Health Coordinator LPN/RN, Head Start

Health Coordinator

Responsible for providing and coordinating health services to Head Start and Child Care programs. Is knowledgeable about program philosophy and regulations and performance standards applicable to health component of program.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Maintain working knowledge of SMOC Child Care and Head Start philosophy and all regulations and performance standards
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Attend and participate in all required training, staff meetings, committee meetings.
• Communicate with supervisor re: needs and concerns about children and families
• Provide accurate and timely reports, record keeping, and other required paperwork.
• Maintain good work habits, including attendance and punctuality.
• Assess injury reports for any patterns three times a year.
• Update all Injury Logs yearly.
• Run and review weekly and monthly ChildPlus reports relevant to assigned areas of responsibility; monitor compliance, data accuracy, and performance indicators; and ensure timely corrective action is taken when concerns are identified
• Ensure all Medical and Medication Data is current in Child Plus.
• Complete and submit annual Massachusetts Immunization Survey in fall of school year
• Train all staff in need of CPR and First Aid during the school year when needed. (i.e.: new staff, staff who missed trainings, etc.)
• Maintain current medical information for all staff, including current Physical and Mantoux testing results.
• Identify health hazards in settings that provide services to children, as well as setting occupied by staff.
• Consulted regarding bus safety information distributed to parents of all Head Start/Child Care children.
• Assess the severity of injuries or illnesses that occur while children are in school.
• Assemble and monitor Emergency Kits for all Head Start and Child Care classrooms. Orders all medical supplies for replenishing kits.
• Primary responsible for obtaining all IHCP plans and forms from Medical Professional for all children.
• Sign off on all Staff Guidance and training for Medical IHCP.
• Create and distribute Red Allergy/Medical folders to each classroom for individual children IHCP.
• Monitor all children taking medication in classroom and responsible for ensuring that staff person meets with parent when medication is delivered to classroom by parent.
• Responsible for obtaining signed permission from parent for dispensing medication at school.
• Create individual children's health plan (IHP) and train with staff and sign off on all IHCP and Guidance at time of training.
• Serve as consultant to all staff regarding child or family health issues.
• Advocate for Head Start/Child Care parent with primary care provider, if necessary.
• Primary for coordinating program-wide dental screenings in Head Start and Child Care classrooms.
• Provide health presentation at one of each Parent Center Meetings during school year.
• Attend pertinent workshops or trainings outside program.
• Oversee program-wide Asthma & Allergy list monthly and provides classrooms with updated list. Keeps this updated list in the Shared Head Start Folder for all Directors use.
• Oversee and coordinate all nursing students, contracts, MOUs.
• Serve as the primary staff member responsible for conducting hearing and vision screenings for all preschool children when a Health Specialist is unavailable, and ensure screening results are accurately entered into ChildPlus with support from the Health Specialists.
• Oversee the timely distribution of hearing and vision referral letters to parents following screenings and ensure Health Specialists follow up with families regarding recommended evaluations, treatments, and other required actions. Monitor and document follow-up activities to ensure children receive appropriate services and support.
• Aware of community agencies and resources for families and/or staff.
• Attend pertinent workshops or trainings.
• Attend Pre-Service and March PDD.
• Attend All-set meetings.
• Visit the two larger sites for a minimum of three hours on a weekly basis and the Satellite sites for a minimum of one hour a month.
• Notify Directors when children with IHCP plans are all set to start with medication and plans.
• Co-facilitate with Nutrition Coordinator to create and keep current a tracking sheet with ALL children on medications and all food allergies, with all forms, with current dates.
• Co-facilitate with Nutrition Coordinator the Family and Health Advisory Committee Meeting in the Spring and Fall, with completion of attendance and minutes of the meeting.
• Apply all training to work with families and shares new information with staff
• Provide constructive input on policies and procedures affecting job duties.
• Communicate information effectively, both in written and oral form.
• Interact with others in a helpful and courteous manner, internally or externally.
• Work as a member of a team.
• Offer health counseling to families determined to have a child-at-risk health-wise.
• Attend and participate in team meetings as requested and communicate effectively with parents and staff.
• Engage all clients by understanding and addressing their needs, whether within or outside the scope of work.
• Attend and participate in engagement team meetings as requested and communicate effectively with clients and staff in other areas.
• Maintain confidentiality of client, employee, and agency information in accordance with federal and state laws and finder requirements.
• Ensure compliance with program/department, agency, and/or funder requirements, as well as SMOC policies and procedures.
• Run and review weekly and monthly ChildPlus reports relevant to assigned areas of responsibility; monitor compliance, data accuracy, and performance indicators; and ensure timely corrective action is taken when concerns are identified.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge and Skill Requirements:

• Degree in nursing, preferred.
• Licensed health professional.
• Bilingual-Spanish and/or Portuguese required.
• Relevant experience and supervision experience preferred.
• Preference given to current and past Head Start parents.

Organizational Relationship: Directly reports to the Monitoring and Compliance Manager. Direct reports to this position are Health Specialists and Nutrition Coordinator.

Physical Requirements:

• Physical exam by a physician within one year to start then every two years
• Proof of MMR vaccination or Titer
• First Aid Certification
• Child CPR Certification
• Valid Driver's License, reliable transportation

Working Conditions: As part of the responsibilities of this position, the Health Coordinator will have direct or incidental contact with clients served by SMOC in various programs funded or administered through the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. A successful background check is required.

Monday through Friday: 8:00AM - 4:00PM. Includes a 30-minute unpaid meal break. 37.5 Hours per week.

South Middlesex Opportunity Council