Job Description

The School Age Assistant will support the School Age Lead Assistant in providing a supportive, respectful, safe, and healthy environment for children enrolled in the YWCA Hartford Region’s Kidslink program and delivering age-appropriate programs and activities that foster the physical, emotional, intellectual, and social development of the children enrolled in the program.

Essential Functions of the Job:

Program Delivery

• Delivers age-appropriate programs, including homework help, and activities that foster the physical, emotional, and intellectual development of the children enrolled in the program;
• Identifies children needing additional support and implements differentiated instruction;
• Ensures that the School Age Lead Assistant is aware of program-related issues that may impact service quality, licensing, child safety, health, and parent satisfaction within 24 hours;
• Monitors facility equipment and materials used are fully compliant with State licensing requirements;

Coaching and Mentoring

• Develops effective communication between staff and parents in the resolution of issues or concerns;
• Models a degree of professional decorum and dresses appropriately to the program's mission and values to ensure achievement of the same by staff members;
• Builds and maintains positive relationships with parents, students, staff, and school personnel;
• Works collaboratively with the staff, school, and family to work through the appropriate process to support children with additional needs;

Compliance and Reporting

• Follows defined State and YWCA Hartford Region protocols for reporting suspected child abuse or neglect;
• Reports and documents all work-related injuries to the supervisor and HR immediately;
• Responds to all medical situations and initiates appropriate intervention to ensure the health and safety of all children;
• Receives, secures, and dispenses prescription medication per defined procedures and physician directives;
• Oversees the daily attendance and maintains ratios;
• Utilizes the appropriate steps within the YWCA Hartford Region’s Positive Guidance Policy;
• Attends Sanctuary Training, seminars, and professional development activities to remain current with trends, developments, and best practices within the field of child care and early childhood education, and to enhance knowledge and understanding of families served; and
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Education:

• High School Diploma or GED equivalent required; and
• Must be current with all required training or have the ability to complete training as assigned.

Experience:

• Minimum of one (1) year of work experience in an educational setting with children K-5th grade required;
• Ability to lead others and work as a team; and
• Ability to demonstrate knowledge of best practices.

License or Certifications:

• CPR/First Aid Certified or the ability to obtain certification within the first two months of employment; and
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.

Schedule:

• This is an hourly, non-exempt position. The work schedule will be Monday-Friday, 6:45 am to 8:30 am and 2:30 pm to 6:00 pm. Due to the nature of the work, evening hours will be required;

Travel:

• Depending on enrollment and staffing needs, employees may be asked to provide support to other Kidslink programs occasionally.

Key Competencies:

• Seeks to cultivate and develop professional working relationships with key stakeholders, i.e., staff, volunteers, interns, board members, etc.;
• Demonstrated skill in understanding others;
• Engages in (or commits to) personal and professional development;
• Demonstrates a willingness to examine one’s assumptions and attitudes;
• Maintains productive work relationships while considering multiple perspectives;
• Demonstrates awareness of one’s and others’ life experiences and their relevance in the workplace;
• Experience resolving conflicts effectively; and
• Promotes a respectful work environment in which concerns are addressed effectively.

Skills

• Approachability: Listens; allows adequate time for interactions, creates a supportive communication environment;
• Assertiveness Communicates directly and honestly, while demonstrating respect for others;
• Collaboration and Delegation: Enlists active participation from others. Matches assignments to skills and ability of the, or to develop individual skill sets. Enlists the help of others to balance the workload and manage time;
• Composure: Responds to information in a self-controlled manner;
• Conflict Management: Identifies sources of conflict and methods of management, and chooses appropriate techniques to resolve issues;
• Customer Focus: Builds effective relationships with customers, identifies customer expectations, tries to see issues from their point of view; offers practical solutions to concerns;
• Emotional Intelligence: Recognizes and values the differences and uniqueness of others. Empathetically and respectfully accepts these differences and works cooperatively and sincerely to optimize the contributions of all individuals;
• Ethics and Integrity Makes decisions and conducts oneself in a manner consistent with the organization's mission. Treats all individuals in the work environment with respect; Demonstrates high personal standards of acceptance and openness to others;
• Influencing: Presents information, ideas, and suggestions in a way that causes others to feel included and involved;
• Leading: Takes charge of a situation and inspires others to take action toward the accomplishment of a goal;
• Motivating Others Recognizes others’ internal motivators and adapts approach to best connect with each individual;
• Organizing: Puts issues, work tasks, and paperwork in a logical order;
• Patience: Behaves in a manner that encourages and allows for interactive behavior from those less skilled, knowledgeable, or experienced;
• Performance Management Appropriately uses the concepts of both positive motivation and consequences to improve performance to a preferred level;
• Personal Accountability Accepts responsibility for own actions and embraces experiences as learning opportunities;
• Results-oriented: Directs behavior to emphasize the achievement of organization goals and core values;
• Self-Development: Accepts responsibility for own continued education, learning, and growth;
• Team Building Recognizes and builds on the strengths of others and looks for ways to build positive relationships within the work team; and
• Technical Skills Possesses the knowledge and abilities necessary to perform required job elements to establish standards.

EOE/ AA