Organization Overview Kootenai Community Centre Society (KCCS) is Creston Valley’s Safe Home and support centre. Our services are for women with or without children in need of safety and guidance. Services include safe home, outreach support, public education, health & wellness programs, support groups, and child care.
Early Childhood Educator Overview The Early Childhood Educator (ECE) will provide a quality, caring, and supportive child care program to members of the Creston community that addresses their unique child care needs, meets all regulatory standards required by federal, provincial and municipal governments, and operates within the Child Care Practitioner Occupational Standards and Code of Ethics as defined by the Canadian Child Care Federation. This position reports to ECE Manager, ECE Supervisor, and Executive Director of the agency.
Early Childhood Educator Duties The Early Childhood Educator (ECE) is expected to adhere to the following contract expectations and duties below:
Carry out developmentally appropriate activities and experiences (provided by the ECE Manager) in harmony with the centre’s philosophy. Provide a daily balance of active/quiet, indoor/outdoor, and individual/group activities Help 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 modelling, 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 have quiet space/area Provide opportunity for child-directed play experience 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
Ensure guidance of children’s behaviour that encourages positive self-concept. Set reasonable behaviour expectations consistent with center’s philosophy and policies Provide positive guidelines such as redirecting, positive language, and positive reinforcement Immediately address problem behaviour without labelling the child Follow behaviour guidance and policies established by the centre and consistent with accepted practice in the field Maintain a knowledge and understanding of the services offered by KCCS for referral to parents
Ensure the child’s environment is healthy and safe. Follow the centre’s procedures for administering medications and maintaining health records Report all accidents, injuries and illnesses to the Executive Director or delegate and record such incidents in the daily log book and as a serious occurrence if necessary Monitor the environment for hazards Update self daily on children’s allergies and other special conditions Establish daily eating routines that are fun for children Attend to children’s physical needs for toileting, diapering, as promptly as possible Facilitate children’s nutritional and sleeping needs as scheduled Report all incidents of child abuse to the Executive Director and follow centre procedure and government regulations Release children only to authorized persons
Ensure positive communication with parents · Discuss the programs daily events and the child’s daily progress with parents
· Accommodate the parent’s instructions for daily routines when possible within group routines
· Encourage parents to participate whenever possible
Complete administrative tasks on a regular basis (as assigned by the ECE Manager and ECE Supervisor).
Contribute to the ongoing operations of the centre · Follow licensing requirements
· Carry out the responsibilities assigned to you
· Attend regular staff meetings
· Maintain confidentiality of all information related to the centres children, their parents, and staff
· Participate in the annual performance review process
· Contribute to annual plan for the centre
· Plan and carry out annual professional development
· Keep up to date with early childhood advocacy developments
· Maintain regular attendance and punctuality
Promote the centre within the community · Actively participate in KCCS staff activities whenever possible
· Maintain a positive working relationship with KCCS staff and others who work within your building and other KCCS locations.
Qualifications / Assets · Diploma in ECE · Current BC License to Practice · 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
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 · Actively incorporates volunteers into the program area · Ability to lift (up to 25 kg)
Additional Information The job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee may perform other related duties as negotiated to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.