Employment
Child Care Health Consultant
Position Title
Child Care Health Consultant (CCHC)
Primary Purpose/Description of the Position
The CCHC position is a community-based position that works with early care and education (child care) administrators, operators, and early educators to ensure healthy and safe environments for children in child care. CCHCs offer training and technical assistance through consultation and coaching.
Duties and Responsibilities
CCHC duties and responsibilities are to:
- Work collaboratively with early educators to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate strategies to achieve high quality, healthy and safe child care environments
- Guide early educators to meet child care health and safety requirements and achieve best practice standards
- Offer consultation based on quality improvement plans
- Provide health and safety training to improve health knowledge and skills of early educators
- Provide consultation and training for early educators to interpret and implement medical action plans for children with special health care needs
- Act as a liaison with local health professionals and community service agencies by offering health education, community information, and referral resources to facilities and families
- Advocate for young children by actively serving on and coordinating with local, regional, and statewide committees that support healthy growth and development of children
- Establish and maintain ongoing working relationships with other professionals offering technical assistance to early care and education settings
- Participate in ongoing professional development opportunities
- Participate in webinars, regional meetings, and the annual CCHC conference
Desired Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
The preferred knowledge, skills, and abilities for a CCHC candidate include:
- Being self-motivated to learn and having the ability to work in an independent role
- Having experience and knowledge of child health, development, and special health care needs
- Having knowledge and skills related to public health theory, practices, principles, and techniques
- Being able to understand and communicate the importance of injury prevention and health promotion
- Knowing state and federal child care guidelines and regulations
- Knowing how to locate community resources and access services for child care providers and families
- Having experience in providing group training and being knowledgeable of adult learning strategies
- Respecting the belief systems and cultural values of all people
- Being able to:
- identify people’s capabilities, knowledge, skills, assets, and strengths and work to reinforce and build upon these foundations
- tailor consultation to help early educators meet the needs and goals of families
- elicit information and communicate clearly and concisely
- nurture new partners and maintain existing relationships
- be flexible in the delivery of training and technical assistance based on the availability of facility staff
- develop and maintain relationships with local and state early care and education technical assistance providers
- document ongoing child care assessment, quality improvement plans, consultation, and training
- complete and submit regular reports to funding and hiring agencies
- develop and distribute training materials and health and safety resources to facilities
Minimum Education/Training
- Education
- Degree in Nursing and a current and unencumbered license to practice as a Registered Nurse (RN) in North Carolina; OR
- Bachelor’s degree in public health or other health related field (Master’s preferred)
- Two years relevant experience in the professional discipline of nursing, public health, or related field.
- Completion of or willingness to enroll in NC Child Care Health Consultant Course.
- Equivalent combination of education and experience.
The health professional becomes a qualified CCHC upon successful completion of the NC Child Care Health Consultant Course and receipt of a certificate of qualification. The 14-week course is facilitated by the NC Child Care Health and Safety Resource Center: www.healthychildcare.unc.edu and includes web-based distance learning, one on-site training session in the Raleigh area, and a final project.
Work Schedule
- Typically, Monday – Friday, 7.5 hour/day schedule.
- Occasional work on weekends and evenings is required to provide training.
- Extensive county or regional travel is required.
To apply for this position, please submit a cover letter, resume, and salary requirements by Tuesday, April 13, 2021, to programs@orangesmartstart.org.
OCPYC’s mission is to ensure that all young children in Orange County arrive at kindergarten healthy and ready to succeed. To learn more, please visit www.orangesmartstart.org. OCPYC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or gender expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.