Child Care Licensing Specialist

State of Connecticut•Hartford, CT

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The State of Connecticut, Office of Early Childhood (OEC), is seeking to hire Child Care Licensing Specialists to support core regulatory activities that ensure the health, safety, and well-being of children participating in licensed child care programs across Connecticut. The Connecticut Office of Early Childhood's Licensing Division is responsible for overseeing more than 3,500 child care centers, group child care homes, family child care homes, and youth camps in Connecticut. We are committed to promoting the health, safety, and welfare of Connecticut’s children, ensuring compliance with state statutes and regulations. We are currently recruiting multiple Child Care Licensing Specialists to join this specialized and mission-driven unit. Child Care Licensing Specialists play an essential role in this work by monitoring programs for compliance with applicable statutes and regulations during inspections and investigations, reviewing licensing applications and supporting providers through the licensing process, and providing technical assistance to enhance program quality and regulatory compliance. Specialists work closely with child care providers, contribute to consistent and high-quality statewide licensing standards, and help support safe environments for children.

Requirements

Six (6) years of experience in the provision of professional child care services with involvement in program development and operational policy.
Knowledge of and ability to interpret relevant state and federal laws, statutes, regulations, policies and procedures related to child care programs
Knowledge of principles and techniques of operating child care programs
Knowledge of various economic, emotional, medical, psychological and social factors influencing attitudes and behavior of individuals and families
Knowledge of community resources available to individuals and families
Considerable interpersonal skills
Oral and written communication skills
Ability to determine child care program and provider compliance with governing statutes and regulations
Ability to obtain, organize, assess and present evidence related to program provider compliance with regulations
Ability to maintain records and prepare reports
Organizational ability

Nice To Haves

Experience implementing, monitoring, and enforcing child care statutes and regulations
Experience creating written reports and narratives
Experience working individually and as part of a team
Experience following policies and procedures that align with regulatory, statutory, or programmatic requirements
Experience providing customer support in a public or private setting, including verbal and written communication
Experience speaking, reading, and writing in Spanish

Responsibilities

Conduct on-site inspections and investigations of child care centers, group child care homes, and family child care homes
Ensure child care programs meet or exceed minimum licensure requirements
Review applications for licensure
Prepare inspection reports, records, and supporting documentation
Respond to provider questions regarding regulations, policies, and required corrective actions
Assist in resolving disputes related to inspection findings
Provide technical assistance to providers on regulatory requirements
Participate in administrative enforcement actions as assigned
Communicate regularly with supervisors, colleagues, and licensed providers
Work independently and as part of a team
Attend staff meetings, trainings, and professional development sessions
Conducts on-site regulatory inspections and interviews of potential and existing child care providers to determine initial and continuing regulatory compliance and health, safety and welfare of children
Performs inspections of total facility (e.g. health and sanitation, food service, space, staffing, etc.)
Reviews required program documentation, observes program operations and conducts interviews with program staff, parents and other interested parties
Reviews applications for licensure from prospective child care programs and providers
Documents all pertinent information regarding regulatory compliance for formal and informal compliance conferences, negative actions against a licensee, hearings and/or court proceedings
Investigates complaints of non-compliance with child care regulations, mistreatment of children and illegal practices by child care programs and providers
Provides guidance and consultation regarding child care regulations and program practices to providers, parents and other interested parties
Maintains case records and prepares reports
Coordinates services with other state and local agencies
May appear before professional organizations and the public to educate on child care regulatory issues
Performs related duties as required