Children's Education Facilitator

North York Women's Shelter; Toronto; On-site; CAD 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pet-friendly environment

Job summary

North York Women's Shelter is seeking a Children’s Education Facilitator to develop and deliver educational and recreational activities for children, youth, and their caregivers. The role emphasizes trauma-informed practice and collaboration with the Programs and Services team to promote resilience and positive development.

The facilitator will design age-appropriate activities, support caregivers, and ensure a safe, inclusive learning environment while maintaining program documentation and

Qualifications

• Enrolled in or completed post-secondary in ECE/Child Development or related field.
• Experience designing and implementing programs for parents and children.
• 2–3 years in adult programming, summer camps, or youth programs.
• Satisfactory PVSC (Vulnerable Sector Check) and CPR/First Aid certifications.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate educational and recreational activities for children, youth, and caregivers.
• Support caregivers to build capacity for responding to post-trauma needs.
• Promote trauma-informed, inclusive program delivery and safety.
• Maintain accurate documentation and reporting in line with funder requirements.
• Collaborate with Programs and Services team and prepare learning materials and spaces.

Skills

Microsoft Office

Communication skills

Problem solving

Time management

Teamwork

Confidentiality

Crisis management

Empathy

Education

Early Childhood Education

Psychology

Family and Social Services

Job description

About the role:

The Children’s Education Facilitator is responsible for developing and providing educational programming, academic support, and recreational activities that promote resilience, stability, and positive social and emotional development of NYWS’ children and youth clients, including through supporting their caregivers. This role will design age-appropriate educational and recreational programs in alignment with our principles of trauma- informed practice.

What you will be doing:

• 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 activities and programs for Client caregivers of children and youth to help increase capacity to respond to their children’s post-trauma needs through supporting attachment recovery and emotional regulation.
• Support with facilitating age-appropriate activities and programs for NYWS’ children and youth Clients where required, to help promote positive social and emotional development e.g., building confidence and self-esteem, healthy relationships, self-regulation and coping, based on guidance and direction from the Manager, Programs and Services and project requirements.
• 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.
• Support with facilitating programming in age-appropriate ways using a blend of individual and group learning experiences to support a variety of learning styles, developmental milestones, and alignment with school curriculum.
• Adapt facilitation and delivery to accommodate diverse needs, interests, and abilities of participants, ensuring engaging, inclusive, and enjoyable learning opportunities for all.
• Support children’s positive social skill development by empowering their caregivers to model clear communication, and constructive conflict resolution.
• Support caregivers to stimulate curiosity in their children to help support intellectual growth and foster a sense of achievement.
• Provide to caregivers, children and youth, including group interactions that foster safety, trust, and well-being.
• Provide individualized attention as needed to both adults and children, recognizing and responding to children’s and unique needs of participants.
• Recognize and de-escalate challenging situations in a trauma-informed manner.
• Notify the Programs and Services leadership of any supplies or equipment needed 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 identify 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 and program evaluation, funder requirements, 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 the Programs and Services team to support areas where children and youth may need additional support.
• Support caregivers to encourage both academic and character growth by ensuring children are able to build relationships with others, while developing self-regulation and problem-solving skills through play and inquiry-based learning.
• Support caregivers to engage in positive interaction with children to build confidence and self-esteem.
• Design and follow a full schedule of activities and identify suitable learning material including creative facilitation methods such as stories, media, indoor/outdoor games, etc.).
• Support caregivers to address inappropriate behavior in a respectful and inclusive manner which helps facilitate reflection and growth.
• Empower and educate parents and caregivers; help them formulate appropriate Individual Education Plangoals, accommodations, modifications, behavior plans, and identify appropriate related services such as Speech and Language, Occupational Therapy, Assistive Technology, Adaptive PE, and aide support as appropriate.
• Facilitate homework clubs and assist in children and youth’s homework completion.
• Demonstrate professional conduct that aligns with NYWS's values and provides safety, support, and empowerment for Clients.
• 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.
• Proactively uphold our principles of trauma-informed practice.
• Additional duties as assigned.

Who you are:

Your Education and Experience:

• You have completed or are currently enrolled in your last year of post-secondary education in Early Childhood Education Child Development and/or presently hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, Child Development, Education, and Family and Social Services.
• You have experience and/or training in designing and implementing programs and activities for parents to support children and youth.
• You have 2-3 years of experience working in adult programming, summer camps, after-school programs, recreational programs, or similar child and youth-focused and multicultural environments.
• You have working knowledge of community services and resources and how to access them.
• You have in-depth knowledge of child development milestones and understanding of best practices in early childhood learning and development.
• You have experience and/or training in trauma-informed care or mental health.
• You have or are willing to provide a satisfactory Vulnerable Sector Check (PVSC) with future checks.
• You have completed CPR Level C and First Aid certifications.
• You have superb written and oral communication skills and ability to tailor communication style to children and youth, caregivers, and staff.
• You have excellent organization and time management skills
• Strong knowledge and experience with harm reduction, anti-racist/anti-oppression strategies and trauma informed practice.
• Current CPR and First Aid training
• Satisfactory Vulnerable Sector Checks (PVSC)

Your Skills and Competencies:

• You have basic knowledge of Microsoft Office tools e.g., Outlook and Word.
• You take ownership for tasks and have strong work ethic.
• You demonstrate excellent professional and empathetic communication skills.
• You have strong problem solving and critical thinking skills.
• You are able to document and take comprehensive notes.
• You can work effectively independently as well as part of a team.
• You are committed to understanding and working from an intersectional feminist, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive lens.
• You have a high degree of confidentiality and discretion.
• You can work under pressure and in crisis situations.
• You are comfortable working in a pet-friendly environment.

The following additional qualifications would be considered assets:

• Experience working with survivors of violence and their dependents.
• Experience working with adults, children and youth who have witnessed intimate partner violence and/or situations of violence to possible risks of managing conflicts amongst women and children in crisis
• Fluency with speaking and/ or writing in additional languages

Working conditions:

• This role operates in a Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Shelter which provides client services inclusive of adults, children, youth, and houses pets (dogs and cats).
• May be required to lift up to 30 lbs.
• Walking, standing, bending, stooping, reaching, twisting, lifting, pushing, pulling, and/or moving items.
• Speaking and listening on the telephone and using a computer.
• Exposure to GBV and IPV subject matter and cases.
• Occasional exposure to animals (dogs and cats).
• Occasional exposure to loud sounds.
• Occasional exposure to interpersonal conflict.
• Occasional exposure to substance use.