Child Care Worker-RTF

The House of The Good Shepherd•Utica, NY

3d•$20 - $20•Onsite

About The Position

The Child Care Worker provides individualized, compassionate care to children and teens in a residential setting. The role supports young people who have experienced significant trauma by helping create structure, safety, and security in daily life and contributing to their healing journey. The position is based at Champlin Ave in Utica, New York, with occasional travel. The schedule is 3–11 p.m. and includes weekends.

Requirements

Minimum high school diploma or equivalency diploma.
Sufficient maturity to work with and relate to children.
Ability to form positive relationships with children.
Ability to understand and respond to children’s basic developmental needs.
Ability to understand and follow agency policy and Trauma Informed Care orientation.
Knowledge of children’s basic needs and developmental issues in a way that promotes growth and respects individuality.
Ability to ask age- and developmentally appropriate questions and actively listen.
Knowledge of infection control practices, including appropriate hand washing.
Ability to use knowledge of developmental milestones and child development to support children and plan activities.
Ability to identify developmentally appropriate behavior and reasonable behavioral expectations.
Ability to observe children and understand their interests and developmental levels.
Ability to model and teach appropriate behavior.
Commitment to following and embracing the Seven Commitments of the Sanctuary Model.
Valid New York State driver’s license.

Nice To Haves

Some higher education.
Experience with children.

Responsibilities

Create a structured, safe, and secure environment for children and teens in residential care.
Build warm, positive, nurturing relationships with children and form positive connections with them.
Understand and respond to children’s basic developmental needs while respecting their individuality.
Ask age- and developmentally appropriate questions and actively listen to children’s responses.
Follow agency policies and the Trauma Informed Care orientation.
Follow mandated reporting requirements regarding child abuse and neglect.
Practice infection control, including appropriate hand-washing procedures.
Use knowledge of developmental milestones to support children’s participation at their individual levels of interest and ability.
Interact with children during meals and snacks and promote appropriate social behavior.
Plan and implement developmentally appropriate activities and environments.
Adapt activities and environments to meet individual children’s special needs and situations.
Identify developmentally appropriate behavior and set reasonable expectations for children’s behavior.
Observe children to understand their interests and developmental levels.
Model and teach appropriate behavior to children.
Demonstrate professionalism at all times.
Embrace and follow the Seven Commitments of the Sanctuary Model.