Home Visitor
Home Visitor - Early Head Start
**this is a temporary, non-permanent appointment expected to end around the end of March 2019**
Early Head Start (EHS) Home Visitors work to support and partner with parents from all over the world as they maneuver one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of life: parenting a child under the age of three.
SCOPE OF WORK
The Home Visitor major tasks are to:
- Form and maintain a trusting, supportive partnership with each Parent that includes clear, professional boundaries. This partnership should reflect the Home Visitor's culturally competences in relationship to the families on their caseload and their ability to meet the parent where they want to begin.
- Provide EHS child and family with integrated EHS services as required in the OHS Performance Standards, outlined in Edmonds Community College Head Start & Early Head Start's plans and the Direct Services Handbook
- Plan and implement group socializations
- Work collaboratively with preschool staff to plan and implement an appropriate transition from Early Head start to Head Start
- Serve as the case manager for infants, toddlers and their parents, providing referrals and follow-ups and, if needed, participating in service staffing, and assisting in the coordination of needed organization, Part C , health and/or community services for the child's presenting developmental, educational, and/or health needs
- Consult on a regular schedule with program specialists in the areas of mental health, health, early learning and development, family support, and nutrition. Consultations consist of reviewing/updating the child/family plans and evaluating services they are providing to the parents, infants and toddlers on their caseload.
- Implement program's parent education curriculum; based on parents' interests and needs, plan and conduct parent workshops.
- Participate in staffings with EHS, HS, Part C providers, medical services, school districts, and community agencies, working with parents to represent the child's developmental, educational, and health needs
- Coordinate support services (taxis, food service, facilities) for group socializations
- Maintain program standards and compliance; establish and accurately maintain extensive electronic and paper records. Entries must be timely and up-to-date, and data entered into all required records, files, documents, reports and databases, while maintaining required confidentiality.
- Serve as an advocate for Early Head Start families and work with families to become advocates for their children within the community
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
The Home Visitors must be able to perform the following essential functions under the environmental conditions outlined below:
- Conduct and evaluate developmental and behavioral screenings, referring children with suspected disabilities to Part C provider for further screening
- Conduct ongoing observations and assessments, using the results to develop and implement individual learning plans for each child and group socialization curriculum, periodically evaluate and update as needed
- Complete no fewer than 46 home visits and 22 group socializations, evaluating results and updating family and children's plans
- Assist parents in strengthening their involvement in the their child's learning by creating a home learning environment, participating in group socialization activities and volunteering on their Center Committee
- Work with parents to identify and assess their family's strengths and needs, develop goals and strategies to reach their goals, and, as needed, provide resources and referrals
- Identify and establish the child and family's medical and dental homes
- Work with the EHS Manager, EHS Mental Health/Disabilities Specialist, Pediatric Nurse, and other content specialists to provide services
- Exhibit strong organizational, record-keeping and documentation skills plus basic computer skills that allow the Home Visitor to write, respond and send emails, establish and update work calendar, complete database entry and generate established reports, and create documents in a word processing program
- Work in a respectful manner with all children, parents and employees; comply with HS Performance Standard 1304.52(h)(1) Code of Conduct, and exhibit the attributes identified in HS & EHS Professional Behavior Expectations, and Edmonds CC Workplace Civility and Respect Policy
- Assure the safety of each child by remaining alert and focused at all times while in the presence of children, making quick and spontaneous decisions using problem-solving skills and good judgment based on organizational policies and procedures
- Maintain the confidentiality of all infants, toddlers, children and parents handling all information in a confidential, professional and sensitive manner; exercising appropriate discretion in sharing the information as outlined in program policies, procedures and on a need to know basis
- Maintain punctuality and consistent attendance, as exhibited by no less than 95% completion of regularly scheduled home visits and group socializations
- Must be able to lift up to 10 pounds frequently, 20 pounds occasionally, and 40 pounds on an emergency, as-needed basis
- Communicate in English (both orally and in writing) at a professionally proficient level with staff, clients, children, management, outside agencies, educational community, and the public in small to large group settings, one-on-one, or on the phone providing grammatically correct and content appropriate information suitable for diverse population
- Develop and implement classroom systems and strategies to ensure that infants and toddlers are supervised at all times by keeping them within visual and auditory range, accounting for their whereabouts at all times, and ensuring that no child is ever left alone or unsupervised
- Perform regular sanitation/cleaning of the classroom that may require the use of a broom, carpet sweeper, mop, vacuum, and the use of cleaning products
- Drive personal vehicle
EXPECTATIONS, KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
The Home Visitor is expected to:
- establish and maintain minimally a rating of "adequate" on all SOLAR (Strengthening Operations for Learning and Results, OHS, ACF, DHHS) Home Visitor Skill Profile skill indicators
- earn 15 professional development (clock) hours each program year in the areas of early learning and development, adult learning theory, brain development, bonding and attachment theories, health and safety issues specific to infant and toddler care (e.g., reducing the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), ACES, relationship development skills and knowledge, family systems, child abuse and neglect, social work, and family services
The Home Visitor must demonstrate a working and theoretical knowledge of:
- family dynamics, adult learning theories, principles and practice; basic knowledge of Attachment Theory and other infant mental health principles, child development and developmentally appropriate practice
- strategies to ensure active supervision, safety and health in the home
- interactions and strategies to optimize emotional and instructional support, including strategies for working with dual language families
- development and implementing curriculum for infants, toddlers, and adults
- child physical and sexual abuse, and child neglect
- factors affecting low-income families
- community services and collaboration, resources, and referrals
Qualifications
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
At the time of hire, an Early Head Start Home Visitor must have:
- A Degree with minimum of 15 credits of child development and early learning with a focus on at least one of the following: infant, toddler, and three year olds (transcripts must be submitted with application documenting compliance with this requirement); family support studies, or a related field
- Experience teaching infants and toddlers and/or providing social, health or education to parents with young children
- Minimum of one year of experience working with a complex paper and electronic documentation and record-keeping system
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's Degree with a content focus on infants and toddlers' learning and development
- Three or more years working with low-income parents with infants and toddlers in a home setting
- Three or more years' work experience in Early Head Start, Head Start, or ECEAP
- Fluency in Spanish or Arabic
Additional Information
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
Hiring for this position is on the condition that candidates meet the following requirements:
Before Starting Work:
- Submit paperwork indicating negative TB Test or clear chest x-ray within one year of hire date
- Show proof of Tdap booster vaccination
- Submit proof of a cleared Portable Background Check from the Washington State Department of Early Learning (NOTE: if you do not have a current PBC, you must first create an account in the DEL's MERIT system by clicking here. The fees for obtaining a PBC are your responsibility. The entire process of obtaining a PBC takes 3-4 weeks. You may not start working until we have a copy of your cleared PBC.)
- Present a current Food Worker Card from the Snohomish County Health District
Within three days of hire:
- Submit proof of US Citizenship or ability to work in US (must show original social security or Alien Registration Card/Work Permit, as well as one piece of picture identification)
- Completion of all pertinent personnel/payroll forms
Within 30 days of hire:
- Submit official education transcript(s) showing employee meets the educational requirements of the position
Within 60 days of hire:
- Signed statement by a health provider that the employee is free from communicable diseases and physically able to perform job responsibilities.
Condition of continued employment:
- Successfully complete a nine-month probationary period
- Keep all certifications and clearances in current status
- Complete 15 hours of Professional Development Training each year
EEO / AFFIRMATIVE ACTION STATEMENT
Edmonds Community College is an equal opportunity employer and assures equality of treatment in educational and employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex (gender), disability, sexual orientation, age, citizenship status, marital status, veteran status, or genetic information. Applicants with disabilities who require assistance with the recruitment process may call 425-640-1470, 425-640-1832, or email jobs@edcc.edu, and accommodations will be made to the extent reasonably possible. The Human Resources Office is accessible to persons with disabilities.