Position Overview
Provides administrative supervision and mentoring to Special Needs Specialist and Early Childhood Behavior Specialists; limited fiscal management; facilitates staff and parent training and development and partnerships/collaborations. Works closely with Program Managers to ensure HS4KC serves 10% of children with special needs and that children with a special need receive all necessary services. Supports classroom staff through an established referral process in relation to behavior management strategies. Acts as a subject matter expert/resource to various levels of the organization depending upon the responsibility.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty, may include but not limited to the following:
- Occasionally provides hands-on support for children with behaviors that interfere with their ability to participate comfortably and appropriately in classroom routines and special events or pose a safety or health risk to themselves or others, as identified by the Special Needs Supervisor
- Provides supervision for assigned specialists including; evaluations, including performance and productivity, conduct performance improvement plans as needed
- Monitor attendance utilizing Ultra Time
- Failed behavior, development, speech and motor screening procedures
- Referral process to LEA’s
- Support to IEP/IFSP goals
- Mental Health Visits
- Provides organization and direction for related disabilities services, in conjunction with other departments.
- Provides administrative supervision for Special Needs Specialist and Early Childhood Behavior Specialists
- Ensures, evaluates and makes necessary changes for the implementation of the Federal Performance Standards and State of Michigan Licensing Rules, as a standard for continuous quality improvement.
- Organizes and facilitates training and development, in conjunction with other departments as needed
- Updates process, forms and procedures to ensure compliance of all relative standards.
- Builds professional relationships with LEAs and mental health agencies.
- Plans and implements a support system for children with special needs both internally and externally to ensure successful transitions for children identified with special needs.
- Monitors training and development for staff in the area of special needs, while encouraging staff to enhance their knowledge and skills working with children with special needs.
- Supports other program managers in their roles, especially in their area of expertise.
- Listens to, coaches, problem-solves, provides emotional support and builds relationships with staff to enhance their knowledge and skills in disability areas.
- Monitors and provides input on assigned budgets.
- Ensures data collection and monitors areas related to special needs
- Developmental Screenings – ASQ, DECA
- Mental Health Consultations
- Mental Health Follow-ups
- IEP/IFSP
- RTI
Supervisory Responsibilities
Early Childhood Behavioral Specialist and Special Needs Specialist
Required Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, education, child development, or closely related field, with course work in early childhood development required. Master’s degree preferred.
- A minimum of two years direct experience with children (age 0-5) experiencing mental health/behavioral difficulties. Knowledge of and experience with Head Start Performance Standards preferred.
Competencies
To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:
- Technical Expertise
- Team Leadership
- Strategic Thinking
- Organization
- Attention to Detail
Physical Requirement
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. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. This is largely a sedentary role; however, some filing is required; it would require the ability to lift files, open filing cabinets and bend or stand on a stool as necessary. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus.
- Ability to sit for prolonged periods of time while performing work duties.
- Physical ability to effectively and efficiently operate keyboard and other work related tools and equipment.
- Visual acuity to effectively read computer screen, reading material, and reports or documentation required per Head Start guidelines.
- Ability to sit, stand, bend, reach, pull twist and turn with sufficient manual dexterity to operate standard office machines, to file, retrieve supplies, perform light cleaning of classroom/office, etc.
- Ability to squat, crawl, kneel and bend in order to speak to children at the child’s eye level, to play with the children and to pick up toys and equipment from the floor.
- Ability to raise arms above head and extend arms and legs beyond body.
- Ability to sit in 15 inch chairs.
- Ability to lift and carry twenty-five to thirty (25-30) pounds, if you are required to lift over this amount in a non-emergency situation, you are required to ask for assistance.
- In some emergency situations you may be required to lift over thirty (30) pounds.
- Ability to hear and listen when a child or another individual is speaking to you both in a calm and excited environment.
Work Environment
This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.
