Early Head Start Child Care Aide

Job Description

Job Description

About This Role

Under the direction of the Area Coordinator, the Child Care Aide assists in providing a safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate learning environment for infants and toddlers. This position supports the implementation of engaging classroom activities that promote children’s social, emotional, physical, and intellectual development while ensuring children are supervised at all times.

The ideal candidate is caring, dependable, patient, and passionate about supporting young children and families. The Child Care Aide works collaboratively with classroom staff to encourage learning through play and daily interactions while helping create a positive and supportive atmosphere where every child can thrive.

What You'll Do

• Assist in implementing a comprehensive child development program and daily classroom activities.
• Support children’s social, emotional, physical, and intellectual development in a safe and nurturing environment.
• Supervise and interact with children at all times during classroom, playground, meal, and transition activities.
• Promote positive behavior and classroom discipline using appropriate guidance techniques.
• Assist with observing, assessing, and documenting children’s progress and developmental needs.
• Help maintain a clean, sanitary, organized, and developmentally appropriate classroom and outdoor learning environment.
• Perform daily cleaning duties including sweeping, mopping, sanitizing bathrooms, emptying trash, and maintaining outdoor areas.
• Assist with maintaining accurate records, documentation, and required reports.
• Attend required staff meetings, trainings, and professional development activities.
• Maintain positive and professional communication with parents, families, staff, and community members.
• Welcome and encourage family participation in classroom, home, and community learning activities.
• Assist parents with daily sign-in and sign-out procedures and direct concerns to supervisory staff when needed.
• Support teamwork by assisting coworkers, substitutes, volunteers, and other staff as needed.
• Remain attentive to the individual and special needs of all children.
• Assist with home visits and family engagement activities when requested by supervisors.
• Encourage family and community support through volunteerism and program participation.
• Follow all agency policies, procedures, and program standards.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by supervisors or program leadership.

Additional Early Head Start Responsibilities

• Build positive, caring, and supportive relationships with infants, toddlers, expectant families, and parents.
• Promote parent-child bonding and encourage family involvement in the program.
• Provide nurturing care that promotes children’s sense of security, trust, and belonging.
• Support infants’ and toddlers’ curiosity, creativity, problem-solving, and developmental growth.
• Ensure required teacher-to-child ratios are maintained at all times.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED
• Minimum of one year’s experience working with infants/toddlers
• Must obtain a pre-employment physical and screen for communicable diseases.
• Must obtain First Aid and CPR and keep updated.
• Must agree to pre-employment background check.
• Demonstrate a willingness to continue professional development.

Benefits

• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Paid Leave
• Sick Leave
• Retirement Plan
• Tuition Assistance

About Us

Douglas-Cherokee Economic Authority, Inc. Head Start / Early Head Start Program serves more than 700 children ages 0-5 years in eight counties in East TN: Blount, Cocke, Grainger, Hamblen, Jefferson, Monroe, Sevier and Union. Children who attend Head Start participate in a variety of educational activities. They also receive support to access free medical and dental care, have healthy meals and snacks, and enjoy playing outdoors in a safe setting. Services are offered to meet the special needs of children with disabilities.

Our employees have access to:

· Up to 14 paid holidays per year

· Sick leave and Personal time

· Option to participate in State of Tennessee 401(k) savings plan

· Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System

· Group Health Insurance partially paid by the agency with other insurance products available.