The Child Development Division in ECDA oversees a continuum of services and drives initiatives to support the development of young children (aged 6 years and below) with developmental needs, as well as low-income families with young children, to ensure a good start for every child. The Early Intervention Planning and Development (EIPD) branch in the division oversees a continuum of services for young children with developmental needs. The team oversees the planning and development of early intervention (EI) programmes in preschools and the community, drives capability development initiatives for early childhood and early intervention professionals, conducts research and evaluation to improve programme design and practices, so as to ensure efficient and effective EI services. At the broader level, the team also shapes policies and programmes to strengthen inclusion in the preschool sector, including developing the Inclusive Support Programme, building educator capabilities through training, and establishing support structures like inclusion coordinators at preschools to enable children with developmental needs to learn alongside their typically developing peers.

The EI programmes are critical to ensure children with developmental needs can access services in a timely, effective and appropriate manner. The candidate will lead the monitoring and enhancement of Early Intervention (EI) programmes while strategically planning future services to meet the evolving needs of children with developmental needs. Responsibilities include: 1.To develop/review concepts, plan and implement new or improved EI models where needed a. Monitor and review programmes in the EIPIC continuum eg. Review EIPIC norm costs and waitlist strategies, as well as the DS-Plus (and DS-Plus direct) programme for children requiring low levels of EI support. This includes reviewing service delivery, profile of children, evaluation of outcomes, and resourcing needs. The implementation will also involve engagement with relevant stakeholders (e.g. social service agencies, preschool providers, parents, early childhood teachers, EI professionals) to understand ground concerns and aspirations Work with EI Service Management team to facilitate the timely placement of children in EI programmes. This includes: i. Analysis of trends ii. Monitoring implementation of current strategies and programmes, and development of solutions where needed iii. Engagement with stakeholders to understand ground concerns and implementation feasibility of programme model. b. Oversee the implementation of assessment tools in the sector. This requires working with the hospitals and Office of Chief Psychologist to review the assessment tools used, and the categorisation of children to ensure right-siting of children in the various EI programmes 2. Oversee service planning to ensure supply meets demand for early intervention services in the next 5 – 10 years which includes: a. Identify shifts/trends that may affect client groups, service delivery and planning for next 5 – 10 years b.Review data, modelling and projections for EI services c. Develop regional mapping of EI services, evaluate demand for EI services, evaluate supply of both private and SSA-run service providers d. Review and secure resourcing for EI programmes as necessary to ensure sufficient capacity to meet demand in next 5-10 years. This could include integrating resources from different divisions/ministries to support the target client groups e. Work with the Policy Directorate to review and propose ways to improve or integrate programme/intervention in the preschool landscape to ensure that it meets the ECDA’s policy objective to ensure good start for every child 3. Support meaningful inclusion: a. Develop workplans for implementing recommendations from the Inclusive Preschool Workgroup (IPWG). This includes: Enhance integration opportunities for children requiring high levels of EI support.

- Good communication (written and oral) and relationship management skills - Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with an eye for details - Comfortable to manage data and budget - Takes initiative and is resourceful - Resilient and positive - Good team player with good interpersonal skills to work across teams and build consensus with diverse stakeholders (both private and public sector). - Previous experience in data analysis, programme implementation and/or sector development will be an advantage.

“We are Professionals with Passion for People” The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) develops the “heartware” for Singapore through our policies, community infrastructure, programmes and services. Our mission is to nurture resilient individuals, strong families and a caring society that can overcome challenges together. We are committed and passionate in developing a strong social service sector, and play key roles in shaping the future of Singapore. Through these efforts, we hope to play a part in helping our citizens achieve their hopes and aspirations for themselves and their families. A career in MSF is a challenging and fulfilling one that allows you to make a difference in shaping the lives of Singaporeans. If you are driven and enjoy working in a fast-paced environment, we welcome you to be part of the MSF Family!