Child & Youth Care Practitioner (3 Terms)

Government of Nova Scotia; Nova Scotia; On-site; Full time

Job summary

The South Shore Regional Centre for Education is seeking a Child and Youth Care Practitioner to support students facing social, emotional, and behavioral challenges. This role involves collaboration with school teams and families to create effective programs that promote student success. Candidates should possess a relevant diploma and have experience working with children and youth.

Qualifications

• Minimum of two years' experience working with school-aged children and youth.
• Membership in the NS Child and Youth Care Workers’ Association is an asset.
• First Aid and CPR certification required.

Responsibilities

• Develop proactive programs for children and youth with social, emotional, or behavioral issues.
• Collaborate with families and community agencies to support student needs.
• Work with school teams to improve student success.

Skills

Communication

Interpersonal Skills

Crisis Intervention

Conflict Resolution

Behavior Analysis

Social Emotional Learning

Education

Post-secondary diploma or certificate in Child & Youth Care

Job description

South Shore Regional Centre for Education

The South Shore Regional Centre for Education (SSRCE) practices the culturally responsive pedagogy approach in providing an inclusive, diverse, equitable, safe and healthy education that supports learning and success both personally and academically to the 59,000 residents of Lunenburg and Queens Counties, an area of 5,250 square kilometres and a total of 23 schools.

Regional Centres for Education have Employment Equity Policies and/or processes and we actively encourage applications from under-represented groups, particularly people of African Nova Scotian, African Canadian and African ancestry and Mi’kmaw/Indigenous ancestry. Please ensure that you complete the self-identification portion on the position application.

Position:

Child and Youth Care Practitioner

Location:

Middle Level Connect Centre, Hebbville, NS

Reports to:

VP Middle Level Connect Centre and Coordinator of Student Services

Employee Group:

NSGEU

Contract Status:

Three (3) Term positions - effective August 25, 2025 to June 30, 2026

Rate of Pay:

$27.52 to 30.43/hr (Depending on qualifications)

Application Deadline:

Tuesday May 27, 2025 at 11:59 pm

The Child and Youth Care Practitioner (CYCP) shall be responsible for developing a proactive approach in collaboration to with school teams to help design and carry out programs for children and youth who have difficulty coping in school settings because of social, emotional and/or behaviour issues. Working with an assigned group of students in families of schools, the Child and Youth Care Practitioner will provide services and supports to students with the goal of improving student success and ensuring effective connections and communication exist between the school, the families and other appropriate community agencies to meet student needs. The CYCP works collaboratively with families, administrators, classroom teachers, teacher assistants, SchoolsPlus and other specialist staff, and community based agencies and supports. The CYCP works 7 hours per day, 12 months of the year.

Qualifications:

• Completion of a post-secondary diploma or certificate such as Nova Scotia Community College: Child & Youth Care Practitioner Program diploma and a minimum of two years’ experience working with school aged children and youth.
• Membership in the NS Child and Youth Care Workers’ Association is an asset.
• First Aid and CPR
• Nonviolent crisis intervention;
• First aid Mental Health for adults interacting with young (National training)
• Valid driver’s license and insurance and must be comfortable transporting students.

Experience:

• Minimum of two years’ experience working with school aged children and youth is required.
• Experience working in an educational setting is preferred.
• Direct knowledge and experience of the community served is an asset.

Abilities/Competencies:

The Child and Youth Care Practitioner shall have the following competencies:

(a) The ability to establish proactive relationships with and provide appropriate interventions for vulnerable children and youth, impacted by developmental trauma and or behavioural and mental health challenges.

(b) The ability to apply evidence informed interventions related to social emotional learning and culturally responsive pedagogy.

(c) The ability to apply knowledge of early childhood development as it relates to academic and social success through a multi-tiered support system (MTSS).

(d) The ability to collaboratively program plan to support academic and social success for students.

(e) The ability to apply effective mediation and conflict resolution strategies.

(f) The ability to work effectively in flexible work situations; i.e. visit homes when required to provide the link between the school and the home to support student success.

(g) The ability to utilize current technologies to support students experiencing self-regulation and communication challenges.

(h) The ability to work & communicate effectively with students.

(i) Demonstrate strong interpersonal, communication skills.

(j) The desire and ability to engage in continuing education and professional development.

(k) The ability to maintain and promote confidentiality as the norm.

(l)The ability to work collaboratively with teachers, teacher assistants, administrators and specialists to support the implementation of appropriate interventions and programming for assigned students.

(n) The ability to use approaches such as functional analysis of behavior;

(o) Coordinate and contribute to the effective implementation of strategies and good practices, such as a positive reinforcement system, visual schedule, movement breaks, etc

(p) Contribute to building a healthy and safe school environment by supporting positive behaviors

(q) Maintain progressive files and notes for identified students.

(r) Other duties as assigned.

BACKGROUND/SECURITY CHECKS:

The South Shore Regional Centre for Educationrequires allnewly hiredemployees to provide a satisfactory Criminal Record / Vulnerable SectorCheck and a Nova Scotia Child Abuse Register Check. We will accept checks completed within the last 3 months.

Regional Office based positions require travel and candidates may be required to provide a valid driver's license. Some school based positions also require travel and candidates may be required to provide a valid driver's license.

Thank you for your interest in the South Shore Regional Centre for Education, however, only those shortlisted for an interview will be contacted.