Active Lives Canada

About Us
Active Lives Canada is a supportive and collaborative organization dedicated to enriching the lives of individuals with developmental exceptionalities. We provide community-based day programs and residential respite services focused on independence, inclusion, skill development, safety, and overall well-being.
We are currently seeking an experienced and highly organized Respite Program Coordinator for an 18-month maternity leave contract.
This position is ideal for someone who combines hands-on developmental services experience with strong leadership and administrative skills. The successful candidate will have experience supporting individuals with complex behavioural needs, working within a group home or residential setting, supervising staff, communicating with families, and building meaningful connections within the community.
The Respite Program Coordinator will oversee the day-to-day operation of our respite services and work closely with the Program Supervisor to ensure participants receive safe, consistent, person-centred support.
Key Responsibilities
Respite Program Operations
<ul>
<li>Coordinate the day-to-day operation of Active Lives Canada's residential respite program.</li>
<li>Oversee respite stays from intake and planning through to the participant's arrival, stay, and departure.</li>
<li>Review participant information, care plans, behaviour support plans, medication information, routines, dietary requirements, and safety considerations prior to scheduled stays.</li>
<li>Ensure respite homes are properly prepared and staffed for upcoming participants.</li>
<li>Coordinate respite schedules based on participant needs, staffing requirements, behavioural considerations, and compatibility.</li>
<li>Ensure required documentation is completed accurately and within established timelines.</li>
<li>Maintain organized participant files, respite records, communication logs, incident documentation, and other program records.</li>
<li>Monitor the overall cleanliness, organization, safety, and readiness of respite homes.</li>
<li>Assist with inventory management, purchasing, and maintaining appropriate household and programming supplies.</li>
</ul>
Behavioural &amp; Participant Support
<ul>
<li>Provide leadership and guidance to staff supporting individuals with developmental exceptionalities and complex behavioural needs.</li>
<li>Assist in developing, reviewing, and implementing individualized care plans and behaviour support strategies.</li>
<li>Support staff in responding to behavioural incidents, crisis situations, escalations, and other challenging situations.</li>
<li>Model proactive, preventative, trauma-informed, and person-centred approaches.</li>
<li>Ensure behaviour and care plans are consistently understood and followed by staff.</li>
<li>Work collaboratively with families and other professionals to promote consistency of support.</li>
<li>Participate directly in participant support when additional leadership or assistance is required.</li>
</ul>
Staff Supervision &amp; Leadership
<ul>
<li>Provide ongoing supervision, direction, coaching, and support to respite staff.</li>
<li>Assist with scheduling and ensuring appropriate staffing levels for respite stays.</li>
<li>Provide staff with clear information regarding participant needs and expectations prior to each stay.</li>
<li>Support the orientation, training, and shadowing of new respite employees.</li>
<li>Ensure staff have reviewed and understand participant files, care plans, behaviour plans, and safety protocols before providing support.</li>
<li>Monitor staff performance and address concerns in collaboration with the Program Supervisor.</li>
<li>Assist with employee coaching, performance management, and professional development.</li>
<li>Lead or participate in respite staff meetings and training.</li>
<li>Promote consistency, accountability, professionalism, and teamwork among respite staff.</li>
</ul>
Family &amp; Community Communication
<ul>
<li>Act as a primary point of contact for families and caregivers regarding respite services, scheduling, participant needs, and program communication.</li>
<li>Build positive and professional relationships with participants, families, caregivers, community agencies, schools, service providers, and other partners.</li>
<li>Develop and maintain connections with community organizations and resources that can enhance respite programming and participant opportunities.</li>
<li>Identify community-based recreational, educational, volunteer, and life-skills opportunities appropriate for participants.</li>
<li>Respond professionally and compassionately to family questions, feedback, concerns, and changing support needs.</li>
<li>Collaborate with external professionals and agencies when required to support participant care.</li>
</ul>
Administration &amp; Program Development
<ul>
<li>Complete general administrative duties associated with the operation of the respite program.</li>
