Childwatch Lead Counselor- Foster

Position Summary:

Supervises and interacts with children while parent engages in program activities; ensures the Childwatch program is safe, values oriented, and interactive.

Essential Functions:

• Promotes and incorporates the YMCA five core values and character development model in to all program activities.
• Supervises children at all times to ensure their safety.
• Stays alert to children's needs and/or problems as individuals and as a group.
• Engages children in developmentally appropriate games and learning activities.
• Provides for physical needs of children including feeding, distributing snacks/drinks, restroom assistance, first aid, CPR and notifying parent of needed diaper changes.
• Provides for the emotional needs of children including soothing distressed children, comforting sick or hurt children, redirecting negative behavior, and giving positive feedback.
• Ensures proper administrative procedures are followed and completed, i.e. sign in/out records, incident reports, parental notifications.
• Confers with parents regarding facility activities, policies, and check in/out procedures.
• Prepares area for program by ensuring toys, supplies, play areas, storage areas, bathroom area and furniture are safe, clean, sanitized, organized and well maintained.
• Inform incoming staff of any significant information about a child and list of children present in the group.
• Reports any concerns to supervisor about the children, parents, members and/or others as needed, including reporting of any incident where a child is injured, or suspected child abuse or neglect.
• Utilizes appropriate software when checking children in/out of program area. Ensures tablets are charged and ready for use and secured when not in use.
• Ensures youth are properly signed in and signed out, ensures only authorized adults are allowed in the facility, etc. Adheres to policies related to boundaries with each child.
• Ensures unused rooms and closets remain locked; routinely monitors high-risk locations (bathrooms), etc.
• Report suspicious and inappropriate behaviors and policy violations.
• Follows mandated abuse and incident reporting requirements.
• Meet timelines and deadlines related to supporting systems and employee compliance. Example includes but are not limited to Kronos Workforce Ready for review and approval of time sheets.
• Attends mandatory trainings and meetings.
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

YMCA Culture & Cause Expectations

Our mission and core values are brought to life by our culture. It's who are, who we aspire to be and how we show up every day. We are cause-driven. We don't just show up, we show up with purpose. As a cause driven leader you are expected to be:

Welcoming-Accept neighbors eagerly, warmly, hospitably, and as equal participants.

Nurturing-To care for, support, and help develop through encouragement.

Hopeful-Take an optimistic or positive view of future outcomes.

Determined-To devote full strength and concentrated attention to the cause.

Genuine-To be honest and open in relationships with others.

YMCA Competencies (Leader):

Mission Advancement: Accepts and demonstrates the Y's values. Demonstrates a desire to serve others and fulfill community needs. Recruits volunteers and builds effective, supportive working relationships with them. Supports fund-raising.

Collaboration: Works effectively with people of different backgrounds, abilities, opinions, and perceptions. Builds rapport and relates well to others. Seeks first to understand the other person's point of view, and remains calm in challenging situations. Listens for understanding and meaning; speaks and writes effectively. Takes initiative to assist in developing others.

Operational Effectiveness: Makes sound judgments, and transfers learning from one situation to another. Embraces new approaches and discovers ideas to create a better member experience.

Establishes goals, clarifies tasks, plans work and actively participates in meetings. Follows budgeting policies and procedures, and reports all financial irregularities immediately. Strives to meet or exceed goals and deliver a high-value experience for members.

Personal Growth: Pursues self-development that enhances job performance. Demonstrates an openness to change, and seeks opportunities in the change process. Accurately assesses personal feelings, strengths and limitations and how they impact relationships. Has the functional and technical knowledge and skills required to perform well; uses best practices and demonstrates up-to-date knowledge and skills in technology.

Qualifications:

1. At least 18 years of age.
2. CPR, First Aid, AED certifications and Child Abuse prevention training upon hire.
3. Previous experience working with children in a developmental setting preferred.
4. Ability to plan, organize, and implement age-appropriate/developmentally appropriate program activities
5. Previous experience with diverse populations.

Language Skills

Ability to read, interpret, retain, and teach documents such as safety rules, operating maintenance instructions, and procedure/educational manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of children, parents, staff, members of the YMCA, and/or others, as well as in one-on-one situations.

Mathematical Skills

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

Reasoning Ability

Ability to apply common sense, understanding, and sound mature judgment to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form, including assisting with curriculum learning. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations. Ability to maintain confidentiality. Ability to be sensitive and alert to the needs, feelings, and safety of others. Ability to ensure children's safety and maintain YMCA and state standards and guidelines at all times.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, and talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle, and/or feel objects, tools, and/or controls; climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, and/or crawl. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms and taste and smell. The employee must frequently move and/or lift up to 50 pounds and move up to 100 pounds such as furniture, supplies, equipment, children, etc. Possess adequate vision and hearing to safely monitor environment and children.

Work Environment

While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in outside weather conditions. Nonsmoking and drug and alcohol free work environment. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate, occasionally loud. The employee is occasionally exposed to fumes and airborne particles, toxic, or caustic chemicals, extreme heat, and/or blood. The employee regularly is exposed to bodily excretions of children, depending on developmental level of children in the employee's care.

The YMCA of Greater Houston provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.