Activities Convenor - Emily's Backyard

The Alberta Children's Hospital (ACH) is a warm and vibrant workplace, with team members providing service to children and their families in inpatient units and ambulatory clinics. Emily's Backyard (EBY) play area, with locations at ACH and the Child Development Centre, focuses on providing a unique family-centered care experience for hospital patients, siblings and families. The casual Activities Convenor will be responsible for the supervision of children in a play area environment; implementation of crafts and activities to meet the variety of needs of the children; provision of effective communication, support and resource information to parents and healthcare clinicians; supporting and working with a diverse group of volunteers, spanning a wide range of skills, abilities, ages and experience; and the overall maintenance and program duties (bookings, toy cleaning, craft preparation, etc.) in Emily's Backyard. The casual Activities Convenor may support EBY’s programs at both the main site and the Child Development Centre. This position indirectly reports to the Emily’s Backyard Coordinator and is accountable to the Manager of the ACH Family and Community Resource Centre.

As an Activities Convenor, you will be responsible for planning, organizing and carrying out entertainment, diversion, social and emotional wellness group activities for clients.

Completion of Grade 12.

Diploma required in Early Childhood, Education, Healthcare-related discipline or Special Education; related diploma in child and youth studies considered. Minimum 1 year experience working/supervising with groups of children. Able to lift up to 50 pounds routinely (to assist children as needed in the setting). Possess a genuine, caring, fun, engaging demeanor and comfortable engaging in play-based activity with young children for extended time periods. Good command of the English language - both written and spoken. Strong knowledge of childhood growth and development to safely support children with special needs in a peer/play based setting. Demonstrated ability to work well as a team member. Excellent interpersonal communications skills. Conflict resolution skills and ability to provide child-focused positive reinforcement and/or distraction. Knowledge of and adherence to the practice of Patient & Family Centered Care (including the practice of same with a diverse and multicultural population).

Previous experience working with volunteers; especially volunteers working directly with children. Previous experience in a child-minding environment. Previous experience working with children with diverse abilities. Second language (including sign language) is an asset.