Daycare Support Worker

_For more than a century, Family and Children’s Services Niagara, the local Children’s Aid Society, has provided vital child welfare, family/community support, counselling, foster care and adoption services to residents in the Niagara Region._

**Daycare Support Worker**
(Regular part-time)

Reporting to the Daycare Team Lead, the Daycare Support Worker assists the Daycare Program staff in implementing the daily activities at the assigned childcare centre and provides opportunities for child growth and development while maintaining a safe environment.

**Key Duties**:
**Program Support**
- Maintains a safe, nurturing environment, conducive to child development in all areas of the program, including the playroom, washroom, cloakroom, lunchroom, sleep room and during outdoor play.
- Assist with implementing developmentally appropriate educational programs for children including:

- Assisting with the arranging playroom equipment for various indoor and outdoor activities.
- Cleaning toys, equipment, and cupboards as required.
- Assisting in moving and storing equipment according to the requirements of the location.
- Assisting with and attending parent/teacher activities.
- Carries out daily routines such as toileting, preparing and serving snacks and lunches for all children and directs children in the general tidiness of the playroom and housekeeping in all areas.
- Recognizes unusual behaviour in children and anticipates problem situations to take preventative and remedial action under the guidance of ECE staff.
- Reports child protection concerns to Family and Children’s Services Niagara.
- Ensures adequate sanitary and housekeeping standards are maintained and performs vacuuming, loading or unloading the dishwasher and other housekeeping duties.
- Completes visual health and safety inspections on a regular basis.
- Records attendance daily and completes health incident forms for children in their care as needed.
- Informs the Day Care Team Lead of situations which affect the efficient operation of the program or have implications for the Agency.

**Other Related Activities**
- Knows and adheres to all applicable FACS policies, procedures, and relevant administrative practices.
- Strives to exceed all accountabilities and achieve continuous quality improvement and excellence in all activities and outcomes.
- Ensures own expenditures adhere to FACS policies.
- Participates in mandatory learning/education to maintain and update skills and knowledge as required.
- Assists in the training and orientation of peers, acts as mentor and role model to students/volunteers from education facilities and volunteer agencies.
- Works in compliance with the provisions of the Occupational Health and Safety Act of Ontario and the regulations.
- Performs office duties such as answering the phones and checking the daily log to ensure high quality of service for families, documents messages and records parent’s inquiries.
- Opens (unlocks) and closes (locks) the premises as required; keeping exits free of snow or other play equipment as necessary.
- Performs other duties as required

**Qualifications**:

- Minimum high school diploma.
- Minimum of 2 years’ experience working in a Child Care Program.
- Experience working directly with parents, caregivers, and children (0-12 years).
- Solid knowledge of early childhood development and skilled in developing age-appropriate quality early learning activities and programs.
- Solid knowledge and awareness of the support services available to parents and caregivers within the Niagara community.
- Valid standard First Aid and CPR Certificate.
- Valid G Driver’s License and access to a reliable motor vehicle with appropriate liability insurance.

**Knowledge, Skills, and Working Conditions**:

- Good written and oral communication and interpersonal skills providing constructive, meaningful, and timely interaction.
- Ability to think clearly with attention to detail in the presence of frequent interruptions.
- Excellent understanding and commitment to quality service and best practice.
- Good ability to analyze information, problem-solve and make decisions.
- Self-directed with a solid ability to organize, plan, prioritize and multi-task.
- Flexible, adaptable, and responsive to change.
- Ability to deal with sensitive and personal information in a confidential manner.
- Ability to work with and meet timelines.
- Ability to communicate in French or another language is an asset.
- Frequently in non-sitting positions such as on the floor, at small tables, working with children in activities (bending, pushing, lifting, kneeling, climbing, crouching, stooping, standing).
- May be exposed to potentially hazardous environments including inclement weather during outdoor playground activities, child illnesses, noises, bodily wastes and fluids, chemical/cleaning substances, hostility from children experiencing behavior management difficulties that may bite, scratch and kick.
- Frequen