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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
REQUIRED LICENSES & CERTIFICATIONS
- Valid driver’s license with a driving record that meets UCAN’s acceptable driving guidelines.
- Prior to hire and continuously during employment - enrollment in the Oregon Department of Education, Early Learning Division, Criminal Background Registry. Link to website: https://secure.emp.state.or.us/ccd/
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Continuously during employment – complete annual training and education requirements.
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Within 60 days of appointment – participate in Head Start Staff Health Appraisal.
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
- Associates degree in early childhood education OR related degree and 18 early childhood education college credits/or a Home base CDA WITH experience in teaching 0-3 age children.
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Experience working with 0-3 age children.
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An equivalent combination of experience and education that demonstrates the required knowledge, skills and abilities required for the position will be considered in lieu of the outlined requirements.
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Basic knowledge in adult instruction and/or coaching techniques and strategies.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
- The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The physical effort typically applied in this job includes:
- Bending
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Lifting
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Reaching
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Walking
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Carrying
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Sitting
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Pulling
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Stooping
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Keyboarding
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Pushing
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Standing
The amount of lifting effort typically applied and the percent of time the effort is applied:
- Less than 1lb. – More than 70%
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Between 1 & 5 lbs. - More than 70%
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Between 5 & 25 lbs. - 40% to 70%
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Between 25 & 60 lbs. - 15%
MENTAL OR VISUAL DEMANDS
- Continuous/concentrated mental and/or visual attention; the work is diversified requiring constant alertness to monitor and identify strengths and deficiencies.
WORKING CONDITIONS The kinds of disagreeable elements the employee would typically be exposed to in the work area include:
Description of the physical surroundings or conditions under which the job is typically performed and the extent of exposure to the disagreeable elements noted above:
- Work is typically performed under reasonably good working conditions; while exposure to any or all of the above elements may occur, such exposure is generally not present to the extent of being disagreeable.
AVAILABILITY AND ATTENDANCE
Due to the nature and scope of the essential functions, the importance of personal interactions between this position, employees, clients and other members of the public, and the availability of job-related tools, equipment and resources at work, performance of the essential functions requires regular, consistent and on-site attendance while working independently and with others during our normal business hours, a combination of regular and consistent availability, accessibility and presence on-site.
- Regular and consistent attendance is required.
- Hours of work are during normal business hours and may require occasional evenings and weekends.
- Non-Exempt employees are expected to work as many hours as are necessary to ensure that the goals and needs established by UCAN are met.
ABOUT UCAN:
United Community Action Network (UCAN) is a poverty fighting non-profit located in Southern Oregon. Founded in 1969 by low-income community organizers, UCAN now operates programming across multiple departments, delivering programs to equip our neighbors experiencing the symptoms of poverty with resources and opportunities to help them reach their full social, civic, and economic potential. Our dedicated and energetic employees provide essential and supportive services to individuals and families. We take pride in caring for our communities each and every day.
UCAN has a generous Benefit Package including:
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Medical Coverage
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Dental and Voluntary Vision insurance,
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Generous leave (PTO),
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Retirement plans,
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Basic Life and Voluntary life insurance,
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Employee assistance program.
UCAN is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate in the terms and conditions of employment against any applicant or current employee on the basis of any status or class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.
If you require special assistance at any point during the application or selection process and would like to request an accommodation due to a disability, please e-mail a description of your request to Human Resources: [email protected]
