Childcare Quality Specialist

Job Description

Job Title: Quality Specialist

Program(s): YWCA Northwestern Illinois, Child Care Resource & Referral

Reports to: CORE Department Supervisor and Director

Job Summary

Serves as a main point of contact for child care providers within Boone, Jo Daviess, Stephenson & Winnebago Counties interested in participating in ExceleRate Illinois Quality Recognition & Improvement System (QRIS). The Quality Specialist works as part of the Child Care Resource and Referral team to improve the quality of early child care by providing on-site consultation, technical assistance and training to assist providers in achieving or maintaining an ExceleRate Circle of Quality.

Minimum Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in:
• Early Childhood Education/Child Development OR One of the following related fields: Child Psychology/Behavioral Sciences, Family Consumer Sciences, Social Work, Elementary Education, Child Welfare, Family Services, Psychology, Sociology, Human Development, including a minimum of 18 hours in Early Childhood coursework.
• Minimum two (2) years of paid experience in a child care setting as a family child care provider, center-based administrator, center-based teacher/teacher assistant or Illinois Preschool for All teacher
• Must become Gateways to Opportunities Registry member within two (2) months of employment.
• Obtain and document a minimum of fifteen (15) hours of professional development annually.
• Completion of CSD and Field Safety training
• Technical proficiency with a personal computer and various software packages
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
• Ability to work as a team member as well as independently.
• Comfortable with networking and establishing collaborations.
• Strong knowledge of community resources
• Well established mentoring techniques with excellent presentation and training aptitude
• Ability to type at least 30 words per minute.
• Current Illinois driver’s license and valid vehicle insurance
• Ability to lift 30 pounds, sit, stand, bend, and twist.

Summary of Essential Job Functions

• Provide consultation, technical assistance and training to providers who are involved with ExceleRate Illinois QRIS or have expressed an interest in QRIS and need support at different stages in the process.
• Offer resources and information to child care providers in person, via phone and/or email.
• Assist in facilitating cohorts by providing training, technical assistance, reflective practice, and consultation.
• Work in partnership with providers and other specialists to jointly assess and identify a program’s needs and concerns.
• Maintain documentation of the contract related activities through a specified data recording system.
• Upon hire, Specialist receives detailed training on specific classroom and program assessment tools, in which a score threshold is required. Specialists will use this knowledge in assisting child care providers with self-assessment and developing continuous quality improvement plans.
• Attend work days, meetings, events, etc required for the position, which may include an occasional evening or weekend.
• Become an Approved Trainer for the Gateways to Opportunity Registry within twelve (12) months of completing the required job training.
• Excellent written and oral communication and tactful interpersonal skills required.
• Travel within a specific geographic area is required, with occasional statewide travel necessary. For this reason, a valid driver’s license and insurance are required.
• Work with consultant team members in providing resources, referrals and guidance to providers related to improving quality.
• Attend required/regular training and meetings for Quality Specialists.
• Adhere to and track the Action Plan, detailing job functions and expectations pursuant to IDHS contract and underthe direct guidance of the immediate Supervisor.
• Participate in community activities including community events, media campaigns, promotional materials, and community presentations.
• Participate in staff meetings, working to uphold the mission of the CCR&R and YWCA Northwestern Illinois
• Communicate with impartiality and respect all parents’/guardians’ child care choices.
• Speak to the purpose and services of all YWCA programming.
• Respond with sensitivity to families’ socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, and religious backgrounds, individual needs and capabilities.
• Reflect agency image in an appropriate manner, behavior and dress.
• Maintain a high level of confidentiality.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Disclaimer

• The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed. This Job Description should not be read as creating an express or implied contract, nor is it intended to alter the employment-at-will relationship. Employment with the YWCA is “at-will” and may be terminated at any time, with or without cause, at the option of either the YWCA or the employee.