Early Childhood Educator

Harmony House – Ts’oodun Be ‘Unt’oh Yoh

Employment Opportunity: Early Childhood Educator – Childminder/PEACE Counsellor

HARMONY HOUSE located in Prince George, British Columbia, provides safe supportive housing for women who are struggling with mental health and/or problematic substance use, are pregnant or new mothers in danger of losing their child to the care of Ministry of Children and Families Development (MCFD).

Harmony House is a subsidiary of Phoenix Transition Society, a not-for-profit organization. Harmony House is growing to better serve the increasing needs of its community. With this growth, we are looking for an Early Childhood Educator – Childminder/PEACE Counsellor with strong advocacy skills rooted in reconciliation and family progression, to work with our residents, children, and youth. This position reports to the Director of Operations of Harmony House, and the Executive Director of Phoenix Transition Society.

Early Childhood Educator – Childminder/PEACE Counsellor

The PEACE Program acknowledges the prevalence of violence against women, and the large number of children who experience the ill-effects of witnessing abuse. The Early Childhood Educator – Childminder/PEACE Counsellor provides psycho-educational support, including counselling and educational activities, for children and youth living in families where domestic violence occurs. The Educator/Counsellor assists children and youth to understand their experiences and to develop the skills and capacities to deal with their histories in a healthy way.

Early Childhood Educator Program Facilitator – Key Role Responsibilities:

1. Works with Childminders to assist and support childmind children.
2. Assesses children and their needs; and develops individualized childcare plans.
3. Develops strategies for childminders and parents to deal with difficult behaviours.
4. Develops a general curriculum for parents/groups, based on their needs.
5. Liaises with other organizations, e.g. PGNFC, CDC, Sources, Daycares, School Physicians, Nurse Practitioners.
6. Liaises with MCFD and organizes or participates in mediations, family group plans, and family case conferences.
7. Develops information and programs for staff regarding normal and deviant developmental ages, stages of children, and how to navigate neurodiverse children.

PEACE Counsellor – Key Role Responsibilities:

1. Conducts program eligibility assessments on children and youth referred to the program.
2. Provides psycho-educational age-appropriate support groups to assist children and youth.
3. Provides individual support services for children and youth not participating in group sessions.
4. Informs the appropriate authorities if and when parent or child is at risk of harm to themselves or others.
5. Communicates with and provides support to parents who are survivors of violence.
6. Delivers school-based educational activities designed to prevent violence, and the Violence is Preventable Program (VIP), when appropriate.
7. Provides parents and Harmony House caregivers, education on the effects of exposure to domestic violence.
8. Maintains accurate paper and electronic files, records, and documents, including entering required data information into the database supplied by the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General (MPSSG).

Qualifications include:

1. Bachelor of Social Work, or Early Childhood Education with certification for special needs children, or PEACE certified, or willing to work towards PEACE certification.
2. Minimum 2 years’ experience working with children and youth who have witnessed violence.
3. Solid understanding of violence against women issues and the effects on families.
4. Knowledge of trauma informed practice.
5. Knowledge of Child, Family and Community Services Act.
6. Ability to provide crisis intervention, safety planning, and support for children and youth who have witnessed abuse.
7. Capacity to provide support services to children and youth in understanding and coping with the effects of abusive cycles and family violence.
8. Solid understanding of the role of an advocate, as well as how to be an effective advocate.
9. Ability to respond, manage, and function effectively in high crisis/trauma situations.
10. Excellent communication skills and fluency in English – written, verbal, presentation.
11. Excellent group facilitation skills.
12. Self-starter with strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines.
13. Excellent problem-solving skills.
14. Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise discretion when handling sensitive situations and information.
15. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Google Suite (Docs, Sheets, Slides).
16. Ability to work independently and as a team member.
17. Ability to complete a Criminal Records review and have a clean criminal record.
18. Class 5 Driver’s Licence with clean drivers abstract and safe transportation, and vehicle business insurance.
19. Ability to develop and implement an individual self-care plan.

This is a full-time position – 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Wage is $32.50 - $35.00 per hour, depending on qualifications. Harmony House offers a comprehensive and competitive compensation and benefits package.

Qualified applicants can send their resume and cover letter to: mbrouwer@harmonhousebc.com with PEACE Counsellor, in the subject line of the email. Closing date for all applications is 12midnight Pacific Time on Friday, December 27, 2024.

Thank you in advance for your interest. We regret that we can only respond to candidates chosen for an interview.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $32.50-$35.00 per hour

Expected hours: No more than 40 per week

Benefits:

• Dental care
• Extended health care
• On-site parking

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

Education:

• Bachelor's Degree (preferred)

Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 2024-12-27