What are the responsibilities and job description for the Before & After School Care Instructor - Boston Location position at La Porte County Family YMCA?
POSITION TITLE: Before & After School Care Instructor/Caregiver
REPORTS TO: Program Leadership or Designee
SALARY/FLSA: Part Time, Hourly, Non-Exempt
LEADERSHIP LEVEL: Leader
POSITION SUMMARY: The Before & After School Instructor/Caregiver provides direct supervision and care for children enrolled in La Porte County Family YMCA before and after school programs. This role supports the YMCA’s mission by creating a safe, nurturing, and engaging environment that fosters youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. The Instructor/Caregiver serves as a positive role model, builds meaningful relationships with children and families, and partners with parents, school staff, and YMCA leadership to deliver high‑quality programming rooted in YMCA core values. Playfulness, creativity, and intentional guidance are essential to helping children grow academically, socially, and emotionally.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Provide direct supervision of assigned groups of children
- Plan and implement engaging, culturally relevant, and developmentally appropriate activities aligned with YMCA values
- Support children’s academic and social development, including homework assistance when applicable
- Ensure a safe, clean, and organized program environment that meets YMCA safety, nutrition, physical activity, and cleanliness standards
- Uphold and model the YMCA core values of Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility
- Accurately sign children in and out, documenting pick‑up and drop‑off times
- Verify identification of authorized individuals picking up children
- Maintain positive, professional communication with parents, guardians, school staff, and YMCA colleagues
- Observe, document, and communicate children’s behavior, progress, and any concerns
- Complete attendance records, incident/accident reports, and disciplinary documentation as required
- Follow all YMCA policies, procedures, and expectations related to child safety, emergency response, medical situations, and child abuse prevention
- Attend required staff meetings, trainings, and professional development opportunities
- Assist with YMCA initiatives and events, including annual campaign support when requested
- Maintain a professional appearance and adhere to departmental dress code
- Perform other duties as assigned to support program operations
YMCA Competencies (Leader):
Mission Advancement: Accepts and demonstrates the Y’s values (Values). Demonstrates a desire to serve others and fulfill community needs (Community). Recruits volunteers and builds effective, supportive, working relationships with them (Volunteerism). Supports fundraising (Philanthropy).
Collaboration: Works effectively with people of different backgrounds, abilities, opinions, and perceptions. (Inclusion). Builds rapport and relates well to others (Relationships). Seeks first to understand the other person’s point of view and remains calm in challenging situations (Influence). Listens for understanding and meaning; speaks and writes effectively (Communication). Takes initiative to assist in developing others (Developing Others).
Operational Effectiveness: Makes sound judgments, and transfers leaning from one situation to another (Decision Making). Embraces new approaches and discovers ideas to create a better member experience (Innovation). Establishes goals, clarifies tasks, plans work, and actively participates in meetings. (Project Management). Follows budgeting policies and procedures and reports all financial irregularities immediately. (Finance). Strives to meet or exceed goals and deliver a high-value experience for members. (Quality Results).
Personal Growth: Pursues self-development that enhances job performance. (Self Development). Demonstrates an openness to change, and seeks opportunities in the change process (Change Capacity). Accurately assesses personal feelings, strengths, and limitations and how they impact relationships (Emotionally Maturity). Has the functional and technical knowledge and skills required to perform well; uses best practices and demonstrates up-to-date knowledge and skills in technology (Functional Expertise).
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Minimum age: 16 years old
- Previous experience working with school‑age children preferred
- Ability to plan and lead age‑appropriate activities
- Ability to work effectively with diverse populations
- Strong communication and relationship‑building skills
- Required certifications (completed within required timelines):
- CPR, First Aid, AED (and Oxygen if applicable)
- Child Abuse Prevention Training
- West Bend or other YMCA‑required insurance and safety trainings
- Ability to respond effectively to emergency and safety situations
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
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 accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Ability to actively supervise children, including standing, walking, sitting, bending, stooping, and lifting up to 50 pounds as needed
- Sufficient visual, auditory, and verbal ability to communicate effectively with children and adults
- Ability to maintain alertness, awareness, and focus in active environments
- Work environment may be moderately to loudly noisy and may involve indoor and outdoor activities, including extreme heat during summer months
- Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.
EFFECT ON END RESULT:
This position directly impacts the safety, well-being, and overall experience of children enrolled in YMCA before and after school programs. Effective performance ensures a safe, engaging, and inclusive environment where children feel supported and valued, contributing to their academic, social, and emotional development. Consistent supervision, positive relationship-building, and adherence to YMCA policies help maintain program quality, strengthen family trust, and support the YMCA’s mission of youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.