Child Care Provider-Infant/Toddlers-FT-Nights-Tue thru Sat

  • Full-time

Company Description

HOPE PROVIDERS WANTED

Want to give hope to an abused or neglected child? Want to feel good about working hard? Want to feel your job is more like a calling that comes with a paycheck? Want to make a difference … and see the results in a child’s smile? Then, have we got a job for you!

The Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter is a private, non-profit organization that provides 24-hour emergency residential care to children who are victims of family violenceneglect and physical and sexual abuse.

The Children’s Shelter is designed to meet the needs of these children by providing them with a safe and loving environment to reduce their trauma, through support and nurturing. We are staffed and ready, day and night, taking in and caring for children in crisis. Children may stay with us for up to 45 days in a six-month period, before being placed in another foster-care setting or returning to their families.

Since opening in 1993, the Children’s Shelter has cared for more than 7,200 children from throughout the state of Arkansas. Our capacity of 48 bedsstate-of-the-art complexon-site school and on-site counseling services make us unique among children’s emergency shelters in Arkansas and our region. The combination of these features creates a stable, secure and loving environment where the hurts that children have experienced can begin to heal.

- See more at: http://nwacs.org/about-the-shelter/

Job Description

Job Title:  Child Care Provider - Infants/Toddlers - Full Time

Hours: Tuesday thru Saturday, 10:00pm - 6:00am

Immediate Supervisor:  Shift Supervisor

FSLA Status: Non-Exempt

General Summary

Provide direct care and supervision to residents while attending to health, safety, and nutrition.  Organize and facilitate activities which stimulate physical, cognitive, emotional, and social growth within a nurturing, inclusive environment.  Interact and guide residents in a way that is developmentally-appropriate, trauma-informed, and culturally sensitive.

Principle Functions/Responsibilities

Health, Safety and Supervision

  • Actively supervises and interacts with residents at all times
  • Facilitates a variety of structured and unstructured activities that meet the interests and skill levels of the residents
  • Practices safety precautions and rules, models these to residents, and enforces rules consistently
  • Transports residents to/from community activities and appointments as assigned
  • Adheres to all shelter policies and procedures
  • Completes all assigned tasks specific to each shift and works where assigned based on shelter needs
  • Follows any additional verbal or written direction of supervisors

Child and Youth Development

  • Understands and applies basic child and adolescent development principles
  • Interacts with residents in a manner which is developmentally sensitive and reflects developmental strengths/needs
  • Encourages residents' skill development in activities of daily living
  • Identifies residents with potential risk factors, delays, or disabilities; documents; and communicates these with case manager or supervisor
  • Promotes good health, hygiene, and nutritional practices that support health development and illness prevention
  • Monitors and documents client behaviors and activities

Therapeutic Milieu

  • Promotes an inclusive, respectful environment that embraces diversity
  • Uses structure, routines, and activities to promote effective relationships with residents and provides physical and emotional security
  • Interacts with residents in a positive, warm, nurturing manner
  • Integrates residents' need for dignity, nurturance, choice, self-management, and privacy into daily activities
  • Respects and honors human diversity by demonstrating and modeling cultural competency
  • Promotes positive relationship-building and interactions between residents

Behavioral Guidance

  • Models positive, pro-social behaviors which promote responsibility and healthy decision-making
  • Provides expectations that are developmentally appropriate and culturally sensitive
  • Establishes appropriate boundaries and limits on behavior using clear and respectful communication
  • Uses a variety of positive direct and indirect behavior guidance methods, which are approved by the shelter
  • Verbally and non-verbally de-escalates crisis situations in a manner that protects dignity and integrity
  • Communicate behavioral concerns to case manager and supervisor, participate in development and implements cooperative strategies to manage difficult behaviors
  • Assist residents in learning skills to exercise personal responsibility and effectively resolve conflicts with others

Professionalism

  • Maintains confidentiality and privacy regarding all residents' information in accordance to shelter policy and all other federal and state laws/regulations
  • Carries out work tasks in a way that conforms to and supports the mission, vision, and values of the shelter as well as professional and ethical standards
  • Establish effective professional relationships with peers, support staff, volunteers, supervisors, and other professionals
  • Attends and participates in mandatory trainings, staff meetings, and all other events, as required
  • Sets, maintains, and communicates appropriate personal and professional boundaries
  • Answer doors and incoming telephone calls in a professional manner that protects the confidentiality and privacy of residents and staff, per shelter protocol
  • Completes all required documentation in a timely manner per agency procedures
  • Recognizes own strengths/limitations and seeks assistance from supervisors and case managers when needed


Qualifications

Minimum Requirements

  • Nineteen years of age or older
  • High school diploma or GED
  • Prefer advanced degree or certification in human services field
  • Prefer one year experience in human services or related field
  • Physical ability to use authorized techniques for management of aggressive behaviors
  • Physical stamina and agility required to care for young, active children
  • Ability to lift at least 50 pounds
  • Must pass all criminal history and child maltreatment background checks
  • Must submit to pre-employment drug screen and TB test as well as random drug screens when directed
  • Valid driver's license, proof of personal automobile insurance, and acceptable driving record required to drive shelter vehicle and/or for shelter business

Essential Knowledge, Skills and Attributes

  • Basic proficiency in use of computers and software
  • Effective oral and written communication skills
  • Effective problem-solving and decision-making skills
  • Flexibility, reliability, and self-motivation

Working Conditions and Environment/Physical Demands

The demands described are representative of those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

  • Potential for unpredictable resident behavior
  • Work performed indoors and outdoors
  • Tasks may involve walking, standing, bending, kneeling, crouching, climbing, and lifting for long periods of time
  • Tasks may involve lifting/carrying infants and toddlers
  • Physical intervention, as necessary, to manage aggressive behaviors
  • Potential exposure to communicable disease/contagions

This position description is intended to describe the general nature and level of the work to be performed.  This is not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities associated with it.  Northwest Arkansas Children's Shelter reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet organizational needs.

Additional Information

Applicants not meeting the minimum requirements, need not apply.

Incomplete profiles/applications will not be considered.

- See more at: http://nwacs.org/about-the-shelter/employment/