Center Support Assistant

Overview

Center Support Assistant at Episcopal Children's Services, Inc. (ECS). ECS helps underserved children in Northeast and Central Florida build a solid foundation for educational success. We aim to provide opportunities for children to achieve their full potential and support families and communities.

The Center Support Assistant provides a warm, nurturing, stimulating, safe and loving environment where each child can develop language, cognitive, social, emotional, and physical skills appropriately.

• Assist in the classroom as needed.
• Familiarize self with the day’s planned activities.
• Implement culturally sensitive educational activities that are developmentally appropriate for each child’s age and language in an individual or small group setting.
• Provide a warm, nurturing, loving and positive environment, using positive guidance techniques and upholding the ECS Discipline Policy.
• Develop nurturing relationships with each child which encourage social and emotional development.
• Maintain all federal, state, local and accreditation standards (these may include those set forth by NAEYC, APPLE, ECS, DCF and Early Head Start).
• Follow policies and procedures regarding medical and dental emergencies, short-term exclusion of children, and the administration, handling and storing of medications.
• Ensure safe practices to prevent injuries to children or self.
• Maintain sanitation and hygiene procedures and participate in the maintenance of the center.
• Provide and encourage effective communication and relationships with families so that parents feel comfortable talking to staff about their children.
• Encourage parental involvement in all aspects of the program.
• Participate in family-style meals with the children, encouraging proper eating habits and conversation.
• Follow infants’ individual feeding schedules and hold infants who cannot sit independently while feeding (EHS).
• Communicate regularly with other staff to better serve children and families, including attending staff meetings, trainings, and sharing information.
• Maintain appropriate record keeping, including maintaining children’s portfolios as needed when regular staff are absent.

• Assemble and deliver breakfast, lunch, and/or snack on time to the classrooms.
• Maintain daily Temperature Tracking form.
• Coordinate maintenance of milk, formula, baby food and paper product stock.
• Wash all dishes (according to Health Department standards) daily.
• Turn in all Vendor Delivery Slips to supervisor at the end of each month.
• Clean and sanitize countertops, sinks, refrigerators, warmers, microwaves and floors.
• Discard trash and empty supply boxes daily.

• Clean building floors by sweeping, mopping, scrubbing, or vacuuming them.
• Gather and empty trash.
• Regularly clean and maintain all bathrooms and public areas.
• Monitor building security and safety by performing tasks such as locking doors and checking electrical appliance use to ensure hazards are not created.
• Clear hallways of obstructions, observe fire codes and alert staff and management of any possible safety hazards.
• Notify supervisor concerning the need for major repairs or additions to building operating systems.
• Maintain inventory of job-related supplies and order more when needed.
• Maintain cleaning and kitchen supplies in a clean, organized and safe manner.
• Maintain janitorial equipment in a clean, safe and operable condition.
• Ensure proper labeling, dilution and use of all chemicals.

Note:

These essential job functions are not to be construed as a complete statement of duties performed. Employees may be required to perform other related marginal duties as required.

This position reports to the Center Manager.

• High School Diploma or GED with DCF 45-hour training; CDA highly preferred.

• Knowledge of child growth and development and developmentally appropriate practices for children birth to 5 years.
• Ability to provide a supportive and caring environment for children.
• Ability to exercise control and maintain appropriate classroom discipline.
• Ability and…