Respite Program Coordinator - 18-Month Maternity Leave Contract

Job Description

Job Description

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

• Coordinate the day-to-day operation of Active Lives Canada's residential respite program.
• Oversee respite stays from intake and planning through to the participant's arrival, stay, and departure.
• Review participant information, care plans, behaviour support plans, medication information, routines, dietary requirements, and safety considerations prior to scheduled stays.
• Ensure respite homes are properly prepared and staffed for upcoming participants.
• Coordinate respite schedules based on participant needs, staffing requirements, behavioural considerations, and compatibility.
• Ensure required documentation is completed accurately and within established timelines.
• Maintain organized participant files, respite records, communication logs, incident documentation, and other program records.
• Monitor the overall cleanliness, organization, safety, and readiness of respite homes.
• Assist with inventory management, purchasing, and maintaining appropriate household and programming supplies.
  

Behavioural & Participant Support

• Provide leadership and guidance to staff supporting individuals with developmental exceptionalities and complex behavioural needs.
• Assist in developing, reviewing, and implementing individualized care plans and behaviour support strategies.
• Support staff in responding to behavioural incidents, crisis situations, escalations, and other challenging situations.
• Model proactive, preventative, trauma-informed, and person-centred approaches.
• Ensure behaviour and care plans are consistently understood and followed by staff.
• Work collaboratively with families and other professionals to promote consistency of support.
• Participate directly in participant support when additional leadership or assistance is required.
  

Staff Supervision & Leadership

• Provide ongoing supervision, direction, coaching, and support to respite staff.
• Assist with scheduling and ensuring appropriate staffing levels for respite stays.
• Provide staff with clear information regarding participant needs and expectations prior to each stay.
• Support the orientation, training, and shadowing of new respite employees.
• Ensure staff have reviewed and understand participant files, care plans, behaviour plans, and safety protocols before providing support.
• Monitor staff performance and address concerns in collaboration with the Program Supervisor.
• Assist with employee coaching, performance management, and professional development.
• Lead or participate in respite staff meetings and training.
• Promote consistency, accountability, professionalism, and teamwork among respite staff.
  

Family & Community Communication

• Act as a primary point of contact for families and caregivers regarding respite services, scheduling, participant needs, and program communication.
• Build positive and professional relationships with participants, families, caregivers, community agencies, schools, service providers, and other partners.
• Develop and maintain connections with community organizations and resources that can enhance respite programming and participant opportunities.
• Identify community-based recreational, educational, volunteer, and life-skills opportunities appropriate for participants.
• Respond professionally and compassionately to family questions, feedback, concerns, and changing support needs.
• Collaborate with external professionals and agencies when required to support participant care.
  

Administration & Program Development

• Complete general administrative duties associated with the operation of the respite program.
• Maintain accurate schedules, participant records, staff information, program documentation, and internal tracking systems.
• Assist with respite inquiries, participant intake, scheduling, and family communication.
• Prepare emails, reports, forms, schedules, and other program documents.
• Use Google Workspace and other organizational systems to maintain accurate and accessible records.
• Assist with tracking program capacity, staffing needs, participant stays, and other operational information.
• Identify opportunities to improve respite systems, procedures, programming, and overall service delivery.
• Collaborate closely with the Program Supervisor and other members of the management team.
• Adhere to all organizational policies, procedures, confidentiality requirements, and applicable legislation.
• Perform other related duties as required to support the successful operation of the respite program.
  

Qualifications

• Diploma or degree in Developmental Services Worker (DSW), Child & Youth Worker/Care Practitioner (CYW/CYC), Social Service Worker (SSW), Behavioural Science, Social Work, Psychology, or another related field.
• Demonstrated experience supporting individuals with developmental exceptionalities.
• Experience supporting individuals with behavioural or complex support needs is strongly preferred.
• Previous group home, residential care, supported living, or respite experience is strongly preferred.
• Experience supervising, mentoring, coaching, or leading staff.
• Experience working directly with families and caregivers.
• Strong understanding of person-centred support and positive behaviour support approaches.
• Experience responding to behavioural incidents and crisis situations.
• Strong administrative and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple schedules, deadlines, participant needs, and staff requirements simultaneously.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to make appropriate decisions in fast-paced situations.
• Comfortable working independently while maintaining strong communication with the management team.
• Proficiency with Google Workspace and/or Microsoft Office.
  

Preferred Qualifications

The ideal candidate will also have:

• Experience coordinating or supervising a group home, respite program, residential program, or similar service.
• Experience developing or implementing behaviour support plans.
• Experience with staff scheduling and residential staffing requirements.
• Experience with participant intake and service planning.
• Office administration experience.
• Experience building partnerships with community organizations, recreational programs, schools, agencies, and other service providers.
• Knowledge of community resources available throughout Orangeville, Dufferin County, and surrounding areas.
• Experience with medication administration and documentation.
• NVPCI or equivalent crisis prevention/intervention training.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to remain calm and solution-focused during challenging situations.
• A creative and resourceful approach to community inclusion and participant programming.

Job Requirements

• Clear Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Screening.
• Current First Aid and CPR certification or willingness to obtain.
• 2-part TB test and Hepatitis B requirements as applicable.
• Current and valid Class G Driver's Licence.
• Reliable transportation and ability to travel between program locations and respite homes.
• Ability to work Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
• Availability to provide support during evenings and weekends as needed, including responding to urgent respite or staffing situations.
• NVPCI and Medication/Pharmacology training are considered strong assets.
  

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.gram.