Childcare Specialist (Child Development Center Teacher)

SUMMARY: 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. Follows all Texas DFPS child care standards and insure the safety of all children in the Child Development Center. Provide developmentally appropriate learning experiences for the children in the center.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:

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 as assigned by the Director of Children’s Services.

CARES for hygienic needs of child in child care 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.

ATTEND all trainings 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 meal times.

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 child care.

ASSISTS child care 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.

OTHER DUTIES MAY BE ASSIGNED

REQUIRED 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.

SUPERAVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Child Care Specialists may be asked to assume leadership in the absence of the Director of Children’s Services.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: 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 trainings required to stay in compliance with state licensure rules and regulations.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

Associates degree in early childhood education preferred, high school diploma or general education degree (GED) with two to three years’ related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos. Ability to write simple correspondence. Ability to effectively present information to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization in one-on-one and small group situations.

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.

QUANTITY OF WORK:

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

QUALITY OF WORK:

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

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

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.

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.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; 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 40 pounds.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and distance vision.

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.