Child Life Specialist

About YOU

You are passionate about enhancing the lives of and relationships of children, youth and families. Driven and dedicated, you view your work as more than just a job, taking personal ownership and responsibility for achieving objectives on time. Your enthusiasm for helping others and your relentless commitment to making a difference make you a perfect fit for our team. Your dedication to ongoing professional development makes you excited to be part of an organization that encourages you to grow. Your desire to work in a supportive and diverse community, coupled with your commitment to high-quality care, ensures that you will excel at ROCK as an EarlyON Registered Early Childhood Educator.

About ROCK

ROCK (Reach Out Centre for Kids) is recognized as the number one non-profit employer of choice, leading the way in providing mental health services to children, youth, and families in the Halton region. We are an accredited organization with exemplary standings from Accreditation Canada, reflecting our commitment to high-quality care. Our dynamic and collaborative team is dedicated to achieving our mission and vision, fostering a positive and inclusive environment that mirrors the diversity of the community we serve. At ROCK, we offer various professional development opportunities, company events, and a supportive culture that encourages innovation and growth. Join us in making a meaningful impact in mental health care.

The ROLE

As a Child Life Specialist at ROCK, you will play a key role in supporting children ages birth to 12 years and their families through assessment, therapeutic intervention, skills development, and psychoeducation. Using developmentally appropriate, play-based approaches, you will help prevent and reduce traumatic experiences, support emotional expression, and promote coping and understanding related to medical and mental health experiences.

Working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team, you will coordinate client care, advocate for children and families, and contribute to program development and community-based initiatives. This role supports both direct client services and broader system-level engagement through consultation, education, and partnership.

This is an existing vacancy and is a 12 month full-time contract position (35 hours per week).

Who we're looking for:

• A degree in Child Life Studies & Psychosocial Care or an equivalent field
• Membership with the Ontario Association of Mental Health Professionals is considered an asset
• A minimum of two (2) years of experience working with children in a healthcare or related setting
• Relevant knowledge and skill in the assessment and treatment of children and their families
• Experience or familiarity with the Early Years Framework is an asset
• Experience working in community-based settings is preferred
• Practice, training, or experience in one or more of the following areas is considered an asset:
  • Therapeutic play and psychoeducation
  • Group facilitation or parent education
  • CBT, DBT, trauma-informed approaches, or systemic family therapy
• Proficiency in the use of technology, including virtual service delivery; Mac OS experience preferred
• Current (within three months) Criminal Reference Check with Vulnerable Sector Search

What will help you succeed:

• Strong interpersonal, empathic, and collaborative skills
• Demonstrated understanding of child development, family systems, and emotional regulation
• Ability to apply clinical knowledge creatively through play-based and developmentally appropriate interventions
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Sound judgment, organization, and problem-solving abilities
• Reliable transportation to travel between sites in alignment with program needs

Our rewards ROCK - Join our team and ENJOY:

🕒 Flexibility: A hybrid model that supports work-life balance
🌴 Recharge: Paid time off available
📖 Learning: Professional development assistance to support your growth
🍎 Wellness: Health Care Spending Account and Discounted GoodLife memberships

ROCK is committed to fostering a positive and progressive workforce reflecting the community we serve and promoting diversity at all levels in a dynamic and inclusive environment. We provide equitable treatment and accommodation to ensure barrier-free employment in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and ROCK’s Accommodation Policy.

If you are invited to participate in the interview process and require accommodation for the interview, we ask that you provide your accommodation request as soon as reasonably practicable. Please be advised that you may be requested to provide verifiable supporting information, such as medical or other documentation depending upon the type of Code-protected accommodation, to Human Resources to ensure that appropriate accommodation is provided to you throughout the hiring process. ROCK treats all accommodation requests confidentially.

Please note that ROCK positions are currently working in an on-site and virtual hybrid model. Positions are located in the Halton Region and travel between sites may be required.