Job Description

Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows Community Services is currently looking for a Program Support Worker within our Family Place program. Family Place strives to empower families through connection, peer support and enriching programming by developing parenting skills in a safe and supportive environment, creating community connections, finding peer support, and providing access to resources relating to parenting and child development for children 0 - 5 years old. Family Place provides friendly and diverse and interactive parent/child opportunities with music and movement, literacy, experiential open-ended arts and crafts, age-appropriate sensory play.



The Program Support Worker will work proactively as part of an effective team that delivers quality programming and direct services to families who access Family Place and its programs.

ACCOUNTABILITIES

Ensuring a comfortable, supportive atmosphere exists for family and individual clients to socialize and obtain peer support, information about family life issues, other community services, and other supports and referrals as necessary. Ensuring the provision of high-quality childcare services and programs that model appropriate and health parent-child relationships in order that parents may participate in adult and/or parent-child programming at Family Place. Ensuring information, education, and/or support relevant to the identified needs of low income, single parent and socially isolated families are provided as part of the regular programming and services. Researching, developing and presenting short topics of interest, particularly to groups of new parents and parents of preschoolers. Actively working with the team before and after program time in the preparation and clean up of the facility including loading and unloading program materials and supplies, setting up adult and child program areas for client interaction, some light housekeeping such as washing dishes, making coffee and tidying up. Planning and sharing the team, responsibility for the larger tasks of shopping, sorting and regularly disinfecting toys. Responding to and working cooperatively with the Ministry for Children & Family Development to develop means of responding to the particular needs of low income, single parent and socially isolated families. Working cooperatively with the team so that responsibility for staffing individual programs is a shared process that results in an efficient and effective management and coordination of staff schedules and duties.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education, Training and Experience

Early Childhood Education certificate or diploma A minimum of one year recent and related experience

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Proven ability and expertise working in the areas of family dynamics and dysfunctions, family violence, child development, self-esteem, communication and poverty issues Ability to maintain a sensitive, positive and non-judgemental approach and demeanour when working with parents, children, staff, and the public Knowledge of child physical, sexual and emotional abuse, its signs and predictors Proven ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in written form including interviewing, reflective and active listening skills, writing goals, objectives, and reports Ability to work effectively as a member of a team with minimum supervision on a day-to-day basis and, deal with crisis situations should they arise Demonstrated ability to efficiently and effectively manage work time, energy and stress level Demonstrated ability to maintain a variety of records, forms and statistics

Additional Requirements:

Clear Criminal Record Check is required. Current First Aid and CPR Certificate. Valid and unrestricted Class 5 BC Driver's License with access to a safe and reliable vehicle. Position requires Union Membership.

Shift/Schedule/Hours per week:

18.5 hours/week

Expected Start Date:

ASAP

Wage/Salary:

starting at $27.54/hour

Grid Level:

11

We are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce that represents the communities we proudly serve, while encompassing the principles of equity, inclusion and diversity. We strongly encourage applications from people of colour, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, people of all gender expressions and sexual orientations including queer, trans, and two-spirit people. In our words and actions, we recognize the challenges for those facing inequalities, while acknowledging our privilege, as we continuously strive to remove bias and reduce barriers that individuals may experience in the hiring and job-seeking process. We invite feedback from all applications who apply for roles within the Agency.