In-hospital Program Specialist

 

Description:

ABOUT US

Help Bring Back the Joy of Childhood

Since 1983, Campfire Circle has delivered healing through happiness to thousands of kids with cancer or serious illness and their families across Ontario. Our programs are offered in paediatric hospitals across Ontario, in local communities, and at our medically supported overnight camps, offering year-round experiences that provide life-changing moments of joy, connection, and resilience.

But we’re just getting started. Today, over 40,000 kids in Ontario face serious illness, many without access to the psychosocial support they urgently need. That’s why we have a bold vision: to grow from serving 3,000 campers a year to 10,000. We’re building a passionate, talented team to help make that vision a reality. When you join Campfire Circle, you become an integral part of a dynamic team helping to transform the lives of thousands of kids with serious illness, alongside our dedicated community of volunteers and donors.

Help us give back the joy of childhood to every kid with serious illness who needs it most.

 

THE OPPORTUNITY

Campfire Circle is currently seeking an In-Hospital Program Specialist to help bring the joy of Campfire Circle to the hospital setting. Reporting to the Associate Manager, In-Hospital Program (GTA), the In-Hospital Program Specialist is accountable for developing safe, fun, and engaging camp-style programs that meet the needs of campers and families. This position works to provide an enriching year-round camp experience directly to children and families through hospital and community programs in Ontario. Campfire Circle provides hospital programming at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto and surrounding satellite hospitals, at McMaster Children’s Hospital in Hamilton, and Children’s Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre. This role will be positioned in Toronto working primarily at Sick Kids Hospital.

 

The key accountabilities of the role are:

 

1. Programming

• Create and facilitate safe, fun, and engaging camp-style programs, both for individuals and groups in hospital waiting areas, play-rooms and bed-side.
• Support, coach, and lead volunteers in achieving safe, fun, and engaging programs that facilitate friendship and fun.
• Develop and maintain positive and supportive working relationships with Medical Staff and Child Life.
• Occasionally support overnight programs and day camps.
• Adhere to all programming and cleaning procedures while complying with hospital policies and procedures, including confidentiality, occupational health, and all protocols pertaining to COVID-19.

 

 

2. Administration

• Complete administrative tasks required in the planning, execution, and follow-up of programs.
• Document programs, photographs, and camper stories and experiences to contribute to the program resources archive.
• Track and maintain accurate systems for gift-in-kind donations in collaboration with Development.
• Support volunteer recruitment, interviews, and training.

 

3. Outreach

• Reach out to and develop meaningful relationships with campers and their families on behalf of the organization.
• Promote programs to patients and families in efforts to recruit and support every child eligible to participate in In-Hospital, Community and Overnight Programs.
• Foster relationships with medical staff and promote Campfire Circle programs.
• Support medical staff engagement and appreciation events.
• Occasionally assist with speaking engagements on behalf of Campfire Circle and attend related community outreach events.

 

ABOUT YOU

 

QUALIFICATIONS

Required Criteria:

• Post-secondary education or equivalent experience.
• Minimum two years of experience as a staff or volunteer in a camp and/or hospital environment or working with children in a recreational setting.
• Experience facilitating group programs.
• Comfort working in a hospital setting with seriously ill children.
• Experience working with children with a variety of physical and developmental abilities.
• Clear police reference check and vulnerable sector screening
• Current G2 or G class driver’s license and the ability to be covered by camp’s insurance policy.

 

Advantageous Criteria:

• Experience teaching skill-based activities including but not limited to music, arts and crafts, drama, and magic.
• Experience supporting challenging behaviours.
• Demonstrated ability to work with families and an understanding of how illness impacts the entire family.
• Proficiency and ability to communicate in a second language (i.e. French, Spanish, Arabic, Tamil, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, etc.)
• Overnight or day camp experience.
• Experience working with a volunteer population.

 

 

To support our commitment to a safe, caring environment for children with serious illnesses and their families, all staff must attest to having received their childhood vaccinations and confirm a negative result in a two-step Tuberculosis ("TB") testing series. Seasonal boosters against Influenza and the most recent circulating strain of COVID are strongly encouraged. All staff must provide an updated criminal record check or Vulnerable Sector Screening and be currently eligible to work in Canada and for Campfire Circle.

 

WORKING CONDITIONS

This role works within a flexible schedule including significant evenings and weekends. Occasional driving long distances with overnight stays will be required and working outside will be required depending on the program. This position involves working in emotionally challenging environments and working with families in crisis, support, resources and training are provided. It will primarily be set in the hospital setting. In consideration of the population Campfire Circle serves, the incumbent is a non-smoker.

 

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

This position offers a competitive hiring range of $47,000 - $50,000. Campfire Circle is invested in our staff’s health, wellness and career growth. As part of the total compensation package for this role, we offer a comprehensive benefits package, including $4,000 annually for mental health practitioners (premiums fully paid by the organization with the exception of Long Term Disability), a wellness benefit up to $500 annually, an accelerated RRSP matching program up to 5% of base salary, paid vacation time plus a paid winter shutdown period up to eight days, flexible hybrid work arrangements, and on-going professional development.