Rexdale Community Health Centre Looking for Academic & Social Researcher Supporting Students with Learning Disabilities at Etobicoke, ON Full Time

The Rexdale Community Health Centre provides primary health care, community development and health promotion programs to diverse communities in North-West Toronto. The primary goal of the Pathways to Education program is to address the social determinants of health by providing programs and services to enhance the educational and employment success of youth in the Rexdale/Jamestown community. We work with high-school students to keep them in school, improve their academic success and help them move on to post-secondary education.

We are looking for an Academic and Social researcher to be part of the Pathways to Education Team. This staff will focus on researching, developing, and implementing strategies to support struggling students and those with Learning Disabilities in the Program. This Academic and Social Researcher will work closely with other team to support students’ learning through developing and facilitating strategies for students’ engagement, social and life skills building. This staff will research learning strategies to improve student performance as well as liaison with Supervisor, Students Parent Support Workers (SPSW) and parents. The Academic and Social researcher will Reporting to the Program Director.

Key Responsibilities:

• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of child development, learning assessments and diagnosis.
• Demonstrate an understanding of current rules and regulations of Ontario and special education assessment and program requirements.
• Exhibit a personality that demonstrates enthusiasm and the interpersonal skills to relate well with students, staff, parents, and the community.

• Facilitate group activities, coordinate speakers, and develop resources, which may include organizing people, space, routines, materials, and data collection.
• Able to communicate effectively with staff, students, and school administration.
• Liaise with outside organizations and high school guidance departments for information, assessment supports and resources for students with Learning Disabilities.
• Monitor participation of students in the program.
• Assist other staff at Pathways and Rexdale Community Health Centre teams, as needed.

· Assess client skills/ abilities, interests, strengths, and needs.

• Provide educational services and resources to students and their families.
• Work collaboratively with youth, their families as well as cross-sector community partners in developing individualized, strengths-based and culturally competent service plans for students as necessary.

· Monitor performance standards, complete ongoing learning plans and performance appraisals for students as needed.

Qualifications:

• University/college education in a related field and/or combination of professional and lived experience.
• 3-5 years’ experience as a researcher or related experience working with youth from diverse backgrounds.
• Understanding of group dynamics, youth social skills development, and relationships.
• Experience in policy and practices research.
• Facilitation techniques appropriate to youth and adults of various cultural backgrounds in both large and small group settings.
• An understanding of the strengths and capacities of youth, as well as barriers and challenges faced by youth in a culturally diverse, low-income community.
• Knowledge of social services and resources for youth.
• Understanding of anti-discrimination concepts and their application.

· Excellent communication, both oral and written for a variety of audiences.

• Documentation and analysis of student data to highlight themes and challenges.
• Good time management and organizational skills, managing daily, weekly, and monthly deadlines.
• Computer word processing, spreadsheets, database, and desktop publishing.
• Problem solving for immediate and long-term challenges.

· Demonstrates the ability to engage in respectful interactions with others and address situations in ways that respect diverse backgrounds and lived experiences.

· A strengths-based, anti-racist/anti-oppression philosophy of service provision and a belief in the resilience and self-determination of clients and their families.

• Must be able to work flexible hours built around after-school access for students, school/program site visits and evening office hours.
• Access to a vehicle is an asset.

NOTE:

• A criminal record check will be a required
• Rexdale Community Health Centre has a mandatory vaccination policy in place

Salary Range: $20-25 per hour

Hours per week: 24

Starting date: ASAP

Contract Length: 3 months (with the possibility of extension)

Application Due Date: May 20, 2022

Job Types: Part-time, Fixed term contract

Salary: $20.00-$25.00 per hour

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree (preferred)

Experience:

• Academic and Social researcher: 3 years (preferred)
• working with youth from diverse backgrounds.: 3 years (preferred)

Application deadline: 2022-05-20