Playcare Assistant /Entry-level

Do you love working with preschool-aged children? Can you identify behavioral problems in children to determine the right course of action in a safe, nurturing, and effective way to assist the child best? If so, this might be an excellent career choice for you!

Fort Bend Women’s Center has over 40 years of providing healing and hope to survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault in the Greater Houston Area. As United Way- Funded Partners, we aim to guide survivors as they heal from abuse. We equip them with the emotional, psychological, and practical skills and resources to create a hopeful, safe, independent life free of abuse. Our services are free of charge and open to ALL survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault – regardless of gender, race, age, religion, sexual orientation, or identity – because we believe EVERY survivor deserves the chance to thrive. Therefore, FBWC provides outstanding and innovative programming that is brain health based.

The PlayCare Assistant is not easily frazzled, especially during crises, while maintaining a safe and positive learning environment (in The Sunshine Club and Rainforest Room) by preparing an age-appropriate curriculum, creating hands-on activities, and using various innovative teaching methods to promote children’s development. By applying our Core Values (S*pirit, Passion, Integrity, Respect, Innovation, and T*eamwork), the PA nurtures basic cognitive learning skills in preschool-aged children that demonstrate leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills in a manner that encourages and empowers children to seek remedies for positive change. In addition, the PlayCare Assistant shows tenacity and thoroughness, with the ability to solve practical problems and deal with various situations simultaneously to effectively communicate with parents about the child’s progress or issues identified.

An enthusiastic personality with vigilance and emotional maturity is a MUST because we assist families struggling for self-sufficiency, and the shelter should not be a toxic environment. Hence, residents are always in crisis mode; their children are coping with the crisis, making crisis live where the PlayCare Assistant works. It is a rewarding job that requires a great deal of optimism in injecting “Care” into PlayCare Assistant by acting as the “eyes” of the shelter to create a safe space for the children and reporting findings directly to the Youth Team Lead. The PlayCare Assistant also displays the ability and willingness to make appropriate independent decisions and responds compassionately to persons served while maintaining appropriate and professional boundaries. As a team player who can roll up their sleeves and get involved in everything from big projects to mundane, simple tasks, the PA displays original thinking and creativity by meeting challenges with resourcefulness, generating suggestions for improving workflow, and developing innovative approaches and ideas.

The PlayCare Assistant commits to non-traditional hours when necessary to reach goals. The PA works respectfully and nonjudgmentally with clients while employing a victim-centered, strengths-based, and trauma-informed perspective.

PlayCare Assistants use appropriate verbal and nonverbal communication to de-escalate crises by applying strategies for addressing conflict while moderating one’s verbal and nonverbal reactions to communications with clients and coworkers.

• Be professional and abide by agency core values: Service, Passion, Integrity, Respect, Innovation,and Teamwork.
• Must have a love for working with children!
• Supervise children in Play Areas and maintain a safe and positive learning environment.
• Prepare curriculum and hands-on activities for children using up-to-date and various teachingmethods (stories, media, crafts, art, indoor and outdoor games) to promote the child’s development.
• Nurture basic cognitive learning skills in preschool-aged children.
• Identify behavioral problems in children and determine the right course of action to assist the child.
• Prepare snacks and retrieve and serve meals from the kitchen.
• Effective communication with parents on child’s progress or identified problems.
• Enforce established rules and guidelines that are outlined in the resident guidebook.
• Communicate with co-workers to pass on relevant information regarding the children betweenshifts.
• Fill out required paperwork, including case notes (diaper changes, meal/snack feedings, bottle.
• Become certified in CPR and First Aid and renew when required.
• Collect required data (Age-appropriate assessments).
• Work and guide volunteers while in Playcare, including the HHSC Volunteer Grandmas.
• Complete assigned duties and documents at the end of each shift.
• Able to come in early or stay late if required.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Directly reports to the Youth Team Lead.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

• High school diploma or GED in related field or equivalent experience.
• 1 year experience working with children (required)
• Multi-tasker with good organizational skills.
• Can fit in with a team-oriented work environment.
• Must be patient and compassionate.
• Able to lift up to 50 lbs., bend over, and stand.
• Have a valid Texas Driver’s License and carry auto liability insurance as required by the State of Texas.
• Satisfactory completion of criminal background checks and drug screening.
• Schedule flexibility

PREFERRED SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• An enthusiastic personality is a MUST! We assist those who are struggling to achieve self-sufficiency. It is a rewarding job, but one that requires a great deal of optimism.
• Previous experience working with individuals dealing with trauma (preferably domestic or sexual violence) is a plus but is not necessary.
• Knowledge in child development.
• Demonstrates leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills in a manner that encourages and empowers clients to seek remedies for positive change.
• Displays ability and willingness to make appropriate decisions, responds compassionately to persons served while maintaining appropriate and professional boundaries, exhibits sound and accurate judgment.
• Displays original thinking and creativity by meeting challenges with resourcefulness, generating suggestions for improving work, and developing innovative approaches and ideas..
• Not easily frazzled, especially during crises.
• Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations, listens, asks for clarification, responds well to questions, and participates in meetings.
• Travel may be required in greater Harris and Fort Bend County areas.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $14.00 - $15.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

Experience:

• Childcare: 1 year (Required)

Work Location: In person