Relief Children's Programmer

North York Women's Shelter•Toronto, ON

9d•Onsite

About The Position

The Children’s Programmer (Relief) plays an important role in the delivery of NYWS' child and youth programs with guidance from the Manager, Programs & Services. This role is responsible for facilitating age-appropriate educational and recreational programs to support the positive social and emotional development of NYWS’ children and youth Clients in alignment with our principles of trauma-informed practice.

Requirements

Completed or currently enrolled in post-secondary education in Early Childhood Education, Child and Youth Worker, or a related field.
Experience and/or training in designing and implementing programs and activities for children and youth.
2-3 years of experience working in summer camps, after-school programs, recreational programs, or similar child and youth-focused environments
Experience and/or training in trauma-informed care or mental health.
Demonstrate a strong understanding of child and youth development, trauma-informed care, and culturally responsive practices.
Have or are willing to provide a satisfactory Vulnerable Sector Check (PVSC) with future checks.
Completed CPR Level C and First Aid certifications.
Basic knowledge of Microsoft Office tools e.g., Outlook and Word.
Take ownership for tasks and have strong work ethic.
Demonstrate excellent professional and empathetic communication skills.
Strong problem solving and critical thinking skills.
Able to document and take comprehensive notes.
Able to work effectively independently as well as part of a team.
Committed to understanding and working from an intersectional feminist, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive lens.
High degree of confidentiality and discretion.
Able to work under pressure and in crisis situations.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with survivors of violence and their dependents.
Experience working with children and youth who have witnessed intimate partner violence (IPV) and/pr situations of violence.
Fluency with speaking and/or writing in additional languages.

Responsibilities

Foster and maintain a trauma-informed, respectful, and inclusive environment for Clients, colleagues, volunteers, and other members of the NYWS internal and external community while adhering to NYWS' policies and procedures.
Facilitate age-appropriate activities and programs for NYWS' children and youth Clients based on guidance and direction from the Manager, Programs and Services to help promote positive social and emotional development e.g., building confidence and self-esteem, healthy relationships, and self-leadership using play and inquiry-based learning strategies.
Foster diversity, equity, and inclusion by considering diverse cultures, physical abilities, neurodiversity, and lived experiences of children and youth in the delivery of programs as well as in communication with children and youth and their caregivers.
Facilitate programming in age- appropriate ways such as storytelling, creative arts, sensory play, media, indoor and outdoor activities, and both individual and group learning experiences to support a variety of learning styles and developmental milestones.
Adapt facilitation and delivery to accommodate diverse needs, interests, and abilities of participants, ensuring engaging, inclusive, and enjoyable learning opportunities for all.
Actively participate in indoor and outdoor activities with children and youth while modelling and encouraging positive social skills e.g., clear communication and constructive conflict resolution skills.
Provide direct support to children and youth, including group interactions that foster safety, trust, and well-being.
Provide individualized attention and care, recognizing and responding to developmental milestones and unique challenges at various stages of development (infants, toddlers, school-aged children, adolescents).
Address inappropriate behaviour in a respectful and inclusive manner which helps facilitate reflection and growth.
Recognize and de-escalate challenging situations in a trauma-informed manner.
Notify the Programs and Services leadership of any supply or equipment needs required to support programming.
Prepare program spaces and materials before activities and ensure program areas are cleaned, organized, and restored following each shift.
Follow protocols for safety and security, and proactively identity and report safety and operational concerns with the Programs and Services leadership.
Maintain accurate and consistent program documentation including incident reports, key performance indicators/ metrics to support operational effectiveness, compliance, and continuous improvement of child and youth programs and activities.
Demonstrate professional conduct that aligns with NYWS's values and provides safety, support, and empowerment for Clients.
Collaborate with Women's Advocates to support areas where children and youth may need additional support.
Uphold confidentiality of all Clients and staff in accordance with organizational policies.
Attend and participate in additional team building, training, and community outreach projects as required.
Support NYWS in remaining current and active in harm reduction policy development and community advocacy.
Collaborate closely with staff to ensure continuity of care and consistent, high-quality support for children and youth.
Maintain flexibility and availability to work relief shifts as needed to support operational and program requirements.
Proactively uphold our principles of trauma-informed practice.
Additional duties as assigned.