Health Support

Job Description

Job Description

Position Summary:

This position assist in the coordination and the delivery of comprehensive health services to children and families according to the Head Start/Early Head Start Performance Standards working in conjuction with the Health Coordinator. Incumbent in this position demonstrates sensitivity to the service population’s cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Maintain a daily check of all assigned children to determine health status and general welfare.
  • Refer children for special needs evaluations.
  • Monitor children’s folders on a regular basis to ensure compliance with Head Start Performance Standards; as well as other regulations and Agency policies.
  • Contact parents of children too ill to remain in school.
  • Ensure hearing and vision screenings and growth assessments (heights and weights) are completed.
  • Ensure proper medication procedure (storage, documentation and administration) is followed.
• Report medical emergencies and concerns to Health Coordinator and follow instructions.
• Ensure timely follow up of assigned monitoring reports and provide feedback on recommendations as needed to the Health Coordinator.
• Engage with assigned parents individually and/or in group, follow up with Health coordinator any concerns.
  • Provide parents with information to include but not limited to: Nutrition, Cleanliness, Health, Physical Care.
  • Communicate with parents to obtain information regarding child health status.
  • Alert parents regarding renewal date for immunizations and if necessary, provide assistance to obtain vaccinations needed by children.
• Assist and ensure staff received training in CPR, First Aide and universal precautions in a timely manner.
• Conduct monthly safety inspections.
  • Utilize monitoring tools to monitor centers, classrooms and playground for safety concerns and out of compliance areas.
  • Monitor accident/incident reports, safety drills, First Aid kits, Medical Logs, Immunization Binders and Emergency Binders.
• Maintain a log of all nursing /medical issues daily.
• Coordinate and attend Health Services Advisory Committee meetings with the Health Coordinator as needed.
• Establish and maintain partnerships with local medical and dental providers who will provide services to children.
• Participate in annual self-assessment, as needed.
• Ensure Childplus information is accurate according to all areas of services, monitoring PIR, and providing feedback as needed.
• Attend staffing’s, parent conferences, meetings and trainings, as required.
• Maintain current knowledge of professional related matters through ongoing study and seminars,
• Assist in the development of educational materials for program staff.
• Assist in the coordination of trainings by community agencies for Health topics at a minimum of 2 training per center per year.
• Follow established child abuse reporting requirements.
• Compile and maintain observations, documentation and evaluation of each child’s growth and development for the purpose of planning activities to suit individual needs.
  • Ensure required documentation and reports are submitted and appropriately maintained utilizing a ChildPlus tracking system to ensure compliance with the Head Start Performance Standards and other regulations.
  • Assure confidentiality of records.
• Any other duties assigned by supervisor to ensure the smooth running and efficiency the health component.

Physical Demands:

• Ability to travel to all centers and meeting/training locations
• Ability to detect unsafe situations by sight or sound at Centers and during Home Visits when necessary.
• Ability to move quickly to intervene in unsafe situations.

Educational & Experiential Requirements:

• Associates degree on Child Health, Health Administration or related field preferred or at least have a total of 60 college credits required with experience working with young children.
• Experience working with children with special needs including behavioral problems prefer.
• Experience working with ChildPlus and PIR prefer.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to communicate well with diverse populations.
• Ability to work under pressure, maintain accuracy and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work with staff, participants, and the public in a professional and concerned manner.
• Possess up-to-date pediatric (infant/toddler) CPR and first aid certificate preferred.
• Bilingual preferred.

Other:

• Work a flexible schedule as required.
• Successful completion of background process which includes: Local background check, Level 2 clearance (FBI, FDLE), clear TB test, medical clearance, drug test and reference checks
• Adhere to the use of Universal Health & Safety Precautions as applicable