About Us

Children Matter Community Services is seeking a Program Manager to lead a staffed respite home supporting children and youth through the Ministry of Children and Family Development’s Specialized Homes and Support Services.

Respite provides children and youth with opportunities for positive experiences, relationships and individualized support while giving families and caregivers time to rest and attend to other needs. We are looking for a thoughtful leader who can help each young person feel welcome, understood, and supported throughout their stay.

Our approach is grounded in relationships, connection and belonging. We believe that caring for the people we lead strengthens their ability to care for the young people we serve.

About the role The Program Manager oversees the home’s daily operations, leads individualized service planning and provides mentorship and supervision to the Residence Coordinator and staff team.

You will work alongside children, youth, families, caregivers, MCFD workers and community professionals to plan respite stays that reflect each young person’s needs, strengths, routines and goals. You will help the team provide consistent care across visits and support smooth transitions between the respite home and the young person’s usual care setting.

Responsibilities:

Individualized respite planning and care

- Lead the development, implementation and review of SHSS service plans in collaboration with children, youth, families, caregivers, MCFD workers and other involved professionals.
- Coordinate planning before each stay so staff understand the young person’s communication preferences, routines, support needs, health considerations and safety plans.
- Help children and youth become familiar with the home and team at a pace that supports comfort and trust.
- Plan meaningful activities that reflect individual interests and create opportunities for enjoyment, connection, skill development and community participation.
- Support continuity across respite visits through clear documentation, staff communication and consistent approaches.
- Coordinate medication support and other health-related routines in accordance with established care instructions, staff training and CMCS policies.
- Review each young person’s experience and use feedback to strengthen future stays.

Family, caregiver and community partnerships

- Build respectful relationships with families and caregivers, recognizing their knowledge of the young person and their own support needs.
- Establish clear communication before, during and after stays, including sharing relevant updates and discussing changes in support needs.
- Coordinate arrivals, departures and transitions with families, caregivers and involved professionals.




- Work collaboratively with MCFD and other partners to support service goals, address concerns and coordinate additional supports when needed.
- Include children and youth meaningfully in decisions about their stay.
- Support connections to culture, family and community

Team leadership and development

- Mentor and supervise the Residence Coordinator and staff team while working collaboratively and integrating CMCS culture.
- Create a team environment where staff feel valued, supported and comfortable seeking guidance.
- Participate in recruitment, scheduling, orientation and ongoing staff development.
- Ensure staff receive individualized guidance before supporting children and youth whose needs or routines are unfamiliar to them.
- Build staff understanding of trauma-informed, attachment-informed and relationship-based care.
- Support respectful responses to distress, communication differences and behaviours that communicate unmet needs.
- Lead team discussions and post-incident debriefs that encourage reflection, learning and staff well-being.

Program operations and quality

- Oversee daily operations, staffing and scheduling to provide dependable respite services.
- Coordinate respite bookings and service delivery within approved program capacity and service arrangements.
- Identify staffing, equipment, accessibility, or training needs and work with the Director of Programs to address them.
- Maintain service plans, records, reports, and other required documentation.
- Monitor program spending and contribute to budget and resource planning.
- Ensure the home is welcoming, clean, safe, secure and appropriately maintained.
- Maintain program practices consistent with CMCS policies, SHSS expectations, MCFD contractual requirements and CARF standards.
- Participate in the on-call and standby rotation.

Qualifications and Experience:

- A diploma or degree in child and youth care, social work, human services or a related field.
- Three years of recent, related experience, including at least one year of supervisory or administrative experience.
- An equivalent combination of education, training and experience may be considered but will not be given priority.
- Experience supporting children and youth with diverse developmental, emotional, behavioural or mental health needs.
- An understanding of trauma-informed, attachment-informed and relationship-based approaches.




- The ability to collaborate with families and caregivers and translate individualized care information into practical guidance for staff.
- Strong communication, documentation, organizational and leadership skills.
- Knowledge of culturally safe care for Indigenous children and youth, with a commitment to cultural humility and ongoing learning.
- An unrestricted Class 5 driver’s licence and a driver’s abstract meeting CMCS requirements.
- The ability to obtain and maintain required criminal record and MCFD screening clearances and maintain clearance throughout employment

Experience that would be an asset:

- Experience in respite, staffed homes
- Familiarity with the SHSS model and working collaboratively with MCFD.
- Experience supporting younger children, neurodivergent youth or young people with diverse abilities.
- Training in communication supports, positive behaviour support, crisis prevention or relationship-based interventions.
- Experience coordinating services for several families while maintaining individualized care and continuity across visits.

Who will thrive in this role? You understand that arriving in an unfamiliar home can be a significant experience for a child or youth. You pay attention to the small things that help them feel comfortable: a familiar routine, a favourite activity, someone who listens, and a warm welcome when they return.

You bring that same care to your leadership. By helping staff feel connected, capable and supported, you strengthen their ability to create positive experiences for young people and dependable support for families.

At our agency, we're not just offering a job; we're building a community that prioritizes the joy of work and the ongoing development of each team member. We understand that true success comes from a harmonious balance between work and life, and we're committed to fostering an workplace that supports your well-being. Our dedication to continuous education ensures that you're not just growing professionally, but personally too.

Apply

Please submit your resume and a cover letter describing your experience supporting children, youth and families, and your approach to leading a caring respite team.

Children Matter Community Services welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds. Please let us know if you require accommodation during the recruitment process.

Pay: $34.00-$42.00 per hour

Benefits

- Casual dress
- Dental care
- Extended health care
- Paid time off
- Wellness program

Education:
- DCS / DEC (required)

Experience:
- Crisis support and: 1 year (required)
- Management: 2 years (required)

Licence/Certification:
- MHFA, First Aid, MANDT, or NVCI (preferred)

Work Location: In person

📌 Program Manager – Child & Youth Respite Services (Kamloops)
🏢 Children Matter Community Services
📍 Kamloops