Under the supervision of the Family Program/Youth Development Director, the Child Watch Staff will assist in day-to-day operations of our Child Watch program and ensure the safety and well-being of all children present in program areas and rostered activities. The Child Watch Attendant understands character development to be the guiding principle of the YMCA of Springfield and personally exhibits a commitment to that goal in all YMCA operations.

This position is available at locations including the Downtown Branch, Kerasotes Branch, and Lincoln Branch

• At all times, ensure the safety of the youth within assigned areas/programs.
• Provide a high level of customer service while dealing with YMCA members, guests, and staff.
• Assist as requested with design or evaluation of services and youth programs.
• Follows policies and procedures.
• Maintain open communication with all parents.
• Set up and clean up areas after all program/service use.
• Complete daily toy, equipment, or furniture cleaning as scheduled.
• Attend training as assigned.
• Maintains good communication with Family Program Director to ensure problems concerns and successes are conveyed in a timely manner.
• Maintain attendance records.
• Build relationships with members.
• Have Incident Report documentation completed as needed.
• Other duties may be assigned per the needs of the program.

OUR SERVICE EXPECTATIONS:

• Display a friendly, helpful, and positive disposition.
• Provide customer service that is thorough, timely, organized, and accurate.
• Help ensure the Y is meeting member and participant needs by utilizing good listening skills, attentiveness, objectivity, and patience in all situations.
• Place members and participants as the first and highest priority, showing kindness and compassion at all times.
• Demonstrates the Y core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility through all daily activities and responsibilities.

Child Abuse Policies & Prevention: The YMCA enforces policies to prevent child abuse. Allegations or suspicions are taken seriously and reported to authorities. Procedures include unscheduled visits, open doors for parents, and a code of conduct for staff. We screen carefully to prevent abusers from being hired and provide child abuse prevention training to staff. Employees who fail to support these policies will be subject to discipline, up to termination.

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.

• Must be at least 16 years of age.
• Two years of previous childcare experience or equivalent education preferred.
• Have leadership competencies in the identified key areas.
• Ability to learn quickly.
• Ability to work with integrity, discretion, patience, and a professional approach.
• Prefer knowledge of, and previous experience with, diverse populations (language, culture, race, physical ability, sexual orientation, etc.).
• Ability to enforce rules with the children and parents.
• Ability to complete all required trainings within 60 days of employment, which may include CPR, first aid, Living Our Cause, DCFS Mandated Reporter, IL Gateway Registry Modules and to maintain these certifications as current as outlined by regulations or requirements.

WORK ENVIRONMENT & 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.

• Ability to speak concisely and effectively communicate. Be able to communicate using a computer and phone/smart device.
• The employee frequently is required to sit and reach and must be able to move around the work environment.
• Visual and auditory ability to respond to critical situations and the ability to act swiftly in an emergency.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust.
• May require physical effort while reaching with hands and arms, stooping, kneeling, crouching, standing, walking, balancing, bending, leaning, kneeling, walking, and climbing.
• Carrying supplies to and from work locations, normally lifting less than 25lbs.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment but also being able to keep busy during slower times while keeping up with the ratio of kids at one time.
• All staff must have the ability to change diapers on all children if needed.

• Free 1 Parent Family Membership
• 8% Retirement for Vested Employees
• Paid Leave for All

Our mission and core values are brought to life by our culture. In the Y, we strive to live our cause of strengthening communities with purpose and intentionality every day. We are welcoming: we are open to all. We are a place where you can belong and become. We are genuine: we value you and embrace your individuality. We are hopeful: we believe in you and your potential to become a catalyst in the world. We are nurturing: we support you in your journey to develop your full potential. We are determined: above all else, we are on a relentless quest to make our community stronger, beginning with you.