Lead Child Care Worker

Sacramento Children's Home • Sacramento, CA

2d • $23 - $26 • Onsite

About The Position

The Lead Child Care Worker (LCCW) supports the Sacramento Crisis Nursery’s mission to prevent child abuse and neglect by providing support to families in crisis. Under the supervision of the Crisis Nursery Supervisor, the LCCW ensures the safety, care, and supervision of children at the nursery, coordinates direct-care operations during the shift, and serves as the primary communication link to site supervisors. The role supports the development and implementation of age-appropriate activities and applies Community Care Licensing (CCL), agency, and program standards in caring for children.

The Crisis Nursery provides emergency and overnight childcare for children ages 0–5 at two Sacramento locations. This position is at the North Crisis Nursery, located at 4533 Pasadena Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95821. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., with a mandatory staff meeting on Wednesday from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The starting pay range is $23.35–$26.27 per hour.

The role includes direct care and supervision of children, shift leadership and coordination of staff, and completion and review of required documentation. Driving is an essential function; employees must furnish their own vehicle for work use and maintain a valid driver’s license and minimum insurance coverage.

Requirements

• Must be at least 21 years old.
• High school diploma or GED required.
• Meet at least one of the specified education and experience pathways: (1) 12 postsecondary semester units or equivalent quarter units, with passing grades, in early childhood education, child development, or child health at an accredited college or university, including at least 3 units in infant care; six months of direct infant-care experience may substitute for the infant-care coursework; (2) 9 postsecondary semester units or equivalent quarter units in those subject areas plus six months of qualifying work experience, and six months of work experience in a licensed group home, licensed infant care center, or comparable licensed group childcare program; (3) a current, valid Child Development Associate (CDA) credential with the appropriate age-level endorsement and at least six months of on-the-job training or work experience in a licensed childcare center or comparable group childcare program; or (4) a current, valid California Child Development Associate Teacher Permit.
• Six months of work experience in a licensed group home, licensed infant care center, or comparable licensed group childcare program is required under the stated qualification pathways.
• A valid driver’s license and minimum insurance coverage are required; the employee must furnish a personal vehicle for use in the course of employment.
• Ability to provide direct care and supervision to infants and children and coordinate care operations and staff during a shift.

Nice To Haves

• A recognized certificate in Applied Behavioral Analysis or at least one year of paid, verifiable employment providing ABA services.
• An associate’s or bachelor’s degree in Human Development, Human Services, Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, Behavioral Science, Child Development, or a related behavioral health or social services field.

Responsibilities

• Provide continuous supervision, protection, and care for children individually and in groups, and assist children with group participation and individual problems.
• Oversee and implement play activities, positive guidance, developmentally appropriate behavior support, and appropriate limits.
• Observe and document children’s progress and possible needs for professional services, and communicate relevant observations to professional staff.
• Develop and lead age-appropriate activities for children from diverse backgrounds, including preschool and infant activities in areas such as music, motor skills, health, science, creative arts, social studies, and language arts.
• Instruct children individually and in small groups and supervise indoor and outdoor play and learning activities.
• Maintain children’s safety and provide for their care throughout the assigned shift in accordance with CCL regulations and agency and program policies.
• Meet children’s care needs, including preparing meals and bottles, diapering, bathing, feeding, and one-on-one interaction; monitor for signs of illness, fatigue, or other needs.
• Complete overnight bed checks in accordance with established policies and standards.
• Use crisis intervention and positive discipline techniques consistent with program and agency policies.
• Oversee visits with families or caregivers as needed and support interactions that de-escalate crisis situations.
• Administer medications and treatments according to prescribed or recorded dosage and timing in the child’s chart.
• Prepare and serve nutritious meals and snacks family style, and maintain children’s hygiene and health.
• Monitor and maintain the cleanliness and safety of the nursery’s interior and exterior in accordance with program and Title 22 regulations; complete tasks such as cleaning, laundry, changing bedding, and sanitizing beds.
• Welcome volunteers and community members respectfully and help ensure they feel their contributions are appreciated.
• Assess nursery needs and allocate staff in accordance with child-to-staff ratios and the children’s ages, numbers, and care needs.
• Provide work direction, feedback, coaching, problem-solving, and task prioritization for Child Care Workers and volunteers during the shift.
• Communicate with management about admission or discharge questions, illness, accidents, incidents, staffing conduct or performance issues, and unusual situations requiring timely attention.
• Provide input for staff performance evaluations, administer immediate coaching or discipline when site supervisors are absent, and participate in staff investigations and provide written statements when requested.
• Monitor completion and quality of shift tasks, implement monitoring systems as directed, and provide management with feedback on support staff performance.
• Check in with Child Care Workers during the shift and review their written documentation and forms for accuracy, ensuring necessary corrections are made.
• Check charts for complete information and follow the orders recorded in them.
• Review and complete written documentation in accordance with program requirements, agency policy, and CCL regulations.
• Attend mandatory staff and agency meetings and trainings.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Eligible employees may receive medical, dental, vision, life, and accident insurance.
• Short- and long-term disability coverage may be available to eligible employees.
• Retirement plan with company match.
• Paid vacation and sick leave.
• 11 paid holidays.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Professional development support.
• Opportunities for career growth and advancement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED