What are the responsibilities and job description for the Early Head Start Home Visitor position at United Community Action Network?
Full-time Position: 40 hours per week, 52 weeks per year.
The Early Head Start Home Visitor provides and coordinates comprehensive social and educational services to children and their families enrolled in assigned group and works in partnership with parents on child issues as they relate to the family. Provide direction and leadership to teacher assistant and classroom volunteers during group socializations.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE POSITION:
The essential functions of this position require prioritizing and completing all assigned tasks in a timely and efficient manner, adjusting for changing priorities and availability of resources, and demonstrating initiative in identifying additional job-related tasks to be completed when time permits. These duties are a representative example of position expectations. Actual duties assigned may vary and change depending on the business needs of the department and the agency.
- Communicate in a professional, respectful and courteous manner with all employees, clients, the Board of Directors, and others with whom we may work. Contribute to a successful work group and foster a team-oriented culture through positive interactions, active listening, meaningful collaborations, and the constructive exchange of ideas.
- In the child’s home environment, you meet with them weekly and two monthly socializations; follow the assigned curriculum and developmentally appropriate practices to provide education information. Observe the child and document progress in the web-based date system as directed by supervisor. Plan and carryout activities as designed in socialization and weekly lesson plans. Conduct monthly family fun nights.
- Participate in recruitment efforts/activities for assigned site. Plan and facilitate parent orientations/enrollments to the program. Welcome and enroll families into the Early Head Start Program.
- Document all child and family contact information, attendance, observations and lesson plans in web based data system.
- Complete developmental and behavioral screenings on each assigned child within 45 days of enrollment and refer children with special needs for additional assessment and services. Provide parents with ongoing parenting and child development information.
- Orient each family to the program providing information on all Head Start services and philosophy. Utilize available program and community resources to best meet the needs of the program and the families served. Implement, support, and follow up with the family partnership agreement. Act as a liaison for each family between Head Start and agencies in the community as appropriate.
- Participate in family staffing’s for each child with child development team, bus driver, community agencies, therapists, and DHS worker or family support and/or resource people as appropriate for planning and sharing information. Meet with speech therapist, child development team and appropriate managers on a monthly basis using meeting notes for documentation. Participate in IFSP meetings as requested by special services coordinator.
- Report and document incidents of suspected child abuse and neglect to DHS and child development services supervisor within 24 hours of incident.
- Respect the confidentiality of information about Head Start children and families, staff and personnel issues, and agency operations.
- Complete designated job tasks, special projects and all other duties as assigned to meet team, department and agency goals while actively demonstrating accountability, high levels of employee engagement, and responsibility for achieving desired outcomes and measurable results.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES
Qualified candidates for this position will have relevant education and experience necessary to perform the essential functions and meet the minimum performance expectations for this position with or without an accommodation.
• Strong interpersonal skills necessary to develop, establish and maintain effective, professional, collaborative, and collegial working relationships with customers, other employees, contractors, vendors, and others with whom we may work.
• Considerable knowledge of child development; considerable knowledge of educational curriculum and development of child progress plans for 0-3 years, depending on group assigned to.
• Planning and implementing lessons, observing, identifying, and recording children’s levels of development. Skill in adult learning principles and family dynamics. Skill in evaluating social service needs of families and linking families to appropriate resource in order to meet identified needs.
• Make decisions independently in accordance with established policies, and use initiative and judgment in carrying out tasks and responsibilities; follow instructions, work within a team structure; estimate time and materials to manage time efficiently; multi-task.
• Establish and maintain records, reports, and statistical data; be detail oriented; basic use of computers; maintain confidentiality; utilize problem identification and resolution techniques; remain calm and use good judgment during confrontational or high pressure situations;
• Represent Head Start in a variety of settings; use large and small group leadership skills; courteously meet and deal effectively with coworkers, children, families and the public. Must follow all safety rules and practices, and perform work in a safe manner.
• Strong conflict resolution skills and demonstrated ability and competency to work with a diverse population of clients, contractors, vendors and co-workers of all ages, including people who may be aggressive, belligerent and/or hostile, confused and/or disoriented, or who may be suffering from a medical or physical impairment.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills necessary to communicate clearly and effectively with internal and external customers, vendors, contractors, and other diverse audiences while providing outstanding customer service. Demonstrated ability and competency to communicate clearly and concisely in both individual and group presentation settings.
• Well-reasoned decision making with a high attention to detail in actual work product, organization, planning, workflow, and project prioritization to ensure tasks are completed efficiently and accurately.
• Naturally self-motivated, confident individual with ability to work independently and/or with limited direction, as well as cooperatively in a team environment, while consistently demonstrating collaborative, respectful and productive work habits. Actively pursue professional development opportunities to add value to the agency and to help the agency meet its strategic goals and objectives.
• Highly ethical individual who applies ethical standards of behavior to daily work activities. Takes responsibility for actions and decisions and fosters a work environment where integrity is rewarded. Exercises discretion when involved in highly confidential and sensitive matters.
• Demonstrated experience and competency operating and working effectively and efficiently with computers and other forms of office technology, electronic data, computer programs and software applications, especially Microsoft 365, Word, Excel, Outlook and Teams. Ability to use electronic timekeeping system is required.