Aboriginal Supported Child Development Consultant (or Sr Consultant)

Victoria Native Friendship Centre; Victoria; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Victoria Native Friendship Centre (VNFC) is seeking an Aboriginal Supported Child Development (ASCD) Consultant to work with the ASCDN Team and report to the Team Manager. The role focuses on outreach to Indigenous children with extra needs and supports families in urban settings.

You will develop individualized plans, observe childcare settings, coordinate services, and contribute to inclusive practices while maintaining confidentiality and data records.

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in Child and Youth Care, Early Childhood Education, Social Work, Education or related field.
• Two to five years in childcare or social services with direct responsibility for childcare.
• Experience working with Indigenous families, First Nations communities and non-profit organizations.
• Valid BC Driver’s license; clean driving record; First Aid certification.
• Access to a reliable vehicle and willingness to provide a vulnerable sector check.

Responsibilities

• Develop working relationships with families and provide information on child development and resources.
• Conduct childcare observations and determine children’s support needs in consultation with parents and providers.
• Develop child-specific, family-centred plans and implement inclusive practices.
• Maintain comprehensive files and report monthly data; coordinate services.
• Participate in training, meetings and VNFC programs; ensure confidentiality.

Skills

Indigenous knowledge

Interpersonal skills

Written communication

MS Office 365

Education

Bachelor degree or diploma in related field

Tools

Office software

Job description

Job Summary

Working as part of the VNFC AboriginalSupported Child Development and Neurodiversity (ASCDN) Team and reportingdirectly to the ASCDN Team Manager, the Aboriginal Supported Child Development(ASCD) Consultant provides outreach services to Indigenous, First Nations andMétis children with extra needs living in urban settings and caregivers insupporting the optimal physical, cognitive, emotional, spiritual and culturaldevelopment of their children.

Roles and Responsibilities

As an ASCD Consultant, job duties include the following:

• Developing working relationships with families,providing them with information on child development and other communityresources; supporting families in assessing and choosing services for theirchildren and in self-advocacy.


• Conducting childcare setting observations andgathering information on children who require extra support.


• Determining the children’s type and level ofsupport needs in consultation with parents, childcare providers and otherprofessionals.


• Developing child-specific, family-centred anddevelopmentally appropriate individual plans in conjunction with parents andchildcare providers and in accordance with the choices, priorities and goalsidentified by the parents and/or childcare providers.


• Supporting childcare providers’ inclusion ofchildren who require extra support by performing duties such as supporting thedevelopment and implementation of inclusive philosophies, practices, policiesand procedures, providing onsite, child-specific training, consultation andmodelling, and providing information on childcare and community resources.


• Evaluating the children’s progress, reviewingthe level of support needs and individual plans, and ensuring that services arecoordinated, appropriate and accessible.


• Maintaining comprehensive, up-to-date filesfor each child, supporting a caseload of approximately 20 children ensuringnecessary forms and consents are complete; preparing reports as requested byfamilies and professionals.


• Maintaining and reporting monthly statisticaldata, meeting with Director of Early Childhood Supports for clinicalsupervision and case reviews.


• Developing, locating and providing informationto families and childcare providers and groups on topics related to inclusivechildcare and children who require extra support through workshops,presentations and written materials.


• Maintain client confidentiality.

As a member of the VNFC Team, job duties include the following:

• Document and report activity in alignmentwith VNFC practices and support internal and external reporting as requiredincluding maintaining accurate case management, file recording and monthlyreporting systems.


• Attend relevant professional training and meetings when directed.


• Participate in staff development, staffmeetings and department meetings, and VNFC additional programs including other communityand cultural events as required.


• Participate in data collection andevaluation tasks as requested.

Knowledge and Skills

Familiarity and experience in Indigenous Communities

• Someknowledge of Indigenous cultures and practices including from the territory inwhich the work of VNFC takes place.Ability to speak about one’s own Indigenous culture, if applicable, andany communities the (prospective) employee has previously lived in or held jobswithin.


• Indepth knowledge of the experience of Indigenous peoples in Canada including theongoing processes of colonization, discrimination, and structural violence, andthe effects on the health and wellbeing of Indigenous communities;understanding of the wellness and healing capacities of Indigenous culturalresiliency and resurgence.


• Knowledge and practice of providing community-basedservices to Indigenous peoples using philosophies of cultural humility andcultural safety.

Communication Skills and Abilities

• Excellentinterpersonal communication skills with the ability to successfully develop andmaintain relationships with diverse internal and external stakeholders


• Excellentwritten communication skills with the ability to independently write reports,electronic correspondence, and other forms of professional communication.


• Abilityto effectively present information and respond to questions from clients andthe general public


• Ability to read, process and integrate findingsinto practice from a range of resources including peer-reviewed literature andgovernmental reports.


• Proficiencyin Microsoft Office 365 including Word, Excel, and Outlook a requirement.

Leadership Skills and Abilities

• Ability to work independently and be part of anintegrated community team and in partnership with a variety of agencies.


• Ability to multi-task while remaining composedand maintaining a professional attitude in high stress situations.

Program Abilities andKnowledge

• Ability to practice using philosophies ofcultural safety and humility, and trauma informed care.


• Knowledge and ability to work ethically andmaintain professional boundaries when working with vulnerable clients.


• Knowledge of family-centered practice, childdevelopment, early intervention, family support, inclusive childcare andcommunity-based services.


• Skills in administering a range of formal andinformal developmental assessment tools.


• Physical requirement, the incumbent must spend amajor portion of the work hours standing, walking, and/or sitting and have theability to lift program equipment and supplies for program delivery.

Qualifications

Education

• Possess a Bachelor Degree in Child and YouthCare, Early Childhood Education, Social Work, Education or related field ORpossess an Early Childhood Education Certificate and/or Diploma, First NationsFamily Support Diploma, Diploma in Child and Youth Care or equivalent.


• Recognized course(s) related to position,particularly any focused on cultural safety and humility; or equivalent livedand/or professional experience

Work Experience

• A minimum of two to five years in childcareand/or social services organization with direct responsibility for childcare


• Experience working with Indigenous families,First Nations communities and non-profit organizations


• Preference for past experience working in an Indigenousserving organization or community setting.

Licenses and/or Certificates

• Valid BC Driver’s license


• Clean Driver’s record


• First Aid certification

Other

• Access to a reliable vehicle


• Required to provide current vulnerable sectorcriminal record check