Classroom Facilitator - Level 2, Autism Services

LOCATION: Onsite, Hartsdale (Etobicoke, ON) and McNicoll site (North York, ON)

POSITION TYPE: Full-time regular (37.5 hours/week)

POSTING CLOSING DATE: May 18, 2024

Interested in working with an amazing team that really cares? Then you should join Lumenus! At Lumenus we illuminate a seamless pathway to optimal wellbeing for our clients. As one of the largest mental health agencies in Ontario, we offer a broad range of high-quality mental health, developmental and community services for infants, children, youth, individuals, and families across Toronto. We are a passionate, dynamic and growing agency. We offer a competitive salary, employer paid benefits, ongoing training, and career development opportunities!

Lumenus Community Services is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.  We value a recruitment and selection process that is inclusive and barrier-free and we encourage applications from all individuals including, but not limited to, all cultures, religions, racialized communities, abilities, sexual orientations, and gender identities and expressions. 

We are currently seeking a full-time role to support the Ontario Autism - Entry to School Program.  The Entry to School program is a new service offering that supports families with children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who are between the ages of 3 to 5 entering school for the first time.

The Entry to School program is a six-month, group-based, skill-building program focused on helping children develop school-readiness skills in a classroom setting.  Each classroom will be operated by a multi-disciplinary team of Classroom Facilitators who will report into a Program Supervisor. 

Working with a small team of Classroom Facilitators Level 1s, the Classroom Facilitator Level 2 will be responsible for providing guidance and clinical expertise to support successful learning experience. Like the Classroom Facilitator Level 1, the Classroom Facilitator Level 2 will also be responsible for working in classroom to deliver a group-based program focused on developing school-readiness skills (communication, play, social interactions, functional routines, behavioural self-management and pre-academics, learning and attention).

The location may rotate between our McNicoll (North York) and Hartsdale (Etobicoke) location per a 6-month rotation depending on program need. The ability to work across sites is required for this role.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Work closely with the Program Supervisor in the development of client Service Plans.
• Develop, plan, coordinate and implement appropriate learning activities and strategies designed to help the child reach their learning goals.
• Intake and assessment of client’s skills, abilities, interest, strength and needs (in tandem/consultation with the Program Supervisor).
• Participate in singing, storytelling, acting, modelling play skills and engaging in play with children.
• Effectively use (and mentor) ABA teaching strategies such as Reinforcement, Verbal and Physical Prompts, Shaping, Chaining, Modelling and Fading.
• Monitor student behaviour and teaching appropriate behaviour.
• Address personal care requirements of the child during each session.
• Build rapport with children to support progress.
• Review available information pertaining to all children in the classroom on a regular basis.
• Demonstrates and explains effective curriculum and guidance strategies; models, supports, mentors and guides the Classroom Facilitators L1 by:
  • Maintain regular communication/conduct meetings with parents and family members as required.
  • Oversee general operations of the classroom to ensure teaching environment is prepared and organized with appropriate materials 
  • Prepare written documentation regarding children’s plans and progress as required
  • Write reports and progress notes and flags exceptional circumstances as well as the need for changes to the learning plan and class-wide learning plans  
  • Contribute information and ideas to the team process.
  • Provide mentoring and collegial support for new staff and volunteers as required. 
  • Supports and guides Classroom Facilitator L1 in the implementation of client Service Plans using sound clinical judgement.
  • Lead classroom meetings/daily huddles. 
  • Ensures that all materials and equipment are maintained and classroom is tidy and safe.
  • Collaborate with other team members 
  • Keeping the supervisor informed of program concerns and client progress (e.g. flagging exceptional circumstances and need for program change). 
• Ensures overall health and safety of children enrolled in the program by maintaining a sanitary and safe environment and identifying children who are unwell.

QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE/SKILLS:

• Undergraduate degree or diploma from a recognized university or college in a field related (i.e., social services, psychology or ABA)
• Minimum three (3) years working experience with children with developmental disabilities
• A combination of experience and education may be considered
• Team lead/mentor experience an asset
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in program planning and case management
• Demonstrated knowledge in human development, community supports continuum for families, Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) and skill building techniques (including communications) with individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their families
• Ability to plan, implement, and evaluate activities and experiences to meet individual and group needs of all children
• Strong interpersonal skills to gain trust and respect of children and their parents
• Effective ability to interact with others and deal with situations in ways that respect diverse backgrounds, experience and styles
• Demonstrated reliability (punctual and responsible)
• Ability to manage children with challenging behaviors and communicate effectively with parents in a positive way
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment as a Lead/Mentor as well as independently
• Demonstrated conflict resolution and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work with multi-disciplinary teams
• Proficient with MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook)

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Satisfactory current Vulnerable Sector Check and Criminal Records Check
• Proof of full vaccination against COVID-19
• Fluency in French is advantageous and considered an asset
• Access to reliable transportation to travel to various work sites within the GTA
• Able to work in-person and across sites

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Classroom setting
• Must be able to wear a mask and shield throughout their shift
• Must be willing to do cleaning duties
• Ability to spend most of the day at the child’s level, i.e. sitting on the floor, or on child height chairs
• Able to bend, stoop and lift child to adult height (up to 20 kg) and to move children’s furniture or equipment to prepare room for programming needs

TO APPLY: Interested applicants are invited to visit our website at https://lumenus.ca/careers/ and submit their cover letter and resume through our Career Centre on or before May 18, 2024

We ask applicants to make any accommodation requests for the interview or selection process known in advance by contacting the Human Resources Department. Human Resources will work together with the hiring committee to arrange reasonable and appropriate accommodation for the selection process which will enable you to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner.

Lumenus believes that immunization against COVID-19 is an individual and societal responsibility and that we must do everything possible to protect our clients, families, employees, students, volunteers and contractors against the spread of COVID-19. As a condition of employment, proof of full vaccination or exemption under the Ontario Human Rights Code must be submitted to Human Resources seven (7) calendar days prior to start date.