Childcare Worker

Childcare Worker at Decatur Presbyterian Church

Reports to: Associate Pastor of Children and their Families

Hours/Days of Week Worked: 

Sunday Mornings arrive by 9:45am, typically depart by 11:45am or whenever all the children are picked up following the church worship service.

*Special Event times will be communicated as they are scheduled.

Communicate in advance by phone to the Associate Pastor of Children and their Families any absences:

• Planned absences must be given two weeks ahead of time.
• In the case of last-minute illness or emergency, contact the Associate Pastor of Children and their Families by phone at least one hour prior to his/her shift so a replacement can be found. Absences and call outs will be tracked. If this becomes too frequent, you will be asked to meet in person with the Associate Pastor of Children and their Families. 

There will be opportunities to work more hours when more church activities resume. You will be notified of opportunities as they are available.

General Function: Work to provide safe, secure, nurturing, and effective care to our children from 0 to 5 years old. Ministry responsibilities include playing with the children or directing their play, engaging participants in related themes and lessons, and exhibiting patience and love.

Essential Functions:

1. Responsible for maintaining a safe environment and interacting with children through games, stories, crafts and play.
2. Abide by child safety policy and classroom expectations.
3. Work with other childcare workers and church volunteers.
4. Take initiative in welcoming parents and children to the space. Get to know the people in your care. Initiate check-in procedures to acquire information about children in care (Notebook, Stickers, Etc.). Notify Associate Pastor of Children and their Families of need to refill. This is very important to keep up with contact tracing.
5. Ensure the room is returned to its original condition before leaving. Return all supplies to closet and clean any used toys. Wipe down all surfaces. Turn off lights and close doors.
6. Report any issues or broken items to Associate Pastor of Children and their Families  at end of shift.
7. Maintain a work schedule. Report hours worked by signing in and out on your time sheet. Time sheets will be turned in for payroll on the 10^th & 24^th of each month. Check and sign your timesheet before the above dates so they can be turned into the Associate Pastor of Children and their Families .

Core Competencies

1. Compassion and Care: Exudes a natural sense of care for the well-being of others; responds with empathy to the life circumstances of others; communicates a sense of support in his or her very presence; demonstrates appropriate and boundaried expressions of care.
2. Hospitality/Accessibility: Generates a sense of hospitality and or accessibility by his or her very presence; communicates a sense of availability, warmth, openness and approachability; fosters natural connections between members of the congregation and with visitors; supports a culture of welcoming and connection in the life of the congregation.
3. Aesthetic Awareness: Demonstrates a natural awareness about the effective organization of space for different purposes; possesses a natural orientation towards cleanliness and orderliness of space; appreciates the value of and need for sacred space and knows how to physically tend to it.
4. Ethics and Values: Honors the core values and beliefs of the organization in his/her choice of behaviors; consistently embodies appropriate behavioral choices in both stressful and non-stressful situations; practices the behaviors he/she advocates to others.
5. Influencing Others: Encourages others to cooperate, participate, provide resources or make decisions, in service to the work at hand; uses verbal and nonverbal skills to communicate respect for others, and to generate energy passion and commitment to an idea; creates an environment that others want to participate in.
6. Decision Making and Problem Solving: Uses sound logic to approach difficult problems and apply effective solutions; can distinguish between symptoms, causes and implied solutions; decides in a timely manner based upon a blend of research, experience, risk-taking and judgment.
7. Integrity and Trust: Is seen as trustworthy by others; practices direct, honest and transparent communication; keeps confidences; admits mistakes; doesn’t operate with hidden agendas; responds to situations with constancy and reliability.
8. Verbal Communication: Is able to deliver a message clearly, articulately and with appropriate emotion in a variety of settings; demonstrates communication styles appropriate to the situation at hand; adjusts the message, without losing the essence of the message, depending upon the circumstance and the listener.
9. Mission Ownership: Demonstrates understanding and full support of the mission, vision, values and beliefs of the congregation; can demonstrate those values to others; consistently behaves in a manner congruent with the mission, vision, values and beliefs.
10. Team Orientation: demonstrates interest, skill and success in team environments; promotes group goals ahead of personal agendas; steps up to offer self as a resource to other members of the team; understands and supports the importance of teamwork; shares credit for success with others, takes responsibility for his or her part in team failures.

Qualifications and Training:

• Experience in caring for children between the ages of 0-10 with the ability to interact with each child and their varying needs.
• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Must be fully vaccinated from COVID-19.
• Must wear a mask at all times while working with children.
• Agree for Decatur Presbyterian Church to run a background check.
• Read and sign the DPC Child and Youth Protection Policy.
• Complete Darkness to Light online child abuse prevention training.

*All training must be completed within 3 months of start date.