Childcare Specialist - PRN

Nexus Family Recovery Center is a Dallas-based nonprofit dedicated to helping women and families heal from substance use disorder. We provide a comprehensive continuum of care, from detox through residential and outpatient treatment, rooted in trauma-informed, evidence-based practice and a deep belief that recovery is possible for everyone we serve.

At Nexus, our culture is built on the same values we bring to our clients: respect, compassion, and integrity. Our team is made up of professionals who are serious about the work and about each other, and we are committed to building a workplace where staff feel supported, valued, and able to grow.

If you're looking for work that matters, a team that shows up, and an organization that invests in the people doing the hard work, then we'd love to meet you.

The Childcare Specialist – Part Time, As Needed (PRN) Coordinates services under the direction of the Director of Children’s Services to provide consistent quality care for the children served in the Child Development Center.  Follows all Texas DFPS childcare standards and insure the safety of all children in the Child Development Center. Provide developmentally appropriate learning experiences for the children in the center.  

• Assists Director of Children Services in providing nurturing and safe environment for parent/child programming.
• Assures the children’s area is clean.
• Provides assistance to parents in facilitating their parental responsibilities.
• Leads games and activities assigned by the Director of Children’s Services.
• Cares for hygienic needs of child in childcare to include changing diapers, bathing, and changing clothes as necessary.
• Assists in planning age-appropriate leisure and weekend activities for children in the women and children program.
• Attends all training courses as requested by the Director of Children’s Services and required by state licensing agency.
• Documents positive and negative behaviors observed during interaction with parent and/or child.
• Report to the Program Director any disruptive or significant changes or behaviors.
• Documents on Incident Report Form any behaviors requiring physical staff intervention or any injury or illness experienced by children.
• Documents attendance and/or absence of parent/child during assigned activities.
• Organizes children’s supplies and report shortages to Team Leader.
• Assures that children remain in the area assigned during activities time and mealtimes.
• Reports immediately any indication of abuse or neglect to the Director of Children’s Services or the Women and Children Director.  Provide subsequent written documentation.  Assist Program Director to contact Child Protective Services.
• Co-leads curriculum-based support groups as indicated for children in childcare.
• Assists childcare team to develop monthly lesson plans.
• Documents child’s progress in chart daily and weekly treatment plans for each child in accordance to state licensing documentation standards.
• Assists Director of Children’s Services to decorate and plan for holiday events.
• Provides medication supervision to children as needed.
• Provides transportation for children’s school, appointments, outings, and field trips.
• Ensure services delivered as in line with the Nexus Mission and Values
• Other duties within the organization as assigned.

• Knowledge regarding normal child development and milestones.
• Ability to anticipate safety concerns involving children and clients.
• Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions.
• Ability to write simple correspondence, communicate with peers, management, and clients.
• Working knowledge of Child Development Practices.
• Working knowledge of Minimum Standard provided by the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services.
• Ability to provide daily documentation for parent communication, required agency forms and attendance.
• Ability to provide developmentally appropriate activity plans on a weekly basis.
• Ability to communicate children’s needs to parents, Counselors, and administrators’ daily.
• Ability to positively cope with demands of the position, which often includes stress and pressure.
• Understanding of and adherence to HIPPA Compliance, and Employee & Client Confidentiality

• High school diploma or general education degree (GED), preferred. 
• One to three years’ related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience. 
• Child Development Associate (CDA) credential preferred. 
• If not already credentialed, employee must be willing to work on obtaining their CDA while employed at Nexus. 
• Clean driving record and all training required by agency.  
• CDL license preferred.  

• Respects confidentiality always.
• Follows HIPAA and CFR 42 guidelines for disclosing information.
• Adheres to the agency’s compliance plan, code of conduct, and the Nexus policies & procedures.
• Treats all clients, visitors, and co-workers with dignity and respect.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to conduct instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
• Ability to solve practical problems involving a variety of concrete variables in standardized situations.
• Ability to perform assigned duties and responsibilities with neatness, accuracy, and a degree of excellence, promptly.
• Ability to work at the maximum capacity of all required expectations.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. As a condition of continued employment, you are responsible for obtaining and maintaining all training required to stay in compliance with state licensure rules and regulations.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; navigate stairs, sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and distance vision. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.