Child & Youth Development Specialist

Your Opportunity:

The Royal Alexandra Hospital is seeking a dedicated Child and Youth Development Specialist (CYDS) to join our inpatient tertiary care program supporting children and youth with complex neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental needs. Working under the Unit Manager and Charge Nurse, the CYDS is an active member of a multidisciplinary team and contributes to therapeutic programming, behavioral support, and developmentally informed care. You will provide ongoing observation, engagement, supervision, and therapeutic intervention within a structured treatment milieu. The CYDS is responsible for implementing individualized behavioural support plans that address each child and adolescent’s unique developmental, behavioural and emotional needs. You will support structured and unstructured therapeutic activities, support positive behavioural outcomes, and promote participation in skill-building, social, recreational and developmental programming. This position requires ongoing collaboration with the multidisciplinary healthcare team through participation in case conferences, treatment planning, discharge planning, and interdisciplinary discussions. You will communicate observations, behavioural responses, and therapeutic progress, support referrals, and liaise with community resources to ensure children, youth, and families have access to appropriate services and supports. As a Child and Youth Development Specialist, you will contribute to a safe, supportive, and family-centered environment while supporting children and adolescents with complex developmental, behavioural, and mental health needs. You will be part of a collaborative team committed to evidence-informed practice, therapeutic engagement, and exceptional patient- and family-centered care.

Description:

As a Child & Youth Development Specialist (CYDS), you will provide assessment, treatment and follow-up to children and youth in the community, educational system, and/or hospital setting who are at risk of or have a disability, and/or have a significant developmental delay. Using a family-centered care approach, you will create, implement and update family service plans specific to child/youth needs, adapting interventions/activities as appropriate. As a CYDS, you will observe, identify and report child developmental or behaviour difficulties and make recommendations to the appropriate interdisciplinary team. You will liaise with and provide referrals to other disciplines and external agencies as appropriate. You will provide information and education regarding child/youth development to parents, education providers, other interprofessionals and the community. You will support family funding and education/services placement applications and maintain printed resources and equipment for child and adolescent programs.