Child Care Licensing Officer

Role Responsibilities

Are you passionate about Early Childhood Education and Development? If so, we have an opportunity for you! The Child Care Delivery Branch is currently hiring a Licensing Officer to join their team.

Reporting to a Child Care Licensing Supervisor, Licensing Officer's collaborate with childcare programs to enhance knowledge, provide resources and promote understanding of the Early Learning and Child Care Act and Early Learning and Child Care Regulation. As the successful candidate, you will have strong leadership skills, in-depth knowledge of current research on early brain development, child development, best practices, and community resources for children and families. Your strong communication, consultation and organizational skills will be the key to success, as well as your engagement, assessment, and collaboration skills. 

Licensing Officers focus on being able to gather balanced information through questioning approach and critically assessing that information to determine what referrals need to be made, what information may still be required and determined next steps. 

The Child Care Licensing Intake team is comprised of delegated licensing officers who are responsible for providing support to Albertans and Childcare programs across the province. This support consists of consistent messaging and information regarding all areas of Child Care Licensing including intake, licensing and monitoring of licensed childcare programs, family day home programs, licensed and unlicensed childcare complaint and critical incidents.  As a member of this team, you will be supporting the receipt of these incidents and complaints through the CXone phone system.  

Putting your well-honed assessment skills to the test you will use your knowledge and critical thinking skills to make recommendations regarding licenses and determine enforcement actions for facilities while working with considerable independence.  

In determining compliance Licensing Officers take a strength-based approach to assess programs, investigate complaints and incidents, and establish if compliance to the Early Learning and Child Care Act and Regulations are met. When noncompliance is identified, Licensing Officers evaluate the level of risk to children and issue appropriate enforcement actions. Licensing Officers are responsible for the completion of all required and corresponding documentation while ensuring all information is accurately updated into the Child Care Information System.

As a Childcare Licensing Officer, you will be accountable for the following key activities in the division such as but not limited to:

• Managing and Processing of Licence Applications
• Monitoring Compliance
• Managing Relationships and Communication
• Overseeing Service Delivery
• Facilitating Community Liaison
• Investigating Complaints and Incidents
• Handling Administrative Duties

If this opportunity sounds like you, do not hesitate to apply!

Please click on this link to view the job description for this position.

APS Competencies

Competencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.

This link will assist you with understanding competencies:
https://www.alberta.ca/system/files/custom_downloaded_images/psc-alberta-public-service-competency-model.pdf.

Competencies for this position include:

•    Agility

• • Maintains an open perspective to changing priorities, timelines, and unexpected and unplanned ad hoc requests from either internal or external partners.

•    Build Collaborative Environments

• • Strong interpersonal and facilitation skills to build capacity and develop effective working relationships with stakeholders internal and external to the ministry. 

•    Creative Problem Solving

• • Expertly considers, develops, and weighs implications of complex and technical compensation situations before proposing solutions. Continuously observes data quality issues that could confound regular reporting.

•    Drive for Results

• • Knowing what outcomes are important and maximizing resources to achieve results, while maintaining accountability to each other and external stakeholders.

•    Develop Self and Others

• • Sharing your knowledge, expertise, skills, and perspectives in consultation with stakeholders, increasing their breadth of perspective and knowledge.

•    Develop Networks 

• • Proactively building networks, connecting, and building trust in relationships with different stakeholders.
  • Seeks to understand the perspectives and needs of colleagues, clients, and stakeholders.

•    Systems Thinking

• • Maintains an awareness of current events and government priorities that may provide challenges and/or opportunities.
  • Leads collaborative efforts within the unit to reduce duplication and raise efficiency.

Qualifications

Education 

•    A degree in Early Childhood Education or a related Human Service degree (i.e. Social Work, Child & Youth Care, Psychology and Sociology, Human Service Administration or a related field) and a minimum 2 years related experience preferably in childcare role. 

•    Equivalencies accepted: 

• • A diploma in Early Childhood Education or a related Human Service diploma (i.e. Social Work, Child & Youth Care, Psychology and Sociology, Human Service Administration or related field) and a minimum 3 years related experience preferably in a childcare role.
  • A certificate in Early Childhood Education or a related Human Service certificate (i.e. Social Work, Child & Youth Care, Psychology and Sociology, Human Service Administration or related field) and a minimum 4 years related experience preferably in a childcare role.

•    First Aid Certification (Standard First Aid Level C and AED). 

