Essential Functions

• ­­ Supervises on site parent-organized activities promoting parent/child interaction at least one hour a day when residents are with their children.
• Provides organized activities that support the reunification of family members.
• Designs activities to facilitate drug and alcohol-free use of leisure time.
• Offers on-site developmental services/activities for children not yet accessing child-care within the community.
• Provides after school programming for school age children, and attends to the needs of adolescents during after school hours.
• Ensures the care, oversight, and supervision of children, who are the ultimate responsibility of parents while in the program.
• Is diligent in being knowledgeable of requirements and procedures for reporting suspected cases of abuse and neglect in accordance with M.G.L. Chapter 119, Section 51A.
• Identifies community agencies and resources which provide services to families, establishing and maintaining cooperative relationships with them.
• Acts as an advocate for Migrant and Seasonal Head Start families and promotes their ability to advocate for themselves.
• Ensures the delivery of social services, emergency and non-emergency services, directly or through referrals.
• Coordinates the development and update of the Community Resources Directory.
• Processes new admissions, orient residents to all available children services, rules and regulations, and answer questions.
• Completes all necessary child assessment instruments.
• Enhances supportive services by supervising and facilitating basic childcare and child development workshops, discussions and other structured family activities.
• Observes and interacts with children living in the program. Provides parents and children with group socialization experiences.
• Establishes community and agency affiliations to strengthen the delivery of services for children, including mental health, behavioral concerns, physical needs, and learning disabilities and other services as required by the child.
• Provides education and referrals to family members, as appropriate, in regards to children’s educational issues including potential learning barriers.
• Attends all required in-service training seminars, staff meetings and on and off site case conferences.
• Participates in quality improvement activities.
• Demonstrates appropriate judgment and complete confidentiality regarding patient information.
• Participates in and promotes a positive, supportive, cooperative team environments.
• Other duties as assigned.

Competencies

• Maintains acceptable attendance and punctuality, professional appearance, aptitude, and attitude.
• Can adapt to having a flexible schedule; able to work independently and as a team member.
• Strong organizational skills to balance productivity needs, required paperwork, and writing reports.
• Respectful of individual family cultures. Recognizes the importance of and respect for confidentiality.
• Self-directed and self-confident; able to work with minimal direction.
• Possesses strong interpersonal skills and able to effectively communicate with all levels within clinical departments.
• Possesses techniques for dealing effectively with the public and staff, in person and over the telephone.
• Possesses mobility to work in a standard office setting and to use standard office equipment, including a computer, and to attend meetings at various sites.
• Detailed oriented; organized with excellent follow through skills.
• Displays excellent problem-solving skills and is a team player.
• Demonstrates high levels of integrity and honesty; is creative, innovative, and results-oriented.

Work Environment
This position operates in an office setting.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work
This position operates on a Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm schedule.

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Special Education, Psychology, or a related field, OR a degree in an unrelated field with at least 4 courses or 12 credits in Early Childhood Education, Special Education, Psychology, or a related field.
• Possesses a working knowledge of the effects of trauma on children’s development and behavior.
• A minimum of 1-2 years of experience working directly with families with children is recommended.

Other Duties

Note this job description is not designed to cover a comprehensive listing of duties that are required of the employee for this job. Duties and responsibilities may change at any time with or without notice.

EEO Statement

The Dimock Center values diversity and its committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of age, color, disability, ethnicity, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other status protected by law.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)