Childcare Specialist

POSITION: Childcare Specialist
DEPARTMENT: PPWC/Children's Services
FLSA STATUS: Non-Exempt
SUPERVISOR: Director of Children's Services
EMPLOYMENT STATUS: Full-Time
SHIFT: 40 Hours Per Week

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Childcare Specialist coordinates services under the direction of the Director of Children's Services to provide consistent quality care for the children served in the Child Development Center. They follow all Texas DFPS childcare standards and insure the safety of all children in the Child Development Center. They provide developmentally appropriate learning experiences for the children in the center.


ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assists Director of Children Services in providing nurturing and safe environment for parent/child programming.

• Assures the children's area is clean.

• Provides assistance to parents in facilitating their parental responsibilities.

• Leads games and activities assigned by the Director of Children's Services.

• Cares for hygienic needs of child in childcare to include changing diapers, bathing, and changing clothes as necessary.

• Assists in planning age-appropriate leisure and weekend activities for children in the women and children program.

• Attends all training courses as requested by the Director of Children's Services and required by state licensing agency.

• Documents positive and negative behaviors observed during interaction with parent and/or child.

• Report to the Program Director any disruptive or significant changes or behaviors.

• Documents on Incident Report Form any behaviors requiring physical staff intervention or any injury or illness experienced by children.

• Documents attendance and/or absence of parent/child during assigned activities.

• Organizes children's supplies and report shortages to Team Leader.

• Assures that children remain in the area assigned during activities time and mealtimes.

• Reports immediately any indication of abuse or neglect to the Director of Children's Services or the Women and Children Director. Provide subsequent written documentation. Assist Program Director to contact Child Protective Services.

• Co-leads curriculum-based support groups as indicated for children in childcare.

• Assists childcare team to develop monthly lesson plans.

• Documents child's progress in chart daily and weekly treatment plans for each child in accordance to state licensing documentation standards.

• Assists Director of Children's Services to decorate and plan for holiday events.

• Provides medication supervision to children as needed.

• Provides transportation for children school, appointments, outings, and field trips.

• Ensure services delivered as in line with the Nexus' Mission and Values.

• Other duties may be assigned.

COMPETENCIES:

• Knowledge regarding normal child development and milestones.

• Ability to anticipate safety concerns involving children and clients.

• Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions.

• Ability to write simple correspondence, communicate with peers, management, and clients.

• Working knowledge of Child Development Practices.

• Working knowledge of Minimum Standard provided by the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services.

• Ability to provide daily documentation for parent communication, required agency forms and attendance.

• Ability to provide developmentally appropriate activity plans on a weekly basis.

• Ability to communicate children's needs to parents, Counselors, and administrators' daily.

• Ability to positively cope with demands of the position, which often includes stress and pressure.

• Understanding of and adherence to HIPAA Compliance, and Employee & Client Confidentiality.

QUALIFICATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. As a condition of continued employment, you are responsible for obtaining and maintaining all training required to stay in compliance with state licensure rules and regulations.


SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• The Childcare Specialists may be asked to assume leadership in the absence of the Director of Children's Services.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

• High school diploma or general education degree (GED), preferred.

• One to three years' related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

CERTIFICATE, LICENSES, AND REGISTRATION:

• Child Development Associate (CDA) credential preferred.

• If not already credentialed, employee must be willing to work on obtaining their CDA while employed at Nexus.

• Clean driving record and all training required by agency.

• CDL license preferred.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

• Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos.

• Ability to effectively present information to customers, clients, and team members in one-on-one and small group situations.

• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

• Ability to add and subtract two-digit numbers and to multiply and divide with 10's and 100's.

• Ability to perform these operations using units of American money and weight measurement, volume, and distance.

REASONING ABILITY:

• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.

• Ability to solve practical problems involving a variety of concrete variables in standardized situations.

SKILLS:

• Willingness to learn new skills as needed to perform job functions.

• Willingness to cross-train with other departments and team members.

• Ability to prioritize work, be detail-oriented, and meet deadlines.

• Ability to perform in a fast-paced environment, manage multiple tasks simultaneously, and function as an integral part of a team with minimal supervision.

• Possess and expresses positive energy.

• Skilled analytics and problem solving.

• Effective time management skills.

QUANTITY AND QUALITY OF WORK:

• Ability to performs assigned duties and responsibilities with neatness, accuracy and a degree of excellence in a timely manner.

• Ability to work to the maximum capacity of all required expectations.

COMPLIANCE:

• Respects confidentiality always.

• Follows HIPAA and CFR 42 guidelines for disclosing information.

• Understands and adheres to the agency's compliance plan, code of conduct, and the Nexus standard policies and procedures.

• Treats all clients, visitors, and co-workers with dignity and respect.

TEAMWORK:

• Takes initiative to help the team and is flexible when asked to assist in other areas.

• Consistently demonstrates positive and affirming behaviors even when addressing stressful situations.

• Demonstrates concern for the overall team and understands how actions affect others.

• Shows a positive attitude and contributes to maintaining an enjoyable and productive workplace.

• Does not engage in any unfavorable behaviors such as rumors, inappropriate conversations, etc.

• Provides coverage when other Team Members are out of the facilitate.

• Ability to work both independently and as a member of a team.

• Professionalism, initiative, and personal responsibility.

• Integrity, grace under pressure, and a sense of humor.

• Multi-cultural competence and comfort - ability to work with a diverse team and to work with differences at all levels.

ACCOUNTABILITY:

• Adheres to attendance requirements.

• Utilizes correct procedure for taking time off.

• Attends departmental and staff meetings as required.

• Is accountable and shows pride in work; strives to do more than the minimum required.

• Shows initiative and completes work in a timely and accurate manner.

• Acknowledges mistakes and demonstrates a willingness to learn and correct them.

• Demonstrates passion in all work.

• Ability to apply common sense understanding to conduct instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.

• Ability to solve practical problems involving a variety of concrete variables in standardized situations.

• Ability to perform assigned duties and responsibilities with neatness, accuracy, and a degree of excellence, promptly.

• Ability to work at the maximum capacity of all required expectations.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.


While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; navigate stairs, sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; and taste or smell.


The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and distance vision.


The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.