The Child & Family Program Coordinator performs a wide range of culturally sensitive, strength-based, and family-centred services individually and as part of the Hlanganani team. The services aim to facilitate positive changes in the Hlanganani child’s individual life and broader family system.
Services are provided almost exclusively in the community, including the child’s home, school, and congregate care settings. The Program Coordinator works with a team, comprised of Home-Based Carers (HBC), Guardians, Hlanganani Leadership, and Mentors. The collaboration includes working with the child’s school, church, and community partners to provide the youth and their guardians with skill-building support, crisis intervention, and mental health counselling, using a biblical and practical approach.
Responsibilities
Child-related:
- In-person meetings with Hlanganani children and their guardians on a bimonthly basis.
- Regular communication with family, natural supports, and HBCs to address the child’s behavioral and relational needs throughout the week.
- Participate in all treatment reviews, leadership meetings, and school meetings when necessary.
- Provide counseling and services to ensure the successful transition of children and their families to community-based resources, including but not limited to linkage to employment services, transitional age youth skills, extra-curricular activities (sports, youth groups, after-school programs, etc.), and substance abuse programs.
- Assist with planning for transportation arrangements for school, mentoring groups, etc.
Guardian related:
- Actively engage families in parental/foster family training and trauma training and education as appropriate, providing such training 1:1 with the guardians and in a group setting.
- Draw on personal relevant experiences to support families in overcoming the challenges they face.
- Reinforcing caregiver’s participation in supportive activities.
Leadership:
- Collaborate with Home-Based Carers to ensure children are being visited, advised, and counseled on a regular basis.
- Support HBCs to ensure the children’s spiritual, physical, educational, and emotional needs are being met.
- Provide training to HBC as applicable.
- Provide non-judgmental, unconditional support to children and families.
- Uphold strict confidentiality of all child-related information.
- Maintain professional behavior at all times, appropriately representing the Hlanganani’s mission and core values and encouraging others to do the same.
- Flexibility to work a family-driven schedule which may include evenings and weekends.
- Perform all other duties as necessary for the good of the children as instructed by Hlanganani.
- Coordinate and implement overall services for an average of 40 youth and their families.
- Commit to and engage in self-evaluation as well as organizational efforts, goals, and strategies.
- Participate in bi-monthly supervision with a Hlanganani Program Leader.
- Complete paperwork and child progress report in a timely and professional manner.
Qualifications
- High school diploma.
- Two or more years of experience in a field of child and/or social development.
- Must be at least 21 years of age.
- Fingerprinting/background clearance.
- Bilingual (English, isiZulu, and overall ability to use multicultural communication)
- Ability and willingness to work independently in the community, at school sites, and in guardians’ homes.
- Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team and with a diverse population.
- Must be organized, creative, self-motivated, detail-oriented, and driven by excellence.
- Proficient written and verbal communication skills, including computer skills in Microsoft Office/Google Drive programs.
Schedule
- Full-time (40-hour workweek).
- Flexible schedule required, with the ability to work some evening and weekend hours as needed.
- Three months probation from the job commencement: JANUARY 2022, until both sides agree on the employment.
Benefits
- Starting stipend at R 8,000.00 per month, reliant on donations.
- 21 Days paid leave per annum.
PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATIONS AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS OR CV TO
KIRSTENTGRAY@GMAIL.COM BY DECEMBER 15TH, 2021