Position Purpose

The Student Parent Support Worker is responsible for building relationships with up to a maximum of 30 students and families in the Pathways program, which includes monitoring each students’ progress, providing advocacy and counseling support as needed, offering referrals to other support agencies as appropriate, and managing the financial incentives of the program for the students.

The Student Parent Support Worker liaises with family, school, and Pathways programming staff in order to ensure that each student is taking full advantage of all of the supports available to him / her. The SPSW also participates in the coordination and provision of annual activities, mentoring and life skills, services such as student and parent recruitment and registration. A long term commitment is required to ensure trust and relationship building process with students.

Key Areas of Accountability

1. Advocacy and Counseling
   
2. Financial Supports
   
3. Long-term respectful relationships with students, family and schools

Responsibilities and Tasks

• Establish and maintain positive and supportive relationships with students, parents / guardians and secondary school staff.
• Establish a regular meeting process with students and document all interactions. Follow up on all action plans developed with the student.
• Identify specific educational, social and emotional challenges / gaps and the appropriate supports required to address those challenges / gaps. Initiate the required activity to ensure appropriate supports are provided to the student.
• Establish and maintain a process to regular obtain attendance data, school credits, suspension reports and any school learning assessments. Validate data for accuracy and completeness. Monitor and analyze trends; ensure students retain eligibility for financial / program supports.
• Establish and implement a process to deliver financial supports to eligible students and any applicable program supports.
• Review student progress review on a regular basis with Program Director / Coordinator of SPSWs and ensure information flow with program team members as appropriate.
• Ensure lines of communication are open with students, parents and schools
• Support and when appropriate, advocate for students to parents / guardians, staff and / or school boards regarding decisions affecting their educational development. Engage support of Program Director / Coordinator of SPSWs per program processes and / or policies.
• Support in the development and / or implementation of ongoing program evaluation processes. For example: student surveys, parent focus groups.
• Actively participate in all working teams or communities of practice (local program team, all SPSWs, others as defined) to share knowledge and collaborate in problem-solving.
• Develop an appropriate knowledge of community and social service resources

Educational Background

• Relevant college or university degree or certificate or combination of experience and studies

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Minimum 2-years of experience working with inner city youth
  
• Ability to work respectfully with diverse groups of people, including Aboriginal communities
  
• Knowledge and / or experience in at least two of the following areas:
  
  • community development and resources,
  • social services and resources,
  • secondary education system,
  • special education,
  • second language learners,
  • youth development
  • Aboriginal communities
• Demonstrated leadership skills and abilities
  
• Other languages an asset, specifically languages of the community
  
• Knowledge of barriers that impact educational success for inner-city youth.

Dimensions of Work

• Primary interface is with the student; liaison role with parents, school staff and other agencies when referrals are necessary
• Direct reporting relationship to Program Director in Years 1 – 2 of program
• Direct reporting relationship changes to Coordinator of SPSWs by Year 3 of program, or when there are at least 6 SPSWs in place
• Coordination and sharing information with Program Facilitators (Tutoring, Mentoring (Group, Specialty, Career)) regarding students

Work Conditions

• Six month term position
• Travel between multiple locations: local program office, schools.
• Manual dexterity required to use desktop computer and peripherals.
• Must be able to work flexible hours including evening and rotating weekends

Application Process

CEDA is an employment equity employer and welcomes application from equity groups.

Please send cover letter and resume to: Kathy@cedawpg.org