Role Responsibilities

Are you passionate about animal-assisted therapy and committed to supporting vulnerable youth?  Join our team as a Facility Dog Handler, where you’ll integrate the unique support of a trained facility dog into trauma-informed care for emotionally and behaviorally challenged youth.

As a Facility Dog Handler, you will:

• Provide therapeutic support using a trained facility dog to promote healing, emotional regulation, and connection.
• Develop and lead programming that incorporates canine assisted interventions.
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to meet developmental, emotional, and physical needs of youth in care.
• Ensure the safety and well-being of youth through trauma-informed practices and crisis management.
• Advocate for youth and contribute to care planning, documentation, and outcome tracking. 

Some key responsibilities are:

• Integrate the facility dog into daily care routines, therapy sessions, and social programming.
• Create initiatives that build youth skills and community awareness.
• Support youth in achieving emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual well-being.
• Maintain dog training, health and behavior standards.
• Respond to high-risk situations with critical thinking and calm judgement. 

This is a unique opportunity to make meaningful impact in the lives of youth while working alongside a facility dog.  You’ll be part of a compassionate, skilled team dedicated to holistic care and healing. 

Please click on this LINK to view the job description for this position.

APS Competencies

Competencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.

This link will assist you with understanding competencies: https://www.alberta.ca/system/files/custom_downloaded_images/psc-alberta-public-service-competency-model.pdf.

Qualifications

Minimum Recruitment Standard: University graduation in a Child and Youth Care, Psychology or related; no experience required; or equivalent as described below. 

Equivalency: Directly related education or experience considered on the basis of:  

• 1 year of education for 1 year of experience; OR 
• 1 year of experience for 1 year of education

Related experience would include but is not limited to:

• Child and youth care work
• Social work with vulnerable populations.
• Residential or group home care.
• Experience with Child Intervention Services or PSECA
• Working with Indigenous youth and culturally diverse communities.
• Professional dog training or obedience instruction
• Mental health support work

Preference will be given to those who:

• Have knowledge of trauma informed care, therapeutic interventions, and crisis management.
• Understanding of canine care, training techniques, and health.
• Ability to use assessment tools and develop individualized care plans.
• Proficiency in documentation, data collection, and outcome measurement.
• Confidently supervise dogs of all breeds, temperament, and sizes.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work in high-pressure, emotionally intense environments.
• Skilled in de-escalation, nonviolent physical restraint, and behavioural management.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and therapeutic rapport building.
• Ability to adapt leadership and communication styles to promote collaboration.
• Proficient in computer use and record keeping systems. 
  
  

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification.  Refer to https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-minimum-recruitment-standards.

Notes

This position will work 36.25 hours per week.

Final candidates will be required to undergo a security screening.

Any costs associated with obtaining the required documents/checks as noted or interview travel expenses, will be the responsibility of the candidate. Out-of-province applicants can obtain the required documents/checks from the province they currently reside in.)

Links and information on what the GoA have to offer to prospective employees:

• Working for the Alberta Public Service - https://www.alberta.ca/advantages-working-for-alberta-public-service.aspx.
• Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) - https://www.pspp.ca.
• Management Employees Pension Plan (MEPP) - https://www.mepp.ca.
• Alberta Public Service Benefit Information - https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-benefits.
• Professional learning and development - https://www.alberta.ca/professional-development-support-directive.
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool – https://researchapscareers.alberta.ca.
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.
• Opportunity to participate in flexible work arrangements such as working from home up to two days per week and modified work schedule agreement.
• Leadership and mentorship programs.