Student, Caseworker (Child Care Subsidy)

Duties/Responsibilities

• Assesses applicants’ eligibility for child care subsidy and advises parents regarding options for placing their children in licensed child care programs.
• Interviews applicants to determine their eligibility and investigates all criteria, including financial information, immigration status, and child support and/or custody.  
• Advises applicants of all decisions related to their subsidy. Performs complete financial assessments. Establishes amount of child care coverage and calculates fees to be paid by all eligible applicants.  
• Updates and maintains client hard copy and electronic files. Uses the Ontario Child Care Management System (OCCMS) to determine ongoing subsidy, and record automated narratives. Also accesses the provincial social assistance technology.  
• Maintains ongoing contact with clients regarding their subsidy. Responds to and resolves subsidy issues. Works to provide integrated services with other Community Services staff.  
• Completes and issues confirmation of fee assistance letters to clients and child care programs. 
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge is normally acquired through current enrollment in an Early Childhood Education college program or a college or university program in Social Sciences, including six credits targeted to social services. 
• Knowledge of and ability to comply with policies, procedures, and program requirements, and legislation including the Child Care & Early Years Act.
• Understanding of local community agencies, and social work issues and practices.  
• Analytical, math, and organization skills to establish monthly schedules, assess applicant subsidy, complete financial assessments, perform manual calculations, maintain accurate, complete documentation, and provide justification for subsidy decisions. 
• Ability to work independently. 
• Human relations and communication skills (including interviewing and listening skills) to conduct personal interviews, adapt and adjust style and approach based on individual situations, respond appropriately to applicants/clients who may be in crisis or difficult situations, explain and interpret legislation and regulations to applicants, and participate as an effective team member.  
• Computer skills with ability to use systems such as OCCMS, subsidy booking system, Microsoft Office, the Internet, and provincial social assistance technology. 
• Ability to read and understand file narratives, all application data (e.g., verification related to financial income, legal settlements, immigration status), publications, minutes, correspondence, and legislation updates.  
• Ability to write correspondence, write and update file narratives, and complete subsidy forms.  
• Ability to travel within Waterloo Region. 
• Must provide an acceptable vulnerable sector police records check. 
• Ability to support and demonstrate the Region’s values. 

Additional Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

To be considered for employment as a student, a person must be: registered as a full-time secondary or post-secondary student in an accredited institution, or currently recognized as having full-time status by the academic institution but applying for a school vacation, practicum or work term, or returning to full-time studies in the next academic term. Students who are in their final year of academic study and who are not intending to return to full-time studies are eligible for student employment up until the time they convocate.  Students participating in education and retraining programs at the post- secondary level, though not full-time students, are eligible for related student employment opportunities, where appropriate.