HOPE (Helping Other Parents Excel), Client & Family Engagement Coordinator
Part-time Contract Position (21 hours a week)
Recognized throughout Southwestern Ontario as a leader in children’s (birth-18 years) mental health, Vanier Children’s Mental Wellness provides innovative treatment programs and services for children, experiencing emotional and behavioural challenges. As a registered charity and not-for-profit agency, Vanier has been in operation for over 54 years and is funded by the Ontario government. Vanier Children's Mental Wellness mission is to improve the lives of infants, children, and their families through the provision of mental health services based on clinical excellence, collaboration, partnerships, and system leadership. Appointed by the Ontario Government as “Lead Agency for Child/Youth Mental Health (CYMH) System Management” in London-Middlesex (2014), Vanier is also accountable for community-wide Child/Youth Mental Health System Planning (MCYS: “Moving on Mental Health”).
Position Summary:
The Helping Other Parents Excel, HOPE, program is funded in part through grants and donations as well as Vanier Lead Agency funds. HOPE services are based on the peer support model, and provide parents and caregivers support from a peer lens. Parents of children with mental health, social/emotional and behavioural challenges are a valuable resource for supporting other families coping with similar problems. The HOPE and Client & Family Engagement Coordinator could be a parent of a child/youth who has experience with mental health, social/emotional and/or behavioural challenges who is familiar with the children’s mental health, social services, and education systems in Ontario.
The HOPE and Client & Family Engagement Coordinator supports client and family engagement activities within Vanier and across the London Middlesex Child and Youth Mental Health sector. Engagement can include surveys, co design process work, and requires excellent interpersonal skills with strong communication and network building to support the development of trusted relationships. Experience working in a project environment will be beneficial. Vanier Children’s Mental Wellness, as a Lead Agency, facilitates client and family engagement activities within Middlesex County for all core Child and Youth Mental Health Services (CYMH). The HOPE, and Client & Family Engagement Coordinator reports to the Lead Agency Supervisor.
Responsibilities:
HOPE receives referrals from schools, Wrap-Around, Core Service Provider agencies within London Middlesex, and other parent support groups. Members of the community at large may self-refer to HOPE. Services include group and one-on-one mentoring, and resource and information sharing via social media and direct parent to parent contact. HOPE is a peer support program; we encourage applicants with lived experience supporting a child or youth in the CYMH sector to apply. The successful applicant will be responsible for building a peer support program and facilitating the ongoing development of the program to support parents of children who have accessed, are in program or have experience with CYMH services while supporting a loved one.
Client and Family engagement receives requests from the Core Service Providers seeking engagement feedback and support with Quality Improvement objectives. Client and Family engagement will include implementing outreach plans, programs, and activities to reach and engage key groups and organizations across London Middlesex with a focus on equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging. It will also include opportunities to organize and participate in events and campaigns to promote awareness of the CYMH service area activities and goals.
Requirements:
- Provide peer support to parents as required, including attending meetings, writing letters, providing information/resources to assist in advocacy
- Preference for post-secondary education, social services (CYC, SSW, ECE etc.)
- Two years’ experience working or volunteering with children or adults preferred
- Preference will be given to applicants with peer support training and strong facilitation skills.
- Fluency in French is an asset
- Community engagement experience, and comfort growing engagement groups as required. Including but not limited to cold calling clients for feedback, sending surveys and completing analysis of results, project support and strong organizational skills.
- Provide direction, resources, and support to those acting as parent mentors
- Coordinate the provision of group and 1:1 peer support
- Coordinate the provision of group and 1:1 engagement
- Liaison with other parent groups in the community, maintain communication with engagement members and internal CYMH programs
- Facilitate information sharing between parents and parent groups, schools, community groups
- Work to gain a strong understanding of the CYMH needs, and feedback from parents and guardians, along with children and youth on the CYMH service system including gaps, issues and opportunities for improvement
- Write reports, grant applications, and prepare presentations to Board of Directors
- Prepare bi-monthly reports on family feedback and trends for Executive Director
- Lead facilitation of Family Advisory Panel
- Develop effective relationships and collaborative working styles with community stakeholders, clients and support networks
- Support client engagement on services and projects
- Review client satisfaction feedback and support quality improvement initiatives
- Implement Client and Family Engagement Plan for London Middlesex
- Provide peer support to parents as required, including attending meetings, writing letters, providing information/resources to assist in advocacy
- Respond to email requests for information/service
- Perform research via the internet on publicly available information to assist parent advocacy (ex. Education Act as pertains to special education, Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth, Ontario Human Rights Commission, etc.)
- Maintain compendium of parent resource materials
- A valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle
- A Broad Record Check is required
Experience:
- Community engagement experience, and comfort growing engagement groups as required. Including but not limited to cold calling clients for feedback, sending surveys, and completing analysis of results.
- Two years’ experience working or volunteering with children or adults preferred.
- Peer support experience
- Project experience
Job Type:
- Fixed term contract
Expected Hours:
- Part-time, 21 hours per week.
Contract length:
- 12 months. Based on program/agency analysis, this contract could be extended or maintain permanent status.
License/Certification:
- Driving License (preferred) and access to a reliable vehicle
Work Location:
- In person, with hybrid opportunities.
To apply, kindly use the link below:
https://vanier.bamboohr.com/careers/64?source=aWQ9MTQ%3D
Vanier is committed to building a diverse workforce reflective of Canadian society. As a result, it promotes employment equity and encourages women, Indigenous persons, persons with a disability and members of visible minority groups to apply.
Vanier is committed to developing inclusive, barrier-free selection and appointment processes and work environments. If contacted in relation to this process, please advise the organization's representative of your need for accommodation measures which must be taken to enable you to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner.
While we appreciate your interest, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Any information obtained during the course of recruitment will be used for employment recruitment purposes only, and not for any other purpose.