Lead Children’s Specialist – Full Time, 3rd Shift

This position’s primary function is to assess the needs of all the children currently admitted for care in our Safe Children’s Program.

Please note: this position works 3rd shift (11 PM – 7 AM).

Knowledge Required by the Job

  • Be at least 21 years of age per our DCFS license
  • 2 years college credit and a background in child development
  • 1 year experience working with children preferably birth – six
  • Demonstrate ability to deal effectively with children and families
  • Ability to work in a team environment with childcare staff, administration, and volunteers.
  • Ability to function in stressful, complex situations

Duties and Responsibilities

Organizational Relationships

  • This position reports to the Assistant Director.
  • This position provides direction to Children’s Specialists and volunteers.

Relationship with Children

  • Ensures child’s safety
  • Follows Crisis Nursery interaction philosophy with all children
  • Establishes healthy bonds in order to promote child’s well-being
  • Engages children in developmentally and age appropriate activities
  • Ensures that each child has a specific adult with which to interact

Organizes and Prepares daily schedule under Lead Children’s Specialist direction:

  • Meals & Snacks
  • Communicates with Crisis Advocate necessary food order from Presence Covenant Medical Center
  • Sets up meals and snacks
  • Supervises (with Lead Children’s Specialist) meal/snack activity, assigning volunteers to specific children
  • Clean-up of kitchen
  • Labels bottles and sippy cups
  • Nap & Bedtime
  • Prepares cots and cribs
  • Organizes and assists with bath & other bedtime preparation including toileting and brushing teeth.
  • Comforts children into bed by reading, giving bottles and rubbing backs.
  • Supervises quiet time (assigning, mentoring & assisting volunteers, when available)
  • Play Time
  • Determines child’s interest areas and needs
  • Engages children in developmentally and age appropriate activities
  • Accesses needs to quiet play or active play

Record Keeping

  • Documents child’s activities while in our care including: body chart, meals, snacks, naps, and bathroom activities.
  • Reads Staff Log
  • Assists with documentation in Staff Log
  • Writes testimonials

Interaction with Volunteers

  • Provides guidance and models for volunteers
  • Uses Triadic Strategies to strengthen the volunteer’s connection with the children
  • Monitors and reports work performance to Safe Children and Volunteer Coordinator
  • Welcomes and reviews expectations with new volunteers
  • Monitors volunteer sign-in schedule and leaves appropriate notes and comments

Supplies

  • Monitors and stocks supplies throughout the nursery
  • Monitors and stocks clothing drawers
  • Assists with sorting & stocking donations

Additional Responsibilities

  • Attends weekly team meetings
  • Attends monthly all-staff meetings

Supervision Received

  • Relates and takes direction from the Assistant Director, coordinating weekly
  • Communicates and coordinates volunteer needs and information with the Safe Children & Volunteer Coordinator

Scope and Effect

  • Good people skills are very important
  • Projecting a positive image for Crisis Nursery is of utmost important

Personal Relationships

  • Personal Contacts – Contacts with co-workers, child care staff, children served by the Nursery, board and committee members, donors, visitors, third party fundraisers, and people in the community.
  • Purpose – To project a helpful and professional positive image for Crisis Nursery. Purpose of contacts range from providing information, answering questions and offering services.

Environmental Demands

  • Physical Requirements – Active position with stress. Lifting of small children.
  • Work Environment – Work is normally performed in a childcare setting. Fast-pace with constant changing priorities.

7/22/14