Child Support Officer

The Children's Authority of Trinidad and Tobago is a specialized agency with the responsibility for the care and protection of children, especially those who are at risk or have been victims of abuse or neglect.

The Children's Authority of Trinidad and Tobago is seeking to recruit for Child Support Officers, on contract.

The Child Support Officer (CSO) will be the primary contact of all children coming under the care and protection of the Children’s Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (CATT).  He/ She will nurture, supervise, and provide care, whilst building positive and holistic relationships with all children and team members of CATT.

Principal Accountabilities/ Key Functions:

• Be observant and have the ability to identify changing needs and conditions (inclusive of negative effects of the environment) of the children, notifying the respective Team Lead of any signs of any emotional, physical or developmental issues via the established medium.
• Works closely with the Psychologist and Team Lead to develop and facilitate appropriate daily activities to support children’s need for play/ recreation, continuous learning, and physical exercise.
• Organizes, supervises and/or facilitates mealtimes and snacks as required.
• Ensures a safe, sanitary, and orderly environment including play areas, children’s rooms, common rooms, and dining areas.
• Maintains professional and positive relationships with parents, children, and staff.
• Supervises and assists during homework and revision.
• Ensure that the children’s personal hygiene, care and safety needs are taken care of.  This would include grooming, nutrition and basic psychosocial needs such as positive love and affection, ethical and moral values, hope, confidence and self-worth.
• Accompanies children during security search and appointments for parents, doctors, etc.
• Completes critical incident reports.
• Administer disciplinary actions based on documented recommendations.
• Fill prescriptions, when possible, dispense medication as prescribed and update the medical records accordingly.
• Promotes children’s holistic well-being through meaningful relationship building.
• Consistently works with all team members to meet the needs of all children.
• Administer First Aid, routine tests (blood-pressure, blood-sugar) and CPR as required.
• Ensures the highest levels of service to all internal and external stakeholders and clients.
• Must be sensitive to children’s issues, conform to the guidelines and standards set by The Authority and to all legal, regulatory and statutory requirements.
• Ensures handover happens between shifts with accurate documentation of important activities/ occurrences as established by assigned Team Lead are recorded.
• Performs any other relevant duties as directed by assigned Team Lead.

Minimum Qualifications:

• An Associate Degree in a Social Science (Social Work, Psychology, etc.).
• Three (3) years’ experience working with children (engaging children and/or teenagers) on a day-to-day basis.
• Experience dealing with at risk youths and challenging teens.
• Valid CPR and First Aid Certification
• Experience with Abuse, trauma and trauma informed care will be considered an asset.
• Child Protection and Safeguarding Certification will be considered an asset
• Fluency in Spanish will be an asset

The Authority would like to thank all applicants for their interests, however, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Deadline: October 2, 2023