Child Care Staff Support Worker

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assists in the ongoing medical care of residents.
• Maintains accurate and orderly procedures for dispensing medications.
• Provides transportation to residents as needed.
• Assures ongoing relationship and environment that promotes the residents feeling of self-worth.
• Maintain integrity of the program structure and insure the therapeutic environment of the program.
• Helps resident meet outside expectations (appointments, school, etc.)
• Fills in the gaps of the basic schedule with positive learning opportunities and experiences for the resident.
• Is flexible enough to deal with the unexpected with minimal disruption of the schedule.
• Schedules recreational activities for residents.
• Keeps team informed of scheduled activities of primary residents through use of changeover log and team meetings
• Maintains open communication with supervising Program Manager.
• Documentation: Effectively communicate written information to the right people in such a way as to establish an accurate record of each child’s placement (Daily logs, etc.) and maintain accurate records.
• Maintains high household management standards.
• Maintains adequate cottage inventories
• Has a systematic approach to laundry needs.
• Prepares cottage meals according to USDA Standards.
• Helps promote an appealing, clean, healthy, and safe environment that is conducive to positive change.
• Establishes and maintains an environment that promotes safety of the residents as evidenced by:
• Being aware of residents whereabouts and attitudes
• Being aware of hazards and efforts to eliminate them
• Reporting illnesses and injuries to medical staff
• Completes maintenance requests in a timely manner
• Operates and maintains agency vehicles in a safe manner per policy.
• Supervision:  Maintains supervision of residents in accordance with Policy and Procedure.
• Participates in activities with residents
• Communicates relevant information regarding youth with next shift using appropriate Methodist Home tools such as logs and shift change notes.
• Teaching: Implement the holistic teaching approach to child development.
• Crisis Management:  Handle crises in such a way that the positive, therapeutic impact of the program.
• Relationship Building:  Develop and maintain effective therapeutic relationships.
• Understands how own emotions can affect resident care and where that impact is non productive.
• Treats residents and families with respect.
• Initiates 1 on 1 contact with residents.
• Gives residents positive feedback.
• Role models good interpersonal and problem solving skills with co-workers.
• Respects resident’s rights in compliance with licensing policy.
• Is honest, constructive, and sincere with residents.
• Professionalism:  Promote a professional, positive work environment as indicated by:
• Reports to shifts, meetings and training on time.
• Actively participates in campus activities in a constructive manner.
• Follows agency procedures in use of leave time.
• Is flexible and willing to fill in as needed.
• Represents themselves and the agency in a positive way.
• Uses good telephone skills.
• Conducts self-improvement (education, professional development)
• Uses direct communication.
• Demonstrates good problem-solving/conflict resolution skills
• Works toward team and agency goals
• Leadership:  Role model and mentor for staff as indicated by:
• Takes initiative to implement good practice and meet licensing and accreditation standards.
• Assumes a leadership role in handling a crisis.
• Assess needs in crisis situations
• Interacts professionally and cooperatively with other parts of the agency (i.e. Human Resources, Finance, etc.)
• Other duties as assigned.
•  Maintains a safe and healthy work environment.
•  Complete assignments in a timely and accurate manner. 
• Upholds the mission and values of The Methodist Home.
• Complete training necessary to perform position consistent with program and agency staff development plans.
• Demonstrate and understand the sanctuary commitments.
• Demonstrate a commitment to democracy by actively participating in team decisions.
• Practice social responsibility evidenced by dependability and reliability.
• Communicate openly to establish and maintain effective working relationship with people at all levels.
• Utilize appropriate Sanctuary tools when interacting with colleagues and residents.
• Adhere to the seven commitments of Sanctuary when carrying out work responsibilities.

Education and/or Work Experience Requirements:

• Must be 21 years of age or older.
• Must have a valid Driver’s License with minimum of four year driving history and the ability to meet and remain in good standing in accordance with Agency insurance guidelines.
• Bachelors Degree (preferably in Human Services related field) or High School Diploma/GED combined with experience working with children/adolescents. 
• Knowledge of child care practices, developmental issues, and group processes and practices which are important to this position.
• Knowledge and demonstrated skills related to theory and practices for emotionally disturbed children.
• Personal characteristics and experiential background that will provide appropriate care for children, to win their respect, to guide them in their development, to manage a home for them effectively and to participate in the overall treatment program designed for the residents.
• Necessary stamina and temperament to work with children and youth (ages 6 to 20) who are experiencing crisis and/or emotional and/or behavior disorders.
• Maintain high level of confidentiality.
• Must be able to multi task in a fast paced work environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to appropriately handle confidential information.
• Ability to understand and consistently implement policies and procedures of the Agency.
• Ability to interact and work cooperatively and effectively with other personnel and residents.
• Ability to show sensitivity and responsiveness to cultural difference in the service population
• Ability to uphold the mission and values of The Methodist Home.
• Ability to be trained in basic first aid, medication administration, CPR and crisis intervention.
• Must be 21 year of age.
• Valid Georgia Driver’s license
• High level of energy required for working with people.
• Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services.
• Must have proficient computer skills and with programs such as Microsoft office.
• Must have active listening skills and critical thinking skills.
• Must have good reading comprehension by therefore understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Ability to meet and handle the public with poise and tact.
• Pleasant telephone voice.

Essential Physical Requirements:

• Duties are performed in a variety of environments ranging from highly stressful and potentially aggressive (physical interventions, escorts, etc.)  to casual and leisurely.
•  Duties are performed in a variety of environments in both indoor and outdoor settings that can include a wide range of conditions such as high/low temperatures and other inclement weather conditions.
• Ability to successfully complete the Crisis Aggression Limitation Management training program and conduct physical interventions as taught by the instructor.  Examples (1) Escorting a child by the arm to de-escalate; (2) Support a child’s movement to a seated position to the floor or to a chair; (3) Support a child in a physical intervention to the floor, on your knees and for lengthy periods of time; (4) Ability to securely and safely maintain a child in a physical intervention for extended periods of time.
• Necessary stamina to maintain supervision of children who are attempting to run away.   This may include fast walking for extended periods of time and/or the use physical interventions to escort/return child to campus 
• Overall necessary stamina and temperament to work with children and youth (ages 6-20) who are experiencing crisis and/or emotional and/or behavior disorders.
• Ability to assist/support/transport youth ranging in weight from 50 to 150 pounds.
• Ability to lift/carry 15 pound objects.
• Duties may include bending, stooping or kneeling for various durations of time.
• Duties may occasionally include overhead work, reaching, pulling and pushing items.
• Specific vision abilities include the ability to see for purposes of reading printed material as well as distance vision for purposes of maintaining appropriate supervision.
• Ability to hear and understand speech at normal levels.
• Ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
• Duties include frequent driving utilizing a 15 passenger van.
• Duties may include repetitive hand motions such as typing.
• Shifts may rotate between the hours of 7:00 AM and 11:00 PM, Sunday through Saturday. 
• Must be prepared to actively participate in a wide range of activities including but not limited to:  basketball, swimming, fishing, volleyball, movies, staffings, team meetings, etc.