Qualifications / Assets

• Documentation in accordance with Community Care Facilities Branch licensing requirements
• An Understanding of the issues that affect children and their families
• Excellent interpersonal skills with parents, community members
• Mature and responsible attitude towards work
• Willingness to work flexible hours

Duties & Responsibilities:

1. Plan, carry out, and assess developmentally appropriate activities and experiences in harmony with Smart Beginnings’ philosophy.

• Provide a daily balance of active/quiet, indoor/outdoor, and individual/group activities
• Establish and carry out a daily activity schedule that incorporates child directed activity, care routines and transition times as well as teacher led activities and lessons.
• Organize space, equipment and materials before activities
• Assist children in expressing themselves by listening and responding with questions or comments that extend conversations
• Use a variety of teaching techniques including modeling, observing, questioning, demonstrating, and reinforcing
• Encourage and assist children to practice self-help daily
• Plan and carry out experiences that foster an understanding of a variety of cultures and value systems
• Provide opportunity each day for each child to be alone
• Provide opportunity for child directed play experience
• Plan and carry out activities that encourage problem solving
• Provide experiences and play materials that actively promote diversity and acceptance in interactions and attitudes
• Participate in short and long term planning and evaluation and staff program reviews
• Learn and use the activities and skills provided to assist children in developing the necessary coping skills for addressing unique life issues

2. Ensure positive communication with parents

• Plan for parent conferences
• Discuss the programs daily events and the child’s daily progress through daily notes and with parents
• Accommodate the parent’s instructions for daily routines when possible within group routines
• Encourage parents to participate whenever possible
• Send daily notes and weekly newsletters, and lesson plans through Kaymbu.

3. Contribute to the ongoing operations of the Smart Beginnings LLC

• Follow all licensing requirements, including sanitation, and Fire Marshall.
• Carry out the responsibilities assigned to you
• Attend regular staff meetings
• Maintain confidentiality of all information related to all children, their parents, and staff
• Participate in the annual performance review process
• Contribute to annual planning for SB as needed
• Plan and carry out annual personal development
• Keep up to date with early childhood advocacy developments and trainings
• Maintain regular attendance and punctuality

4. Promote Smart Beginnings within the community

• Actively participate in SB staff activities whenever possible
• Maintain a positive working relationship with other SB staff and others who work within the building

Desired Competencies & Behaviors

• Believes in and practices the mission, goals of the program
• Ability to build trust and positive relationships with families in the program
• Act as a role model of appropriate behavior
• Ability to work cooperatively as a member of the childcare team, facilitating a team environment through personal behavior, work contributions and the sharing of expertise and knowledge
• Participates in the developing of new ideas and methods for program enhancement and has the ability to adjust and adapt to changes
• Maintains a constant awareness of the “client” and exhibits recognition and appreciation of their needs with the ability to achieve results with positive outcomes for families accessing the program
• Ability to be energetic, resilient and maintains a sense of humor when personal resources are challenged
• Achieves results with positive outcomes for children in the program
• Effective interpersonal skills under all types of conditions, exhibiting a supportive, positive approach
• A high degree of personal initiative with good planning and organizational skills
• Maintains timely and accurate files
• Continuing personal and professional development in related areas
• Ability to lift children

Working Conditions

• The childcare facility is licensed for 76 children
• Indoor and outdoor activities
• Standing, bending, crouching, lifting, reaching, walking, running.

Wages: Wage dependent on qualifications / experience

Hours of Work: Schedule is made in the best interest of Smart Beginnings and the clients. Must be flexible, schedules may change throughout the year. There are mandatory staff meetings and after hours activities throughout the year.

Cleaning responsibilities located in each classroom. All Smart Beginnings staff members are required to clean based on their count.