POSTION SUMMARY:
Assist with providing quality care in before and after-school site and camp setting by supporting a fully inclusive experience for children with diverse abilities. Inclusion Counselor will support staff, create interventions and accommodations as needed to give every child a chance to participate.
Assist with providing a quality experience to children and parents that focuses on youth development, including the YMCA core values: honesty, respect, responsibility, caring, and faith.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
1. Program Quality: Assist with planning and implementing lesson/activity plans curriculum that includes formal and informal play within the center and outdoors that are culturally relevant, developmentally appropriate and consistent with YMCA core values. Works directly with youth who have physical and/or cognitive disabilities.
2. Daily Operations. Maintains the program site and camp environment by adhering to YMCA of Greater Houston program standards and childcare licensing minimum standards. Implements accommodations for youth with disabilities.
3. Leadership: Supervises children under the direction of the Site Lead. Makes sound decisions in alignment with YMCA and state standards. Acts as a role model to the children by exemplifying the YMCA’s five core values. Assist camp counselors to adapt materials and activities to be inclusive.
4. Relationship Building: Maintains positive relations with children, parents, school personnel, directors and other staff. Attends and participates in staff meetings, and staff trainings. Works closely with other counselors to ensure all campers are being included.
5. Child Abuse Prevention: Reports suspicious and inappropriate behaviors and policy violations. Follows mandated abuse and incident reporting requirements. Ensures youth are properly signed in and signed out, ensures only authorized adults are allowed in the facility, etc. Adheres to policies related to boundaries with each child. Ensures unused rooms and closets remain locked; routinely monitors high-risk locations (bathrooms), etc.
YMCA COMPETENCIES (YOUTH DEVELOPMENT LEADER)
Collaboration: Creates sustainable relationships within the Y and with other organizations in service to the community
Communication & Influence: Listens and expresses self effectively and in a way that engages, inspires, and builds commitment to the Y’s cause
Developing Self & Others: Develops self and supports others (e.g., staff, volunteers, members, program participants), both formally and informally, to achieve their highest potential
Functional Expertise: Executes superior technical skills for the role
Inclusion: Values all people for their unique talents, and takes an active role in promoting practices that support diversity, inclusion, and global work, as well as cultural competence
Program/Project Management: Ensures program or project goals are met and intended impact occurs
QUALIFICATIONS:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below 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.
1. At least 18 years of age.
2. High school diploma or general education degree (GED), and some college.
3. At least 12 months working in special education environment
4. At least 6 months working with youth at a licensed facility, church, school or equivalent.
5. CPR, First Aid, AED certifications and Child Abuse prevention trainings.
6. Ability to plan, organize, and implement age-appropriate/developmentally appropriate program activities for young people with disabilities
7. Preferred course work in special education or a related field
8. Preferred at least 6 months experience with diverse populations.
9. Current record of tuberculosis examination and/or current local health department regulations, examinations, and/or immunization as required by the local or State Department of Health.
10. Pass a local/state background and FBI fingerprinting check as well as independent drug test
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
Some College and High school diploma or general education degree (GED) with demonstrated interest in the welfare of children; prior childcare or baby-sitting experience is preferred.
LANGUAGE SKILLS
Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos. Ability to write simple correspondence. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization.
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS
Ability to add and subtract two digit numbers and to multiply and divide with 10's and 100's. Ability to perform these operations using units of American money and weight measurement, volume, and distance.
REASONING ABILITY
Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out simple one- or two-step instructions. Ability to deal with standardized situations with only occasional or no variables.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
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 accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Physical capacity to meet needs of youth with physical disabilities.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
WORK SCHEDULE
Before/After School: Part-time, typically Monday-Friday, afternoon shift 2:30 pm – 6:30 pm (start and end time may vary). Program runs concurrently with ISD calendar.
Camp: Typically Monday-Friday, 6:30 am – 6:30 pm with a morning, afternoon and evening shift option (start and end time may vary). Camps run concurrently with ISD calendar breaks.
Must be available to attend and participate in family nights, program activities, staff meetings, and staff trainings. Details will be provided in advance.
TRAVEL
Travel is primarily to an assigned site / camp; however, there are occasions when travel to other locations may be expected.
The YMCA of Greater Houston provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
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