After School Counselor

About the Role

Organizes and leads school-age children in a variety of activities in a wholesome, safe, and fun environment on site during after-school hours. Provides positive growth and development opportunities for children, effective communication with parents, and an overall enjoyable experience for each child.

Responsibilities

• Helps plan after-school program activities and supervises and actively implements plans in a safe, loving environment for children.
• Actively organizes and leads games, sports, crafts, and other age-appropriate group activities.
• Encourages active participation of all children in program activities.
• Directly supervises children in the program at all times.
• Facilitates appropriate group behavior in all program settings.
• Manages discipline problems within the after-school program by using redirection and time-outs, then written reports as needed. Only the Childcare Director will grant suspension.
• Supports the emotional and social development of children in the program.
• Remains available for parent comments, questions, and concerns.
• Maintains a professional attitude when dealing with children, parents, school personnel, and visitors.
• Maintains a safe, litter-free facility and grounds, including daily vacuuming, mopping, sweeping, picking up trash, and wiping down and putting away toys as needed. Enforces safety standards, procedures, and guidelines.
• Prepares and serves daily snacks.
• Remains constantly on alert for activities affecting the health and safety of students.
• Helps ensure parents understand and abide by program rules.
• Requires sign-in and sign-out for all children. Checks group attendance throughout program hours.
• Adheres to YMCA dress code. Wears staff shirt and name tag at all times when working.
• Enforces YMCA rules and policies in a polite and positive manner.
• Finds substitutes for shifts when necessary and alerts supervisor of changes.
• Attends staff meetings and training sessions as required.
• In case of an accident or injury, fills out an accident report form completely and returns it to supervisor.
• Performs other duties or special projects as assigned.
• Keeps all certifications current.
• Maintains an up-to-date time card and reports in writing any issues to supervisor immediately.
• Reports any problems to immediate supervisor.
• Demonstrates a strong commitment to the Christian mission of the YMCA and its values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. Demonstrates a strong personal commitment to a lifestyle that promotes healthy spirit, mind, and body. Serves as a role model for members, participants, and children of this commitment.

Requirements

• High school diploma or general education degree (GED); or one to three months related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Must be at least 18 years old and have prior experience working with children.
• Current CPR and First Aid certification.
• Must attend YMCA Staff Orientation, child abuse prevention training, and other in-house child care training as determined by supervisor.

Skills

• Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos.
• Ability to effectively present information verbally in one-on-one situations.
• Ability to add and subtract two-digit numbers and to multiply and divide with 10's and 100's.
• Ability to perform basic mathematical operations using units of American money, weight measurement, volume, and distance.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions.
• Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.