Child Development Specialist (Part-time)

About House of Hope

Nestled between downtown SLC and the University of Utah, House of Hope (HOH), a local nonprofit, empowers women, strengthens families, and promotes recovery in our community. As Utah’s oldest treatment center, we have a long legacy of employing staff who are dedicated to the mission of spreading hope, nurturing healing, and encouraging personal growth in our colleagues, our clients, and our organization. House of Hope is proud to serve underserved populations and is passionate about providing quality care to clients.

We offer a culture of camaraderie, creativity, and collaboration as we work collectively to make a difference in the lives of the families we serve.

House of Hope is a non-profit organization providing substance use disorder treatment and behavioral health services to help women rebuild their lives and strengthen their families in seven facilities in SLC and a campus in Provo.

House of Hope’s Mission

Treating substance use disorders, rebuilding lives, strengthening families, and empowering women. Our values include accountability, collaboration, compassion, diversity, integrity, respect, and safety.

Primary Responsibilities

House of Hope offers a collaborative team culture where employees are supported professionally and personally. Working at House of Hope provides you with an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the lives of others while advancing your career in a challenging and welcoming work environment. Our goal is to help employees build sustainable, fulfilling careers while doing meaningful work with our client population. If you are passionate about helping others, we encourage you to apply for this rewarding position. Primary responsibilities include:

·         Serve as children’s day treatment group leader in the classroom five days per week.

·         Responsible for supervision, safety, and positive guidance of children at The Hope Center.

·         Assist with setting up and following daily schedules and curriculum, following best practices for early childhood social/emotional development within specific age groups.

·         Design and implement interventions to help individual children within the classroom who may have special behavioral, emotional, or developmental needs.

·         Coach “Center Moms” on appropriate child guidance techniques and model appropriate social skills, life skills, and pre-employment practices while in the classroom, as well as assist Center Moms in completing duties in the classroom, providing safe boundaries, positive feedback, and modeling appropriate behavior.

·         Communicate proactively with parent(s) regarding each child’s progress and needs and to provide training, communication, and parental guidance and support.

·         Create a safe and nurturing learning environment appropriate to the age group and in compliance with licensing requirements and best practice guidelines.

·         Assist with cleaning and maintenance of classroom including daily care and deep cleaning projects (in conjunction with Center Moms and Hope Center staff).

·         Inform Facilities Manager of any needed maintenance of the facility and coordinate with Hope Center Staff to facilitate special projects to improve the facility, classrooms, and grounds of the program.

·         Produce daily progress notes on each child indicating measurable progress toward child’s weekly goals and use the organization’s computer systems in an efficient way ensure that notes are completed and meet Medicaid guidelines.

·         Complete thorough incident reports as needed for any injury, incident, or concern and submit same day to supervisor.

·         Communicate directly with other staff and demonstrate healthy communication and a fully united front to the women and children.

·         Attend weekly Children’s Services staff meetings; attend group, as needed, to clarify issues as they arise.

Qualifications, Experience & Skillset

This position offers excellent experience in working with children and families for those interested in social work, psychology, child development and/or women in recovery. We are looking for a passionate, knowledgeable, and caring therapists who can both complete the following requirements and add to our culture of caring and understanding:

·         The ability to make a commitment for a minimum of a year (to avoid disrupting healthy attachment with children).

·         A talent for using creativity and collaboration to solve problems and implement ideas to improve services.

·         An interest in working with high-risk families and providing direct care in an early childhood setting.

·         Experience working with young children and/or with high-risk families.

·         The skill set of creativity, patience, and energy to work with groups of young children.

·         The ability to create and implement a daily group curriculum and adapt therapeutic activities with young children of various ages, needs and abilities.

·         The willingness to be flexible, try new things, be open to feedback and handle stress calmly.

·         Respectful communication skills with children, parents, group assistants and other staff.

·         Proficient in professional timely documentation to meet Medicaid standards with good computer skills.

·         Organized, creative, multi-tasker, who is calm in a crisis and proficient at problem solving.

·         Excellent assertive communication skills, verbally and in writing.

·         Most importantly, has a passion for working on a collaborative team to help women and children in need.

Agency Requirements

·         Non-smoking worksite: no tobacco products allowed.

·         Must be at least 21 years old.

·         Must pass extensive post-offer, pre-employment background check and drug test.

·         Must be able to lift up to 40 pounds, sit on floor, and climb stairs, with the stamina and strength to care for small children appropriately and continuously as required by normal job duties.

·         If in recovery, must have at least 2+ years of continuous sobriety.

·         Must have own reliable transportation, good driving record and be willing to transport clients in own car and agency vehicles occasionally.

·         Be able to adhere to ethical standards and maintain confidentiality.

·         Have a compassionate and empathetic approach to working with individuals facing substance use and mental health challenges.

Education Required

Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, child development or similar field. The ability to work toward SSW licensure desired.

Hours & Schedule

Part-time, 28 hours per week between the hours of 2:30-4:30 p.m. Mondays, 12:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Wednesdays, and 12:30-5 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays.

Wages & Benefits

$18-22 per hour, based on experience and licensure (experience in early childhood or children’s mental health is preferred).

Part-time benefits package, including:

·         Voluntary dental and vision insurance, effective the first of the month following 60 days of employment;

·         Employer-paid Employee Assistance Program;

·         401(k) dollar-for-dollar match up to 5% after 90 days of employment; and

·         Employee recognition and other incentives.

Apply now!

Please send the following to employment@houseofhopeut.org:

• Cover letter, indicating why you want to be House of Hope’s next Child Development Specialist;
• Resume; and
• Three professional references.

For more information about House of Hope, please visit www.houseofhopeut.org.