Child Care Worker

Position: Child Care Worker

Position Type: Full-Time

Salary: $80,000 plus superannuation per annum

Location: Cranbourne West VIC 3977

Our client is seeking a Child Care Worker to join their early learning centre located in Cranbourne West, Victoria.

The Child Care Worker provides high-quality education and care to children in the centre’s rooms. The role supervises children and attends to their daily care needs, and helps to plan and deliver play-based programs that support each child’s physical, emotional, social, language and cognitive development. The Child Care Worker works within the National Quality Framework, the Early Years Learning Framework and the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework, and builds respectful partnerships with families.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Care, safety and supervision

• Supervising children at all times, including during indoor and outdoor play, meal times, rest periods and excursions, and ensuring their safety and wellbeing.
• Assisting children with daily routines such as eating, dressing, nappy changing, toileting, sleep and rest, and personal hygiene, and guiding them to develop healthy habits.
• Supporting the emotional, psychological and social wellbeing of children and providing comfort, reassurance and positive guidance.
• Observing children for signs of illness, injury, emotional distress or developmental concern, and reporting these to the Nominated Supervisor and families as appropriate.
• Administering first aid and following the centre’s medical management, allergy, anaphylaxis and asthma plans.

Learning and development

• Helping to plan, prepare and implement play-based learning programs and experiences that support children’s physical, mental, emotional and social development.
• Promoting children’s language, literacy, numeracy, creativity and problem-solving through age-appropriate activities and meaningful interactions.
• Encouraging positive behaviour, cooperation, independence and respect for others, and using consistent behaviour guidance strategies.
• Preparing and setting up learning environments, equipment and materials that are safe, inclusive and stimulating.
• Supporting children’s transitions, including transition to school.

Documentation, families and compliance

• Observing and documenting children’s learning, development and daily routines, and contributing to program evaluation and planning.
• Communicating with parents and guardians about their child’s progress, daily experiences, wellbeing and care needs.
• Maintaining a clean, hygienic and safe environment, including cleaning and sanitising equipment, toys and play areas.
• Complying with the Education and Care Services National Law and Regulations, the National Quality Standard, work health and safety requirements and centre policies and procedures.
• Meeting child protection and mandatory reporting obligations and upholding the Victorian Child Safe Standards.
• Maintaining required educator-to-child ratios and supervision arrangements at all times.
• Taking part in team meetings, professional development and the centre’s continuous improvement (Quality Improvement Plan) activities.

Requirements:

• An ACECQA-approved early childhood education and care qualification at Certificate III level (e.g. CHC30121) or higher (e.g. Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care, CHC50121), or an equivalent overseas qualification recognised by ACECQA.
• At least one (1) year of relevant full-time (or equivalent part-time) work experience as a child care worker or early childhood educator.
• A valid Victorian Working with Children Check (Employee).
• Current first aid, anaphylaxis and asthma training (HLTAID012 or equivalent), and child protection training.
• English language skills sufficient to communicate effectively with children, families and colleagues and to keep accurate records.

Skills and Attributes

• Sound knowledge of child development and play-based learning.
• Warm, patient and respectful approach to working with young children.
• Clear and professional communication with families and team members.
• Ability to work cooperatively in a team and follow direction from room leaders and the Nominated Supervisor.
• Good observation, documentation and time-management skills.
• Commitment to inclusion, cultural diversity and children’s rights.

Working Conditions

The role is based on site at the centre and involves rostered shifts within operating hours totalling 37.5 hours per week. The work is physically active and includes regular lifting of young children, bending, kneeling, sitting at child height and supervising outdoor play in varied weather.