Child Care Specialist

SUMMARY: 

The Childcare Specialist, under the supervision of the Children’s Coordinator, is responsible for ensuring the safety and well-being of children whose mothers are participating in SFRC’s residential or are receiving services through the LAUNCH outpatient program. This role includes supervising children, preparing and leading age-appropriate activities, and assisting with meals and snacks. The Childcare Specialist ensures all tasks are performed in compliance with SFRC policies to create a nurturing and supportive environment for children. 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Provides care for children: including setting schedules and routines, grooming, feeding, changing diapers, and cleaning rooms and toys. 
• Develops and encourages age-appropriate learning and socialization to ensure children learn basic skills and concepts, such as communication, manners, sharing, etc. 
• Maintains a safe workplace by monitoring children for health, behavioral, and emotional issues and reporting concerns to staff and parents. 
• Helps children discover new interests by introducing them to art, music, sports, and other potential hobbies. 
• Ensures children are learning positive behaviors and providing guidance or approved discipline, as needed. 
• Prepares children to enter the next level of care or for entry into school. 
• Facilitate Circle of security parenting classes and encourage the caregiver to reflect on the children's attachment needs to secure attachment with the child.  
• Maintains records relating to childcare. Completes daily documentation of each child in InSync. Adds children's demographics to Unite Us platform. 
• Works with mothers to help children progress towards educational and behavioral goals. 
• Assists with admissions and discharges of mothers and children including setting up bedrooms to meet child’s needs, tracking inventory of supplies given to mother, giving a tour of the childcare facility, and reviewing childcare guidelines and policies. 
• Works with clinical, medical, and direct supervisors to make referrals to the appropriate outside organizations when needed. 
• Monitors inventory of supplies needed for childcare. If items are needed, a purchase requisition needs to be written and approved by the approved staff. 
• Data collection and other grant related tasks assigned by the direct supervisor. When childcare duties are not required. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: 

Skills/Knowledge/Abilities: 

1. Strong understanding of the stages of childhood development. 
2. Strong verbal and written communication skills. 
3. Able to communicate with and take direction from the staff at various levels, clients, family members, and community service providers. 
4. Possess skills that promote teamwork and critical thinking/problem-solving. 
5. Possess decisiveness, patience, and stamina to chase after, lift, or carry children. 
6. Must be able to lift packages that contain baby/children’s items. 
7. Sound understanding of all federal and state regulations including HIPAA and OSHA. 
8. Must be computer literate in meeting requirements for use of Electronic Health Record systems, enterprise resource planning software, and other electronic platforms. 

Education and Experience: 

1. High school diploma or GED is required. 
2. New Mexico Early Care, Education, and Family Support, 45- hours Entry Level Course or equivalent is required. 
3. Associate's degree in early child development/child development is preferred. 
4. At least one year of experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified. 
5. Minimum 21 years of age. 
6. Current certificates in CPR and First Aid. 
7. Must have and maintain a current, valid NM Driver’s License. 
8. Must have and maintain a clean driving record, as well as auto insurance. 
9. Bi-lingual/Bi-cultural preferred (English/Spanish).