Childcare Specialist

Childcare Specialist, ASJ MotherChild

PURPOSE OF POSITION

The Mother/Child ROP Program (MC ROP) Childcare Specialist provides childcare services to the childcare of up to 12 young women aged 16-21, either pregnant or with a baby/toddler, living in our Mother/Child ROP at a standalone site in the Bronx. Reporting to the Child Development/Childcare Coordinator of the MC ROP site, the Childcare Specialist is an energetic, warm and creative member of a team that includes case managers and a cadre of specialty staff including employment/education specialists, housing specialists, youth development staff, and credentialed mental health staff.

The MC ROP is a residential program funded by the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development, where young women and their babies may reside for up to 4 months. Childcare is provided onsite as a support to the young mothers who reside within. The Childcare Specialist provides caring, compassionate and developmentally-appropriate care to babies as young as six weeks and young children, usually up to five years old (but sometimes older). As some of the children at our site may have experienced significant trauma, the Childcare Specialist must be well-versed in, and/or participate in training in order to provide, trauma-informed services to children. This site will also use evidence-based and other proven models. The Childcare Specialists may be required to participate in training for these social service models.

As this site is new to CHNY, the Childcare Specialist will need to be comfortable in a rapidly changing environment where processes and protocols are being developed and refined as the program is operating. Additionally, this position requires independent judgment and proactivity, as the Childcare Specialist will be working within a newly opened, stand-alone site. Flexibility and excellent communication and problem-solving abilities are critical to successfully fulfilling the requirements of this position.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

(Responsibilities to include but not limited to the following)

• Childcare
  • Provides trauma-informed care for children as young as 6 weeks, such as setting schedules and routines, grooming, feeding, changing diapers, cleaning play areas, and organizing and cleaning toys.
  • Interacts with babies and children to encourage development and socialization.
  • Reads, talks to, teaches, and plays with children. Helps children to discover new interests by introducing them to art, music, sports, science, math, and other concepts.
  • Develops and encourages age-appropriate learning and socialization to ensure children learn basic skills and concepts, such as communication and sharing.
  • Helps children potty train as appropriate.
  • Interacts with the young mother residents to ensure appropriate care of their children and to help them develop safe and nurturing parenting skills.
  • Maintains a safe workplace by monitoring children for health, behavioral and emotional issues and reporting concerns to staff and parents.
  • Maintains a clean and safe childcare area at the site.
  • Accompanies babies/children on trips outside of the site.

• Team Participation
  • Works as a collaborative member of the team ensuring all youth and children have access to high quality services and are living in a safe and compassionate community.
  • Participates as needed in case conferences. Ensures team members are fully apprised of important information regarding young mothers and children as needed.
  • Actively participates in staff team meetings and trainings, individual supervision meetings, and meetings with youth.
  • Assists with audit preparation and dry and live audits of the program.

• Professional Development and Embracing CHNY's Mission
  • Participates in all required trainings, either in-person or via CHNY's online Learning Management System (Relias).
  • Embraces a data-driven culture that is outcomes-oriented and creatively responsive to programmatic challenges.
  • Promotes a healthy, inclusive and equitable organizational culture and a thriving, engaged staff.
  • Promotes child protection within the site and is diligent about the safety of clients and fellow staff members.
  • Always upholds CHNY's mission, vision and principles, standards of conduct, policies and procedures.
  • Performs other duties as assigned and needed.

SUPERVISORY DUTIES

• This position does not supervise any other position.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES

Education & Experience

• High school degree and at least 3 years of childcare experience, or a bachelor's degree required.

• Experience working with at-risk youth and/or young children strongly preferred.
• Driver's license preferred.

Knowledge/Skills

• Interest in working with youth who have experienced homelessness required.

• Responds to supervision and coaching in a positive manner required.
• Willing and able to move throughout the day; and an upbeat, creative and fun demeanor required.

• A strong focus on child protection and ensuring the safety of residents required.
• Overall flexibility in work schedule required, including weekends, evenings and holidays if needed. Adherence to attendance and punctuality requirements are a must.
• Dedicated to the mission of Covenant House.

• Independently recognizes and performs duties that need to be done without being directly assigned.
• Establishes priorities; organizes work and time to meet them
• Recognizes and responds to emerging priorities, accepts changes and new ideas
• Has insight into problems and the ability to develop workable alternatives.
• Responds to supervision, coaching and constructive criticism in a positive manner.
• Adheres to attendance and punctuality requirements per policy. Provides proper notification for absences and tardiness. Takes corrective action to prevent recurring absences or tardiness.
• Observes all policies governing conduct while at work (e.g., telephone and computer use, electronic messaging, smoking regulations, breaks and other related policies).
• Ability to professionally communicate and relate well with all levels of personnel (individuals, peers, customers and related professionals).
• Dedicated to the mission of Covenant House.

• High concentration.
• Frequent interruptions.
• Moderate noise level.
• Frequent standing, walking, bending and lifting (up to 20 lbs.).
• Frequent sitting for periods of time at a computer workstation.