Experience 

•    Minimum 2 years leadership and/or supervisory experience in a childcare setting (preferred) or in a related field. 
•    Working knowledge of the following: Early Learning and Child Care Act and Regulations, Child Care Licensing Handbook, Family Day Home Standards, and any other relevant legislation
     that may apply to the licensing, monitoring, approval and operations of childcare programs.
•    Demonstrated critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
•    Demonstrated ability to work independently within a team focused environment.
•    Demonstrated ability to handle a wide variety of work demands within short time frames.
•    Effective communication written and verbal to respond to concerns, request appropriate information, and participate in court procedures as needed.
•    Effective documentation skills are essential.  
•    Excellent consultation, and organizational skills. 
•    Knowledge of community resources and Indigenous culture is essential. 
•    Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Office Suite, and SharePoint (must be comfortable with using multi-media platforms).

Assets
•    Early Childhood Educator Certification:

• • Child Development Assistant - Level 1
  • Child Development Worker - Level 2
  • Child Development Supervisor - Level 3

•    Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Training (CPI)
•    Brain Story Certification 
•    Child Development – Ages and Stages
•    Flight – Alberta Early Learning and Care Framework Certification
•    Mental Health First Aid
•    Conflict Resolution Training
•    Indigenous or Cultural Training
•    Change Management Training 
•    Signs of Safety Training
•    Previous Licensing or Enforcement Experience 

Please Note: Education must be from an accredited post-secondary institution.  

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification. 

Refer to https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-minimum-recruitment-standards.

Notes

Positions may become available in the following locations: Camrose, Lloydminster, Barrhead, Edson, Hinton, Slave Lake, Vegreville, Vermillion, Wainwright.  

Candidates must be able to work from the designated work location. Relocation and relocation assistance are not available for this position.

Shortlisted candidates will be required to complete a written assessment prior to being invited for an interview. 

Role Requirements 

The successful candidate must have a valid Class 5 Driver's License and have access to a reliable vehicle as employees may be required to use their own vehicles and receive compensation when government fleet vehicles are not available. Appropriate business insurance is also required and compensated.  This position may also require the submission of a Standard Driver’s Abstract for the past five years.  

Flexibility to travel within assigned region and surrounding area is required.  Provincial Travel is also required.  It is estimated that 30% or more of role includes travel.

Due to the nature of this work, it can sometimes require early mornings, evenings, or weekend visits. Highway travel is involved and potentially overnight stays away from home.

As per the Health Professions Act, successful applicants must be registered with the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW) if:

• They possess a BSW, MSW, or Diploma in Social Work from any university in North America that is accredited by the Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE) or the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE); or 
• They have graduated from an approved social work diploma program in Alberta; or 
• They have, within the last five years, been a registered, certified, or licensed social worker in another province or with a member of the Association of Social Work Boards. 

The final candidate for this position will undergo an academic check, intervention record check and provide a suitable security screening. We will accept Criminal Records Check (CRC) that includes Vulnerable Sector check that have been completed within the last six months as per policy.   

Confirmation of First Aid (Standard First Aid Level C and AED) and ACSW (if applicable) registration details will also be required.  Final candidates may also be required to provide a Standard Driver’s Abstract for the past five years, at their own expense.

Any costs associated with obtaining the required documents/checks as noted or interview travel expenses, will be the responsibility of the candidate. Out-of-province applicants can obtain the required documents/checks from the province they currently reside in. 

Notes Cont'd

Application Requirements

To be considered, your application must be accompanied with a cover letter that demonstrates how your education and required experience make you suitable for the role. Your cover letter and resume will be used to assess your skills and abilities.  

Applications without a cover letter or the wrong cover letter will not be considered for the position. 

To be considered, your cover letter must include the location you are applying.  

In your resume, please include dates (including months and years) associated with all education and work experience. Please indicate whether your work experience is casual, part-time, or full-time. For example: January 15, 2006 – June 25, 2009: Assistant (PT three 8 hours shifts/week).  Resumes without start and end dates will not be considered for the position. 

Resumes must also clearly identify your supervisory experience.  Details about the experience as well as dates as noted above.  Resumes without identified supervisory experience and details will not be considered for the position. 

Candidates who have interviewed for a Child Care Licensing Officer Position in the last 6 months and have not qualified may not be invited for a written assessment/interview on this competition.  Please apply after 6 months at least to be considered.

Links and information on what the GoA have to offer to prospective employees.

•    Working for the Alberta Public Service - https://www.alberta.ca/advantages-working-for-alberta-public-service.aspx.
•    Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) - https://www.pspp.ca 
•    Alberta Public Service Benefit Information - https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-benefits.
•    Professional learning and development - https://www.alberta.ca/professional-development-support-directive.
•    Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool – https://researchapscareers.alberta.ca.
•    Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.
•    Leadership and mentorship programs.