Disability Services Assistant - Head Start

The Disability Services Assistant will support the Inclusion and Support Team by working closely with the Disability Specialist. Providing support in child screening uploads, completion of screening follow up's, classroom supports and observations.

Candidates must submit an application by 12/6/24 to be considered for first-round interviews.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• High School Diploma or GED.

• One year of experience working with young children. Experience working with children with disabilities preferred. Prior Head Start experience preferred.

• Equivalent combination of education and experience may be accepted.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATION

• Driver qualifications are required for this position. Valid driver license, insured vehicle available for use on the job, and a satisfactory drive record for the previous three years are required.

• Successful registration with the Central Background Registry of the Child Care Division.

• CPR/First Aid Certification or the ability to obtain within 60 days of hire.

• Food Handlers Card or the ability to obtain within 30 days of hire.

• Candidate must pass pre-employment physical examination, renewable every two years.

• Candidate must pass pre-employment and random drug screenings.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES

• Demonstrated proficiencies with Microsoft Office (Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel) and videoconferencing platforms.

**ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee will also perform other reasonably related business duties as assigned by immediate supervisor and other management as required.

Classroom Support

• Works in partnership with the Disability Specialist to evaluate, monitor data and identify Teaching Staff who require support in implementing a student's Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP).

• Provides guidance to staff or supervisors regarding Inclusion and Support policies, procedures, and performance standards as needed.

• Supports in ensuring IFSP implementation quality through observations, trainings, and mentoring new classroom staff as needed. Share insights and observations with supervisor and classroom team.

• Reviews student screenings/IFSPs and provides materials/modeling to classroom staff to support learning.

• Supports teaching staff in completing referrals to specialist.

• Provides a supportive, emotional climate when participating in classroom activities that enhance student understanding of themselves as individuals and in relation to others.

• Develops competence in working with children with different abilities, referring children, and adapting classroom activities and environments.

• Ability to adjust and exhibit flexibility in meeting children and staff individual needs. Encourages children to verbalize their own feelings and ideas.

Parent Support

• Participates in home visits, conferences, or other conversations with parents to help articulate student challenges and progress. Seeks parent input as needed.

• Attends Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) meetings as needed.

• Provides resources to parents to support continuous learning.

Office/Paperwork

• Completes the data entry process for developmental and behavioral screenings requiring follow-up. Reports to Disabilities Specialist about those needed follow up.

• Assists in entering ASQ, ASQ SE and IFSP screenings into Child Plus.

• Maintains on-going documentation of communications with parents in ChildPlus.

• Documents the assigned student progress each day, taking note of things that went well, things that didn't go well, and providing examples.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES