STAR is a pilot programme inspired and informed by “Friends of The Children” in USA to impact generational change through better educational and life outcomes to achieve social mobility. STAR serves children facing the most obstacles from kindergarten to secondary school, for 8 years, no matter what. Parenting Support Specialist will journey with the parents/ caregivers to help them support their children to Strive towards their goals, equipping them with skills to Thrive as they grow up, being with them and supporting them to Achieve in life as they Rise above challenges.
Personnel Specification:
1. Ability to build positive relationship with parents/ caregivers from different ethnicities
2. Ability to work independently and as a team player
3. Good problem solving and critical thinking skills
4. Good communication and interpersonal skills, preferably bilingual
5. Good self-management
6. Strengths focused
Key Responsibility Areas
1. With parents and caregivers,
• Develop, implement and evaluate action plan for each family
• Develop positive relationships through outreach and home visit
• Provide concrete and social emotional support to them
• Equip them with relevant parenting knowledge and skills
• Facilitate positive meaningful engagement between them and their child
• Partner them to support their child’s learning, social and emotional needs
• Support them to facilitate supportive home environment
• Advocate for parents and caregivers’ needs and respond to family’s crisis
2. With community partners,
• Engage, collaborate and maintain positive relationship with community partners to render resources for each
child and parent/caregiver
• Interpret relevant policies / schemes that impact on children and their parents/caregivers
3. In working with groups of parents/ caregivers,
• Design, plan and conduct group activities and family events for parents/ caregivers
• Attend to each parent/ caregiver’s needs and goals in a group setting
• Mobilise resources and engage in collaborative work with community partners
4. For administrative and other duties,
• Perform documentation of work accurately and in a timely manner
• Communicate with Professional Mentors on child related matters regularly
• Provide information and support to the development and executive team on related activities.
• Other duties as assigned
Additional Requirements:
• Willingness to commit for a minimum of 3 years
• 40-hour work schedule that includes evenings and weekends, to better cater to the needs of the parents and
caregivers
• Required to communicate with Malay speaking families. Knowledge of conversational Malay is an advantage.
• Required to undergo a background check by authorities prior to employment
• At least two years of experience working with families