Program Aide On-Call

About the role

The Program Aide on Call/Substitutes Employee is a generalist responsible for providing educational, relational, and social experiences for infants, toddlers, and/or preschool-aged children. This position reports to the Education and Inclusion Manager or Center Director and may be expected to travel to various program sites and/or home visits.

Responsibilities

• Apply clear practice and procedure in day-to-day execution of job.
• Organize self and manage time to get things done.
• Keep manager informed of important issues.
• Build effective relationships within the workgroup and with children/families.
• Understand and carry out oral and written instructions.
• Assist classroom staff in all classroom activities.
• Assist the Teacher in any aspect of the program as needed (e.g., at Family Nights, copying newsletters, cutting out classroom materials, making phone calls, etc.).
• Serve as a temporary substitute in the periodic absence of the Assistant Teacher or Teacher.
• Provide custodial support as needed (e.g., picking up trash, sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, cleaning floors, cleaning and stocking bathrooms, ensuring buildings are secure, cleaning windows, minor building maintenance and repairs).
• Complete routine kitchen/dining room/food chores as assigned (e.g., dishwashing, portioning foods, taking and logging temperature of foods received from vendors, etc.).
• Prepare food and serve items for service prior to or after use.
• Substitute for regular Cook or Assistant Cook as needed.
• May be required to serve as a Bus Monitor.
• Attend all workshops and meetings as necessary.
• Attend required staff and parent meetings and activities.
• Gain understanding of Head Start Program Performance Standards and local childcare licensing regulations.
• Be knowledgeable of regulations associated with prevention of occupational disease and injury, including the exercise of universal precautions and the prevention of contamination.
• Possibly promote Head Start in the community.
• Maintain strict confidentiality with respect to Head Start/Early Head Start children, families and staff in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• Become thoroughly familiar with Save the Children Head Start Employee Handbook, Save the Children Head Start Human Resources Policies and Procedures, manuals and resources and adhere to them.

Requirements

• Minimum 18 years of age.
• High school diploma or GED.
• Certification as applicable by federal, state or local Head Start or childcare regulations, now or as amended in the future.
• Within 90 days of employment, must obtain and continually maintain basic first aid and pediatric CPR certification (or sooner if required by local/state regulations).
• Demonstrated knowledge of the basics of working with infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children.
• Professional proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Demonstrated ability to relate sensitively with children and to work well and communicate effectively with staff, parents and families.
• Proven ability to follow directions and take initiative.
• Demonstrated ability to keep all information on families strictly confidential.
• Demonstrated ability to work with children with disabilities.

Qualifications

• Ability to perform medium to heavy physical work exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, up to 20 pounds frequently and up to 5-10 pounds constantly, performing such activities as sitting, crawling, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting and grasping.