<li>Maintain accurate schedules, participant records, staff information, program documentation, and internal tracking systems.</li>
<li>Assist with respite inquiries, participant intake, scheduling, and family communication.</li>
<li>Prepare emails, reports, forms, schedules, and other program documents.</li>
<li>Use Google Workspace and other organizational systems to maintain accurate and accessible records.</li>
<li>Assist with tracking program capacity, staffing needs, participant stays, and other operational information.</li>
<li>Identify opportunities to improve respite systems, procedures, programming, and overall service delivery.</li>
<li>Collaborate closely with the Program Supervisor and other members of the management team.</li>
<li>Adhere to all organizational policies, procedures, confidentiality requirements, and applicable legislation.</li>
<li>Perform other related duties as required to support the successful operation of the respite program.</li>
</ul>
Qualifications
<ul>
<li>Diploma or degree in Developmental Services Worker (DSW), Child &amp; Youth Worker/Care Practitioner (CYW/CYC), Social Service Worker (SSW), Behavioural Science, Social Work, Psychology, or another related field.</li>
<li>Demonstrated experience supporting individuals with developmental exceptionalities.</li>
<li>Experience supporting individuals with behavioural or complex support needs is strongly preferred.</li>
<li>Previous group home, residential care, supported living, or respite experience is strongly preferred.</li>
<li>Experience supervising, mentoring, coaching, or leading staff.</li>
<li>Experience working directly with families and caregivers.</li>
<li>Strong understanding of person-centred support and positive behaviour support approaches.</li>
<li>Experience responding to behavioural incidents and crisis situations.</li>
<li>Strong administrative and organizational skills.</li>
<li>Ability to manage multiple schedules, deadlines, participant needs, and staff requirements simultaneously.</li>
<li>Excellent written and verbal communication skills.</li>
<li>Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to make appropriate decisions in fast-paced situations.</li>
<li>Comfortable working independently while maintaining strong communication with the management team.</li>
<li>Proficiency with Google Workspace and/or Microsoft Office.</li>
</ul>
Preferred Qualifications
The ideal candidate will also have:
<ul>
<li>Experience coordinating or supervising a group home, respite program, residential program, or similar service.</li>
<li>Experience developing or implementing behaviour support plans.</li>
<li>Experience with staff scheduling and residential staffing requirements.</li>
<li>Experience with participant intake and service planning.</li>
<li>Office administration experience.</li>
<li>Experience building partnerships with community organizations, recreational programs, schools, agencies, and other service providers.</li>
<li>Knowledge of community resources available throughout Orangeville, Dufferin County, and surrounding areas.</li>
<li>Experience with medication administration and documentation.</li>
<li>NVPCI or equivalent crisis prevention/intervention training.</li>
<li>Strong leadership skills with the ability to remain calm and solution-focused during challenging situations.</li>
<li>A creative and resourceful approach to community inclusion and participant programming.</li>
</ul>
Job Requirements
<ul>
<li>Clear Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Screening.</li>
<li>Current First Aid and CPR certification or willingness to obtain.</li>
<li>2-part TB test and Hepatitis B requirements as applicable.</li>
<li>Current and valid Class G Driver's Licence.</li>
<li>Reliable transportation and ability to travel between program locations and respite homes.</li>
<li>Ability to work Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.</li>
<li>Availability to provide support during evenings and weekends as needed, including responding to urgent respite or staffing situations.</li>
<li>NVPCI and Medication/Pharmacology training are considered strong assets.</li>
</ul>
What We're Looking For
We are looking for someone who is organized, dependable, confident, compassionate, and comfortable taking the lead.
The successful candidate should be equally comfortable working at a computer coordinating schedules and documentation, communicating with families, coaching staff, building community partnerships, and stepping into the respite home to support staff during a challenging situation.
This position requires someone who can see the bigger picture while also paying close attention to the day-to-day details that keep a residential respite program safe, organized, and successful.
Pay: From $22.00 per hour
Expected hours: 37.5 per week
Benefits:
<ul>
<li>On-site parking</li>
</ul>
Work Location: In person

Respite Program Coordinator – 18-Month Maternity Leave Contract

Respite Program Coordinator – 18-Month Maternity Leave Contract

This job is no longer available

Talents

Recruiters

About