Working in Child Care

Looking for a career in child care? We hire registered child care professionals that share our passion for providing high quality, engaging learning opportunities for children 0-12 years.

Niagara Region operates five child care centres across Niagara, including Fort Erie, Niagara Falls, Port Colborne, St. Catharines and Welland.

Become a registered early childhood educator

We're looking for registered early childhood educators to begin their journey with Niagara Region -- a great place to live, work and grow.

Education

To work as a registered early childhood educator, you will have:

• Completed a two year college program, with a diploma in Early Childhood Education; or
• Recognition of equivalency through the College of Early Childhood Educators

We encourage new graduates to apply.

Employment opportunities

Within Children’s Services there are a variety of career and growth opportunities to explore.

• Lead early childhood educator

  The lead registered early childhood educator functions as both a registered early childhood educator and lead registered early childhood educator. This role:

  • Helps the supervisor with day-to-day operations of the child care centre, including scheduling and family / staffing requests, child care related programs and initiatives, and administration duties in compliance with the Child Care Early Years Act, 2014 and Children's Services policy and procedure
  • Acts as the designate at the child care centre in the absence of the supervisor
  • Builds caring and responsive relationships with children, families and colleagues
  • Uses their professional knowledge of child development, learning theories, and pedagogical and curriculum approaches to plan, implement, document and assess child-centered inquiry and play-based learning experiences for children between 0 to 12 years of age
  • Creates and maintains a child care environment that support children's play and learning, and contributes to a sense of belonging and overall well-being
  • Ensures compliance with Children's Services policies, Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 legislation and regulations and the College of Early Childhood Educators 

  Education requirements

  • Completion of a two-year college program, with a diploma in early childhood education or recognition of equivalency through the College of Early Childhood Educators registration
  • Completion of the Quality Child Care Niagara Reflective Practice Institutes which includes training in:
  • Environmental Rating Scales
  • Developmental Preschool Screen
  • Referral process for speech / language and behavioural supports
  • "How Does Learning Happen?" framework: Ontario's Pedagogy for the Early Years
  • Early Learning for Every Child Today and other training developed in this initiative
• Home child care advisor

  Maintains a caseload of home child care providers and clients accessing licensed home child care services while assessing ongoing effectiveness of the home child care environment and client placement. This role:

  • Facilitates placements for children 0 to 12 years of age in licensed home child care
  • Acts as a liaison between providers and clients to promote positive and collaborative relationships
  • Advises new home child care provider applicants of the legislated regulations and inspect the premises to determine suitability for a contractual agreement
  • Monitors contracted providers to ensure compliance and on-going suitability in accordance with Regional Policies, Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 legislation and regulations
  • Inspects homes to ensure compliance with legislation and policies
  • Provides ongoing advice and support to home childcare providers

  Education requirements

  • Completion of a two-year diploma or degree in early childhood education, as mandated by Provincial legislation

  • Completion of the Quality Child Care Niagara Reflective Practice Institutes which includes training in:
  • Environmental Rating Scales
  • Developmental Preschool Screen
  • Referral process for speech / language and behavioural supports
  • "How Does Learning Happen?" framework: Ontario's Pedagogy for the Early Years
  • Early Learning for Every Child Today and other training developed in this initiative
• Resource consultant

  Maintains a caseload of children who have been referred for consultative support. In this role, the resource consultant:

  • Observes, screens, assesses and develops a coordinated service plan for each child on the caseload
  • Monitors the child's development and recommends / facilitates referrals for more services, if needed
  • Works with educators, parent(s) / guardian(s) and community partners to provide an inclusive early year's environment that reflects each child's unique abilities
  • Supports the child to participate to their full potential
  • Facilitates the Transition to School process for children entering the elementary school system

  Education requirements

  • Completion of a two-year community college program with a diploma in early childhood education
  • Post diploma Early Childhood Education Resource Teacher Certificate or a program of studies that is approved by the director of the Ministry of Education
• Child care centre supervisor

  Reporting to the Children's Services operations manager, the supervisor of child care services is responsible for the onsite operations of a child care centre and child-care related programs and initiatives.

  Education requirements

  • Completion of a two-year community college program with a diploma in early childhood education
  • Post-secondary degree in child development or equivalent preferred
• Program supervisor

  Reporting to the Children's Services manager, the Children's Service program supervisor is responsible for the delivery and administration of Niagara Region's licensed home child care program and resource consultant program. The role:

  • Provides guidance and expertise to both programs to ensure quality child care services and program compliance with legislation and policies
  • oversees contractual agreements with Home Child Care Providers and child care arrangements including Resource Consultant supports for families enrolled in licensed child care in Niagara

  Education requirements

  • Completion of a two-year community college program with a diploma in early childhood education
  • Early Childhood Education Resource Teacher Certificate or a program of studies that is approved by the director of the Ministry of Education is preferred

  • Post-secondary degree in child development or equivalent preferred
• Program manager

  Reporting to the manager of children's operations, the child care services program manager:

  • Coordinates, monitors and evaluates directly operated child care programs
  • Makes recommendations for action to the manager within legislative / regulatory requirements and in accordance with the approved Regional Council Business Plan

  Education requirements

  • Completion of a two-year community college program with a diploma in early childhood education or recognition of equivalency through the College of Early Childhood Educators registration
  • Post-secondary degree in child development, human services or equivalent preferred