinics, homes, childcare centers, and pre-primary classrooms. Program Implementers are supervised by Clinical Interventionists (CIs) and Speech Language Pathologists, with CIs from disciplines such as Board-Certified Behaviour Analysis, Occupational Therapy, Psychology, and Speech Language Pathology. Travel is required for this position.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology or Child and Youth Studies (other health care professional degrees with experience working with young children with developmental disabilities may be considered).
Bachelor’s Degree in Education plus two years’ experience working with young children with developmental disabilities; specifically, children with autism will also be considered.
Recent experience (within the past 5 years) working with young children (0-7 years old) with developmental disabilities; specifically with autism required.
Post-Secondary Behavioral Interventions Certificate or Diploma preferred.
Valid minimal Class 5 Nova Scotia driver’s license and reliable vehicle.
Current successful completion of a Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada Basic Life Support Level (BLS) Program within the last 12 months, or successful completion of a BLS Renewal Challenge Certificate, required.
Certification in First Aid required.
Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to family centered care, and limits of competency required.
Demonstrated excellent communication and interpersonal teaming skills required.
Demonstrated ability to work as part of a collaborative, interdisciplinary team in a variety of settings required.
Demonstrated ability to flexibly work across PPAS service streams.
Demonstrated ability to take direction and to work independently with initiative required.
Demonstrated time management and organizational skills required.
Demonstrated ability to be an effective change agent with good team building skills required.
Demonstrated ability to accept and use constructive criticism for personal and professional growth required.
Demonstrated observation and problem-solving skills required.
Demonstrated value and application of principles of Equity, Diversity, Inclusivity, Anti-racism, and Reconciliation in work with children and families required.
Proficiency in use of office technology required.

Nice To Haves

Competencies in other languages an asset.
Certification in Non-Violent Crisis Intervention an asset.

Responsibilities

Provides intervention within Autism Interprofessional Interventions (focused interventions based on care pathways and manualized comprehensive programs).
Provides foundational education and parent coaching for caregivers and families.
Provides intensive intervention for children with the greatest social communication and behavior needs.
Direct service provision to preschool age children with autism and their families based on an intervention plan (service plans, intervention plans and manualized curriculum plan).
Standardized delivery of PPAS adopted evidence-based interventions, and promising practices based in Applied Behaviour Analysis.
Delivery of intervention for children and their family in a variety of centre-based, or community-based locations (E.g., clinics, homes childcare centres, and pre-primary classrooms).