Position Summary:

Assists the Child Development Specialist in the implementation of procedures set by WestCare Nursery/Learning Center. Essential Job Functions include those listed below.

Essential Job Functions:

• Facilitates play activities according to the individualized development/education.
• Document observations as required by the Child Development Specialist.
• Report observations and impressions to the Child Development Specialist.
• Ensures the facility is always maintained according to safety standards.
• Transportation of children/mothers as necessary.
• Embrace and embody the mission, vision, guiding principles, clinical vision and goals of WestCare Foundation
• Completes all orientation and mandated training activities, including E-Learning Courses, within required timeframes, and in accordance with the criteria established for this position.
• Supervision of nursery workers in the implementation of age-appropriate curriculum and the teaching of basic skills such as colors, shapes, number and letter recognition, and social skills.
• Supervision, guidance, redirection (when necessary), and development of mothers parental skills.
• Support childrens emotional and social development, encouraging understanding of others and positive self-concepts.
• Embrace and embody the mission, vision, guiding principles, clinical vision and goals of WestCare Foundation; and
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Essential Qualifications:

Certifications/Licenses:

• CPR/First Aid Certification and an annual Tuberculosis test.
• Forty-five (45) hours DCF certification in Introductory Child Care Training and a CDA certification
• HIV/AIDS Basic Education
• 20 hours of continuing education required annually

Education:

• Minimum High School Diploma or G.E.D. Enrolled in College Courses to obtain a two (2) year Degree in Child Care is preferred.

Experience and Competencies:

• Minimum of one year experience working with infants and toddlers
• Ability to exercise good judgment and discretion
• Ability to work well in a team environment
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing and with all levels of employees
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to give and carry out instructions furnished in written, oral or diagram/numerical form
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to provide a reference of Good Moral Character
• Clearance in Pre-Employment Drug Testing and Criminal Records Checks, as required
• Possesses sufficient means of independent mobility
• Knowledge of age-appropriate skills
• Knowledge of normal child growth and development
• Knowledge in the understanding and application of age-appropriate parenting skills
• Knowledge in the understanding and application of behavior redirection techniques
• Ability to engage children in age-appropriate play
• Ability to converse with children, using age-appropriate language
• Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized and/or unusual circumstances
• Demonstrates ability to work effectively with culturally diverse staff and consumers
• Demonstrates respect for an individuals cultural and ethnic values when interacting with them
• Articulates a working definition of trauma
• Understands the impact of trauma
• Understands re-traumatization
• Demonstrates a high degree of dependability.
  • Maintains a good attendance record.
  • Observes working hours
  • Shows flexibility and is responsive to requests from supervisor
  • Works independently with minimal supervision
  • Exhibits characteristics of good workmanship, and integrity on the job o Work time is always productive
• Demonstrates ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with consumers, co-workers, external partners, and regulatory agencies

o Is courteous to consumers, staff, and all others

o Demonstrates tact at the appropriate time

o Cooperates with others both within and outside WestCare

o Works well with supervisor; accepts direction and supervision

o Maintains a positive attitude toward work

• Ensures and maintains a safe working environment.
  • Work area is clean and orderly.
  • Verbalizes, understands and adheres to agency safety procedures.
  • Demonstrates appropriate use of Unusual Incident Reports, in accordance with the Centers reporting procedures
• Presents a positive personal image
• Dresses and maintains a professional demeanor
• Ability to pass first level and NABS background clearance

Working Conditions:

• Office based setting

Essential Physical and Mental Demands of the Job

The employee must be able to perform the following essential duties and activities with or without accommodation.

Physical Demands

• Requires mobility and physical activity: Having an adequate range of body motion and mobility to work in an office, residential, or outdoor environment including standing and walking (even and uneven surfaces), sitting for extended periods of time, bending, twisting, reaching, balancing, occasional lifting and carrying of up to 50 pounds. Use of computer and telephone systems is required which includes coordination of eye and hand, and fine manipulation by the hands (typing, writing, and working with files). Requires the ability to defend oneself and clients in physically abusive situations using approved physical de-escalation techniques.
• Requires talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Talking is required to impart oral information to employees, clients, patients, and the public, and in those activities in which the employee is required to convey detailed or important spoken instructions to others accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Requires hearing: Hearing is required to receive and communicate detailed information through oral communication.
• Requires seeing: Clarity of vision at 20 inches or less and at distance. This factor is required to complete paperwork for many of the employees essential job functions and to observe client behavior and activities in and out of the facility. The normal work routine involves exposure to human body fluids or tissues

Mental Demands:

• Requires the ability to work and cooperate with clients, co-workers, managers, the public and employees at all levels in order to exchange ideas, information, instructions and opinions.
• Requires the ability to work under stress and in emotionally charged settings.
• The ability to defend oneself and clients in mentally/verbally abusive situations using approved mental/verbal de-escalation techniques.
• Must be able to handle multiple demands from simultaneous telephone calls, visitors and clients and staff members
• The ability to work with minimal supervision
• The ability to deal with crisis situations
• The ability to draw firm limits with others
• The ability to demonstrate empathy toward others