Program Assistant

**JOB DESCRIPTION: PROGRAM ASSISTANT (Level 1, 2 or 3 Childcare Certification)**

**BGC Foothills Clubs: Main North, Lethbridge**

**Position**: Program Assistant

**Type of Employment**:Full-time, as negotiated

**Supervision Responsibilities**:All children participating in the program

**Responsible To**: Program Supervisor

**Location**:BGC Foothills Clubs: Main North

**JOB SUMMARY**:

- The Program Assistant will provide a quality, caring and supportive child care program to members of the 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 the Program Supervisor.

**QUALIFICATIONS**:

- Level 1, 2 or 3 Child Care Certification
- An understanding of the issues that affect children and their families
- Excellent interpersonal skills with parents, community members, and staff
- Mature and responsible attitude towards work
- Willingness to work flexible hours

**DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES**:
**1. Plan, carry out and assess developmentally appropriate activities and experiences.**
- Provide a daily balance of active/quiet, indoor/outdoor, and individual /group activities
- Establish and carry out a daily activity schedule that incorporates child-directed activity, care routines and transition times
- 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, reinforcing.
- Encourage and assist children to practice self help daily
- Plan and carry out experiences that foster an understanding of variety of cultures and value systems
- Provide opportunity each day for each child to be alone
- Provide opportunity for child-directed play experience
- Plan and 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

**2. Individualize the curriculum**
- Observe how children use materials and interact with each other and adults
- Use observations to expand play and plan activities that recognize individual difference
- Initiate referrals or additional services for parents and children

**3. Ensure guidance of children’s behaviour that encourages positive self-concept**
- Set reasonable behaviour expectations consistent with center’s philosophy and policies
- Immediately address problem behaviour without labelling the child
- Follow behaviour guidance and policies established by the entre and consistent with accepted practice in the field

**4. Ensure the child’s environment is healthy and safe**
- Follow the Club's procedures for administering medications and maintaining health records
- Report all accidents, injuries, and illnesses to the Director or delegate incidents in the daily log book and as serious occurrence if necessary
- Monitor the environment for hazards
- Update self daily on children’s physical needs for toileting, diapering eating and sleeping as promptly as possible
- Report all incidents of child abuse to the supervisor and follow Club procedure and government regulations
- Release children only to authorized persons

**5. Maintain positive communication with parents**
- Discuss the programs daily events and the child’s daily progress with parents as directed by the Program Supervisor
- Accommodate to the parent/guardian’s instructions for daily routines when possible within group routines
- Encourage parents/guardians to participate whenever possible

**6. Follow licensing requirements**
- Carry out the responsibilities assigned to you
- Attend to regular staff meetings
- Maintain confidentiality of all information related to the Club's children, their parents, and staff
- Participate in the annual performance review process
- Plan and carry out annual personal development
- Maintain regular attendance and punctuality

**DESIRED COMPETENCIES AND BEHAVIOURS**:

- 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 behaviour
- Ability to work cooperatively as a member of the childcare team, facilitating a team environment through personal behaviour, work contributions and the sharing of expertise and knowledge
- Participates in the development of new ideas and methods for program enhancement and has the ability to adjust and adapt to changes
- Maintains a con