Lead Infant/ Toddler Primary Care Giver

Description

Exempt:   No     SALARY LEVEL:  $21.49 - $23.20

SUPERVISOR:  Area Supervisor  

LOCATION:   Sonoma County Head Start Centers   HOURS:  8 hours/day, Monday through Friday, 12 months/year

Policy Council Approval Date 08/25/2022         Approved by:  HR Manager 

SUMMARY OF THE POSITION:

Under the direction of the Area Supervisor, the Lead Primary Caregiver administers Early Head Start center operations, coordinates activities for infants/toddlers as guided by Head Start Performance Standards, adheres to procedures and policies, and follows California State Community Care Licensing regulations.   This position is responsible for the daily operations and oversight of the center to which they are assigned. This position will carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the Agency’s policies and applicable federal and state laws. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Coordinate and monitor the work of center staff, volunteers, and parents
• Supervise and support all children in the classroom 
• Supervise: Primary Care Giver, Classroom Assistant, and any other assigned staff
• Adhere to the Child Assessment/Observation System & Family Partnership System Timeline
• Ensure and participate in a minimum of 2 parent home visits and 2 conferences per child.  The first home visit is done in partnership with the Family Outreach Worker 
• Solve practical problems and deal with a variety of situations with good judgment
• Assess children, develop individualized routines and developmentally appropriate plans and curriculum
• Have meaningful, respectful conversations with children throughout each day
• Plan and facilitate daily learning activities for children based on children’s interests in alignment with the Creative Curriculum to support School Readiness in all learning domains
• Reinforce the role of the parent as the primary caregiver and educator of the child
• Work in partnership with service area managers and center staff to better assess the needs of the children and families to ensure quality services to children and families
• Support and serve as a resource to the families and work with them in assessing their strengths, interests, and needs, make referrals as appropriate
• Build a close, personal relationship with each child while creating a warm, accepting, and developmentally appropriate environment that encourages the cognitive, physical, emotional, and social development of the infant/toddler and family
• Maintain warm, friendly, and professional working relationships with children, parents, and coworkers
• Plan, assigned, and directed work, which includes yearly performance appraisals, monthly one-on-one meetings, and helping to address complaints and resolve problems 
• Approve staff time cards and time off requests 
• Communicate to the supervisor and other classroom staff in order to develop a plan for coverage when other staff are not present
• Provide on-the-job training and support, assess skill levels with employees, and develop a plan for individual growth and professional development
• Ensure and share in the daily cleaning and sanitization procedures of the classroom, classroom equipment, and outside play yard; maintain health and safety standards for children, classroom volunteers, and staff; Promote good health and nutrition and provide an environment that contributes to the prevention of illness 
• Maintain classroom files on children and ensure confidentiality of client records and information
• Coordinate and cooperate with consultants and specialists with items relevant to the center and children, ensuring maximum use of services and resources
• This may include collaboration/coordination of program services with other community entities, i.e., early intervention, those serving children with diagnosed disabilities, State Child Care programs
• Actively participate in the distance learning model of instruction when required
• Participate in staff meetings, consultant meetings, trainings, and appropriate special events, as scheduled
• Participate in the team-building process within the program by using established communication channels in a constructive and productive manner that enhances the team effort while maintaining confidentiality
• The health, safety, and supervision of all children in the program are essential; therefore, every employee is responsible for the care and supervision of children while they are present at the center
• Understand and implement Head Start Procedures and Head Start Performance Standards
• Other relevant duties, as assigned

Requirements

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

EDUCATION/CERTIFICATES and/or EXPERIENCE

1. A California Children's Center Permit/Child Development Associate Teacher (or higher) Permit with 3 infant toddler units required; 6 preferred, as well as a minimum of 3 supervision units.  OR
2. An Infant/Toddler Child Development Associate credential as well as a minimum of 3 supervision units OR
3. AA or higher in Early Childhood Education.

In Addition to the above:

• Six months teaching experience in a pre-school/infant toddler classroom
• High School diploma or GED or equivalent 
• Valid California Driver's License and a properly insured vehicle for use on the job
• Prior to beginning work, must be able to pass the Community Care Licensing criminal record clearance, must be up to date on immunizations and have a current (within one year) TB clearance and Health Screening Report.
• Current Pediatric First Aid, CPR and Health and Safety Course.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Working knowledge of the principles and practices of child development and adult learning styles
• Understanding of the principles of bilingual and multicultural education
• Basic personal computer skills with word processing and email experience
• Establish and maintain a healthy learning environment
• Support children’s social and emotional development
• Basic oral and written communication skills
• Bilingual, Spanish/English preferred.
• Knowledge of and sensitivity to culturally diverse groups and persons from low-income families.
• Basic skills in reading, analyzing, and interpreting procedures and governmental regulations.  
• Basic ability to write reports and correspondence.  Basic ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of parents, children and staff.   
• Basic ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
• Basic ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:

• Highly dependable, takes initiative, has good judgment and is able to function with minimal supervision.
• A sincere interest in the development of all children and in building partnerships with families.
• Work effectively in a team environment and actively participate in joint problem solving; willingly cooperates with co-workers

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee occasionally is required to sit at a desk and sometimes use a computer. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 20 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.  The employee drives, approximately 10% of the time, to meetings, trainings, and home visits as scheduled throughout the year. The employee spends approximately 15% of the time writing and/or keyboarding.  

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee works in outside weather conditions a minimum of 45 minutes a day.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate and sometimes noisy.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Community Action Partnership of Sonoma County is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

OTHER DUTIES

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that is required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice

Salary : $21 - $23