Social Worker - Child Care of the Berkshires, Inc. - North Adams

SEEKING:   We are seeking a Social Worker for our Supportive Services Program.  This position will be located in North Adams, MA.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

The Supportive Services Program provides comprehensive early education and family support for children and families who are funded by the Priority Population childcare contracts. Services include child care in either a Family Child Care (FCC) home or center, transportation, assessment of delays, Individual Family Service Plans and connections to community resources, with the goal of positive developmental progress, school success, reducing child maltreatment, parent resilience and strengthening the family.

BASIC FUNCTION:

The Social Worker will support the individual needs of children and families on EEC childcare contracts in center based or family childcare through the provision of ongoing behavioral support case management, coaching/mentoring, reporting and documenting social service logs, interventions, referrals, and maintenance of children’s behavioral success plans.

The Social Worker provides case consultation to staff and assists with mental behavioral challenges, including crisis intervention and referrals to appropriate community resources. In addition, offers educators support concerning children’s developmental lags, based on the children’s assessments, Behavioral Success Plan and the Individual Family Plan and works with other program staff to ensure children’s success in placement. He/she informs childcare Program Director and Supportive Services Program Director of any problems, or gaps in service. The deliverance of high quality, comprehensive, early education services that meet the individual needs of the child and promote educational success is the primary goal.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor Degree in social work, sociology, counseling, or related field required.
• Minimum of 2 years of relevant experience, working in early childhood education, and case management with high-risk children and families.
• EEC Lead teacher certification preferred.
• Sound knowledge of typical child development (with a special focus on social and emotional development), effects of trauma, and various disorders and impairments that may cause developmental delays.
• Knowledge of special education, parent, and community resources is helpful.
• Ability to assess the development of children of various ages (infants through school age). Working knowledge of various assessment tools preferred.
• Ability to problem solve, case manage, and make appropriate referrals for individual children in order to improve child’s development.
• Positive attitude, understanding and commitment toward Strengthening Families philosophy and Family Engagement Framework, and attend training as needed.
• Must demonstrate sensitivity to high-risk families undergoing stress, financial difficulties, or other pressures.
• Ability to build relationships, partnerships, and actively engage with other community organizations to access programming for children and families.
• Ability to work with cultural sensitivity to establish rapport with persons of diverse ethnic, racial, cultural, sexual orientation, and/or economic backgrounds; must be able to work with a team in a respectful, collaborative manner.
• Excellent communication skills to facilitate ongoing positive relationships with educators, parents/guardians, and other agencies.
• Excellent detail and organizational skills required to: document succinctly and accurately; maintain accurate and orderly records; multi-task, and manage a caseload of varying responsibilities and priorities.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Proficient on use of computer, software programs and databases, general familiarity with office equipment.
• Must be willing to complete an EEC background check (MA criminal offender record check(CORI), SORI, DCF background check, National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR)) fingerprinting, and a motor vehicle check.

 GENERAL EXPECTATIONS:

• Demonstrate regular, dependable and punctual attendance.
• Maintain a neat and orderly work environment.
• Demonstrate friendliness, politeness, and cooperation with other staff members, clients, supervisors, vendors, and members of the community
• Must demonstrate a commitment to value diversity and contribute to an equitable and inclusive working and learning environment
• Adhere to policies of CCB, as stated in Personnel Policies, including dress code, confidentiality, WISP, social media, information and technology (including translation service tool), boundaries, and Employee Standard of Conduct.
• Prioritize work and assignments in order to meet established deadlines.
• Continues professional development through seminars, conferences, college/graduate course work, and State-sponsored trainings.  Completes and individual professional development plan (IPDP).
• Conducts self-evaluation of performance; willingness to accept constructive criticism and where appropriate, change behavior.

 WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Duties performed on-site at the offices as well as in the classrooms and/or FCC homes throughout Berkshire County.  Employees work under typical office conditions, at a desk where the noise level is usually quiet and in classrooms where the atmosphere is active and loud.

This position also requires the following: 

• Ability to walk, stand, sit, and stoop.
• Ability to visually observe children’s behavior and adaptation to their childcare placement.
• Ability to lift up to 40 pounds, including children.
• Ability to communicate clearly and vocally in order to express and exchange information by spoken word. In addition, willingness to use translation and other tools to communicate effectively with the children and families we support.
• Must be able to provide documentation of good physical health and mental health, freedom from communicable diseases, evidence of up-to-date immunizations.
• Ability to travel to and from childcare homes and centers.

WORK SCHEDULE AND YEAR: This is a full time, 40 hour per week, position. The hours for this position may vary according to program assignment.  Some meetings/events may be required, outside of traditional working hours.

SALARY RANGE:  $23-$25 per hour, commensurate with experience.  Benefits include health, vision, and dental insurance, sick and vacation time as well as paid holidays, paid closure days, and retirement plan.

CHILD CARE OF THE BERKSHIRES IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER, WITH A LONGSTANDING COMMITMENT TO INCREASING THE DIVERSITY OF THE EMPLOYEE COMMUNITY.