Day Care Attendant

About the role

Position Purpose: Responsible for providing a clean, safe, and entertaining nursery environment. Receive infants and children in the nursery, provide basic child care, ensure safe play conditions, and follow established security procedures when children are checked out. Observe specific parent directions for feeding, nap times, and special needs. Maintain a positive rapport with all parents and patrons.

Nature and Scope: This position requires a high level of patience and the ability to maintain composure when dealing with infants and small children. Knowledge of basic child care, strong public relations and communication skills, and attention to clean and sanitary conditions are vital to the successful execution of this position.

Department: Administration. Reports to: Customer Service Manager. Supervises: None. Position Characteristics: Non-seasonal, part-time, no benefits. Schedule: Weekdays, evenings, Saturdays.

Responsibilities

• Care for and entertain all children left in the care of the nursery; read, color, and play with children and help them feel safe and happy.
• Feed children as appropriate.
• Enforce all rules and regulations established by the Customer Service Manager.
• Keep the nursery clean, neat, safe, and comfortable for all participants; wash dishes, change bed linens, clean and wash toys, and vacuum floors; remove any potentially dangerous objects.
• Assist parents in following established security procedures for checking children in and out of the nursery; alert Customer Service Manager if proper procedures are not followed.
• Supervise social activities and appropriately reinforce and discipline children as necessary.
• Establish and maintain positive relations with parents and children; listen to parents’ instructions; note feeding times, nap times, and special instructions for children; inform parents of their child’s activities and behavior in a tactful way; respond to questions and problems promptly.
• Establish and maintain effective working relations with the Customer Service Manager; follow direction and guidance; inform the Customer Service Manager of any significant concerns.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Stay current in CPR, First Aid, and Criminal Background Check.

Performance Measurements: Children are happy and well supervised; the nursery is safe, clean, and complies with all regulations and established policies; good communication and positive relations exist with parents; good communication and positive relations exist with the Customer Service Manager.

Requirements

Qualifications

• Current American Red Cross Community CPR and First Aid Certification.
• Approved Criminal Background Investigation upon hire date.

Required Knowledge

• Understanding of infant and child development.
• Knowledge of basic child care and feeding.

Experience

• Must be 18 years of age or older.

Skills/Abilities

• Strong public relations and communication skills.
• Able to move and react quickly to a variety of circumstances.
• Skill in working with infants and young children.

Physical Requirements

• Stooping: Bending downward and forward at the waist. Requires full use of lower extremities and back muscles.
• Kneeling: Resting on knee or knees.
• Crouching: Bending downward and forward at the leg and spine.
• Crawling: Moving on hands and knees or hands and feet.
• Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
• Standing: For extended time periods.
• Lifting: Occurs frequently and requires substantial use of upper body and back muscles.
• Grasping: Using fingers and palm on an object.
• Feeling: Perceiving sensual characteristics of objects including size, shape, texture, temperature, etc., through touch.
• Talking: Especially where one must frequently convey detailed or important instructions or ideas accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Hearing: Able to hear average or normal conversations and receive ordinary information.