Careers

Child Development Facilitator (CDF)

Inclusion in Action – Be part of the team!

PREP helps break down barriers for families that have a child with Down syndrome so they can live active and included lives in their communities. We do this through our therapeutic and educational services as well as family supports. We believe that if children with Down syndrome have the right tools and appropriate environments for success they can go on to accomplish incredible things. PREP supports children with Down syndrome with diverse needs in the home, community and in the classroom.

If you are passionate about working with children with diverse abilities, then PREP is the right place for you.

Position Summary: Child Development Facilitators (CDF’s) provide both in classroom support as well as in home family coaching to support young children with Down syndrome and their families. This position can be funded by Family support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) Or Alberta Education (PUF), depending on where you work and what tasks are assigned. The main responsibilities are to support children in a variety of environments. The benefits are enormous to families and you will enjoy contributing to a child reaching their maximum potential.

These positions are hourly part-time. Time slots that we look to fill are: 8:45am – 12:15pm, 12:30-2:30pm and 3-6pm. Hours can range from 10 hours per week to 25 hours per week depending on placement.

Key Responsibilities: (included but not limited to)

• Implement strategies provided by the teachers and therapeutic team in a “play with a purpose” model, to target goals within a classroom or home setting.
• Target individual child focused goals
• Create a FUN, playful, positive learning environment
• Assist the teachers with classroom organization, activity planning and prep and clean up
• Provide support to students with daily functional skills (OT) including dressing, feeding, toileting
• Provide support to students with communication. We support all forms of communications. Examples – visuals, AAC, sign language and gestures.
• Provide transportation to a student in your own vehicle to and from PREP from the child’s home or daycare
• Implement strategies provided by the therapeutic team in a “play with a purpose” model, to target goals that are outlined by the family and FSCD.
• Develop and implement daily and weekly plans that target in-home every day life skills.
• Practice the “I do, we do and you do” model to build parent capacity in a fun and functional way.

What you bring to the Team:

• A minimum of a High School Diploma
• Post secondary education is an asset with a focus on Children and or Disability studies
• 2-5 years experience working with Children with diverse abilities.
• The ability to make learning fun. You must be able to play and have fun with goals in mind.
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds. Sitting on the floor, crawling, and being able to engage a child in their environment is a requirement
• Ability to create materials and activities with the child’s interest and goals in mind
• The position is a good fit for individuals with relevant work experience or for university students who have flexibility in their school schedule. University students interested in furthering their education in SLP, OT, PT, or Education degrees- would be a good match.
• A reliable vehicle and valid drivers license – This position requires the candidate be able to drive within Calgary city limits.
• Clearance from a Criminal Record Check, including a Vulnerable sector check, within the last six months.
• Candidates must have excellent communication skills, oral and written. Strong interpersonal skills are an asset, as each CDF is expected to be a confident, contributing member of the FSCD in home team.

We encourage candidates to visit www.prepsociety.ca to learn more about The PREP Society before applying. Each application must include a cover letter, resume, and 2 references. Only candidates who qualify for an interview will be contacted.

Job Type: Part-time

Salary: $21.81-$23.28 per hour

Benefits:

• Casual dress
• On-site parking

Schedule:

• Day shift
• Monday to Friday

Application question(s):

• Traveling from client homes to client homes may be necessary. Do you have your own vehicle and are able to drive?

Experience:

• working with children: 2 years (required)

Work Location: In person

APPLY HERE

PREP is well known for its success in supporting families and children with Down syndrome, and we take pride in our role as an advocate for inclusion for over 36 years. We currently have an exciting opportunity for an ideal candidate to join our dynamic team of professionals as we work together to ensure children with Down syndrome have the best opportunities possible to become active and engaged members of their communities. This unique opportunity will provide a range of experiences to develop your skills as an educator and allow you to share your expertise as you work alongside families, staff, and teachers.

PREP is currently looking for a part-time or full-time Certified Teacher (28-35 hrs/week) to join our ECS, Kindergarten, and Program team. Our multidisciplinary staff includes a dynamic group of therapists and educators who want to make a real difference in the lives of individuals with Down syndrome. This position would teach within our ECS/Kindergarten class weekday mornings (Mon-Fri) and then lead our K-2 and 3-6 classes on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons. These unique programs provides bi-weekly classes to our K-2 and 3-6 students to support the development of their independence and life skills and prepare them for success at school and in the community. Additional time is allocated for team meetings and planning/preparation.

Position Summary: As a Teacher, you will play a fundamental role in nurturing the social, emotional, and academic growth of children with Down syndrome. Your responsibilities will include creating a supportive and engaging classroom environment, designing curriculum to help students develop their independence, executive functioning, social, communication, and self advocacy skills. You will work collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team including Children Development Facilitators, Speech Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, and a Physiotherapist.

Key Responsibilities: To be successful in this position, the Teacher must bring a high level of passion and experience to each of the following:

Curriculum Development:

• Plan and implement developmentally appropriate curriculum that aligns with Alberta Educations standards and/or the programs 5 key pillars (independence, executive functioning, social skills, communication, and self advocacy)
• Create engaging lessons that support student learning goals
• Create yearly overviews, curriculum units, and daily lesson plans

Classroom Management:

• Establish and maintain a safe, inclusive, and organized classroom environment conducive to learning
• Implement effective behavior management strategies to ensure a positive classroom atmosphere
• Working with a multidisciplinary team to provide a holistic approach and ensure a positive and inclusive classroom environment.

Instruction and Assessment:

• Provide interactive and hands-on instruction that caters to various learning styles and abilities
• Assess student progress through observations, assessments, and evaluations
• Create IPP’s for your classroom students and conduct IPP meetings with parents who have students in the Kindergarten program
• Maintain all required documentation including timetables, instructional plans, class lists, etc.

Individualized Support:

• Recognize and address the unique needs and challenges of each student, providing individualized support and accommodations as necessary

Parent and Caregiver Communication:

• Maintain open and regular communication with parents and caregivers, sharing updates on student progress, activities, and events

Social and Emotional Development:

• Foster social and emotional growth by promoting empathy, cooperation, and self-regulation skills
• Create a nurturing and supportive classroom community

Professional Development:

• Stay updated on best practices in early childhood education through professional development and training opportunities

Competencies:

• Education Expertise: Develop program plans with core competencies as the primary focus
• Communication Skills: Effective verbal and written communication for interacting with students, parents, and colleagues
• Creativity: Ability to design and implement engaging and age-appropriate learning activities
• Classroom Leadership: Strong classroom management skills and the ability to create an inclusive and positive learning environment
• Collaboration: Willingness to work collaboratively with colleagues, support staff, and parents to enhance the learning experience

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Education or a related field (Master’s degree is a plus)
• Teaching certification or licensure
• 3 – 5 years experience working with children

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

Pay: $31.82-$38.21 per hour

Expected hours: 28 – 35 per week

Benefits:

• Dental care
• Extended health care
• Paid time off
• Vision care

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday
• No weekends

Experience:

• Teaching: 3 years (preferred)

Work Location: In person