HS Childcare Assistant

Job Description

Job DescriptionGeneral Summary
To assist the teaching staff in carrying out evidence-based strategies to prevent, address, and respond to a child's repeated pattern of behavior that interferes with developmentally appropriate activities in the preschool classroom and in promoting the health, nutrition and education of children. The Head Start Childcare Assistant will provide support and guidance to promote optimal learning and engagement in positive social interactions. The Head Start Childcare Assistant must comply with the Head Start Program Performance Standards, TDPRS Minimum Standards, School Readiness Goals and other Federal, State and any local regulations, policies and procedures.

Primary Responsibilities
1. Assists teachers with the supervision, safety and well-being of all children including active supervision, nurturing environments and positive redirection, maintaining child/staff ratio, and that no child is left alone or unsupervised.
2. Provide support to preschool aged children with a nurturing, safe and healthy environment and individualized learning experience to help them develop socially, intellectually, physically, and emotionally in achieving quality and child outcomes.
3. Assists in implementing DECA/Conscious Discipline strategies to support the social and emotional strengths, happiness, and resilience of children.
4. Assists in conducting activities in the classroom to conform to the Program's written program plans, Performance Standards, Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework: Ages Birth to Five, Minimum Standards for Licensing, CACOST's Head Start Birth to Five Program policies and procedures, School Readiness Goals and the Parent, Family and Community Engagement Framework.
5. Assists children with challenging behaviors to engage in indoor/outdoor instructional and social activities that will impact emotional, social, and academic development.
6. Assists the classroom teachers with maintaining a clean and safe environment (indoors/outdoors) for the children including dusting, sanitizing, maintaining trash and other cleaning/sanitizing duties throughout the day as needed.
7. Assists in the implementation of children's IEPs or Plans of care for children with Disabilities.
8. Maintains a cooperative attitude of working with the teacher, volunteers, parents and program staff and assists the teacher in obtaining monthly in-kind for the classroom.
9. Assists the center with child check-in and check-out procedures.
10. Complies with the Programs confidentiality policy.
11. Any other duty as assigned by the Operations Manager.

Work Experience

Required

Must have computer, documentation and recordkeeping and reporting experience. Good verbal, problem solving and writing skills are required. A valid drivers license, safe driving record and acceptance by the Agencys vehicle insurance carrier are required. Must pass TDFPS background check. Must pass a Pre-employment physical.

Preferred

Previous experience working in a childcare setting

Education/Certifications/Licensure

Required

• Must have a high school diploma or GED
• Bilingual ability is preferred (Spanish and English)

Preferred

Working towards or willing to work towards a CDA credential or Associates in Early Childhood Development

Skills

Required

• Annual certification and training in the following: Health Certificate, First Aid Certification and Adult and Infant / Toddler CPR Certification and Food Handlers Certification.
• Must attend 24 clock hours of professional development and staff training per year to include: active supervision, safety practices, training that improves child and family outcomes, training on methods to handle suspected or known child abuse and neglect cases that comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws, and any other trainings as outlined by the Head Start Performance Standards and Child Care Regulation from the State of Texas.

Preferred

Excellent communication skills

Physical Requirements

If a preliminary offer of employment is extended, a physical will be required before the offer can be accepted.

Able to perform the following physical requirements of the position with or without reasonable accommodation: critical sensory requirements include general vision; specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Hear or listen in the normal range (corrected) and speak and give directions clearly. Able to walk, sit, stand, kneel, crouch, crawl, reach, lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects up to 10 lbs., and occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds.