Child Support Worker jobs in Calgary, AB

Job Summary

We are seeking a calm, emotionally regulated, highly reliable Behavioural Aide / Developmental Support Worker to provide 1:1 support for an exceptionally bright child with complex developmental, emotional regulation, sensory, executive functioning, and social communication needs.

This role focuses on helping the child build emotional regulation, communication, independence, flexibility, body awareness, social understanding, and daily living skills across home, community, and therapeutic settings.

The ideal candidate is patient, observant, playful, flexible, intelligent, and genuinely enjoys connecting with children who learn differently. This is not a passive childcare role — the successful candidate must be engaged, emotionally mature, physically active, and able to consistently implement therapeutic strategies in real-life environments.

This is a private family position within a private home and community setting — not a corporate, clinic, school, or agency environment. The successful candidate must be comfortable working closely and collaboratively within a family-centred environment while respecting household routines, privacy, and therapeutic goals.

This role does not involve independently designing therapy plans or behavioural programs. The role focuses on implementing strategies developed by therapists and professionals while building a safe, trusting, and supportive relationship with the child.

The ideal candidate understands that behavioural challenges are often rooted in nervous system dysregulation, sensory overwhelm, anxiety, rigidity, communication breakdowns, or executive functioning difficulties — not “bad behaviour” or intentional defiance.

Experience supporting intelligent, verbally fluent children with autism spectrum disorder, sensory regulation challenges, executive functioning difficulties, emotional dysregulation, or complex neurodevelopmental needs is strongly preferred.

ResponsibilitiesEmotional Regulation & Co-Regulation Support

• Provide calm, trauma-informed support during periods of frustration, overwhelm, rigidity, anxiety, or emotional escalation
• Help the child identify emotions, body signals, triggers, and coping strategies
• Support use of co-regulation techniques, movement, sensory supports, and calming tools
• Maintain a calm and non-reactive presence during challenging moments
• Reinforce emotional safety, connection, and trust

Communication & Social Development

• Model and encourage functional communication and self-advocacy
• Support conversational flexibility, perspective-taking, and pragmatic language skills
• Use visual supports, scripts, and prompts when appropriate
• Help generalize speech and language strategies into everyday situations
• Encourage positive peer interactions and confidence in community settings

Executive Functioning & Daily Living Skills

• Support completion of routines, transitions, and multi-step tasks
• Assist with organization, planning, sequencing, flexible thinking, and task initiation
• Use visual schedules, timers, checklists, and structured supports
• Encourage independence while providing appropriate scaffolding
• Help the child persist through challenges without becoming overwhelmed

Sensory Regulation & Interoception

• Implement sensory regulation strategies recommended by OT and therapy teams
• Support the child in recognizing internal body cues such as hunger, fatigue, anxiety, overstimulation, and emotional arousal
• Help proactively identify signs of dysregulation before escalation occurs
• Modify environments and activities when sensory overload is present
• Participate in movement-based and sensory-supportive activities

Motor & Physical Skill Support

• Support gross motor, fine motor, and coordination activities as guided by therapy programs
• Assist with balance, bilateral coordination, handwriting readiness, and motor planning activities
• Encourage confidence, resilience, and participation during physical challenges
• Participate in active play and community activities

Family & Therapy Team Collaboration

• Work collaboratively with the child’s mother and therapy team
• Follow established routines, strategies, and therapeutic recommendations consistently
• Accept feedback and coaching professionally
• Communicate observations clearly without independently interpreting or diagnosing behaviour

Documentation & Professional Practice

• Maintain brief daily notes regarding observations, routines, regulation, progress, and challenges
• Track implementation of strategies and skill carryover
• Maintain professionalism, confidentiality, and healthy boundaries
• Follow established family guidelines

Professional Expectations

• This role requires active engagement and consistent attentiveness throughout working hours
• Personal texting, social media use, or excessive phone use during active support hours is not permitted except during breaks or emergencies
• A calm, respectful, and emotionally regulated approach is essential at all times
• Scolding, shaming, raised voices, punitive approaches, or power-based behaviour management strategies are not acceptable in this role
• The successful candidate must be capable of maintaining professionalism, patience, and co-regulation during stressful or emotionally challenging situations
• The focus of this role is relationship-based support, emotional safety, skill-building, and collaborative problem-solving

Required Qualifications

• Experience supporting children with autism spectrum disorder, emotional regulation challenges, sensory processing differences, executive functioning difficulties, or complex neurodevelopmental needs
• Strong emotional regulation and ability to remain calm under stress
• Reliable, consistent, punctual, and organized
• Physically able to participate in active support and community activities
• Ability to follow structured support plans and therapeutic recommendations
• Strong communication and observational skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Background in psychology, education, behavioural sciences, child development, social work, occupational therapy support, neuroscience, sciences, engineering, or related fields
• Experience with trauma-informed, neurodiversity-affirming, attachment-based, or sensory-informed approaches
• Familiarity with visual supports, executive functioning strategies, and emotional regulation supports
• Experience supporting gifted or twice-exceptional (2e) children considered an asset
• First Aid / CPR certification (or willingness to obtain)

Work Environment

• Home-based and community-based support
• Participation in therapeutic and recreational activities
• Flexible scheduling aligned with approved support hours
• Long-term consistency strongly preferred

Key Personal Attributes

• Calm, patient, and emotionally regulated
• Warm, playful, and relational
• Curious, flexible, and willing to learn
• Observant and proactive
• Consistent and dependable
• Collaborative and respectful
• Able to balance structure with connection

Pay: $24.50-$28.00 per hour

Application question(s):

• Describe a time you supported a child who was emotionally overwhelmed, rigid, anxious, or dysregulated. How did you remain calm, and what strategies helped the child feel safe and re-regulate?
• This role requires implementing strategies developed by therapists and caregivers rather than independently changing programs. Tell us about a time you were asked to follow a structured support plan that was difficult or slow to show progress. How did you handle it?
• This child is exceptionally intelligent, curious, and highly perceptive. How would you build trust, engagement, and connection with a child who may initially resist demands, transitions, or unfamiliar people?
• This role requires long-term consistency, punctuality, and predictable routines, without forcing a rigid schedule. Please provide examples demonstrating this skill in previous positions.

Work Location: In person