The Organisation:
The Uniting Church in Australia (the Church) is a large uniquely Australian Christian denomination in Australia with heritage from historical reformed evangelical denominations. In Queensland, the Uniting Church has around 250 congregations and has schools, colleges and large community services (such as UnitingCare Queensland and Wesley Mission Queensland).
Position purpose:
The purpose of this role is to ensure the development and provision of quality care through the assessment, recruitment and ongoing support and training of contracted Family Day Care educators in home-based care, as well as promotion of the service to gain community support and awareness.
Key responsibilities:
- Recruitment of educators including assessment of their suitability and the suitability of other adults as required by the Australian Children's Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA).
- Monitor and support the quality of care provided by home-based educators including home visits.
- Monitor the implementation of the Early Years Learning Framework (ELYF) and My Time Our Place Framework (MYTOP).
- Support and provide home-based educators with leadership, supervision, orientation, training, relevant and identified professional development opportunities and access to service toy and equipment library.
- Ensure home-based educators delivers and meets the National Quality Framework, compliance with laws, regulations and approved learning frameworks.
- Mentor home-based educators to demonstrate a high standard of ethical and professional practice and behaviour that is in line with the Uniting Church vision and values.
- Ensure a safe environment is maintained by home-based educators to achieve safety outcomes, driving continuous improvement and that all reasonable care it taken to ensure actions do not impact on the health and safety of educators, children and families.
- Nurture and grow professional networks and relevant professional associations to maintain contemporary awareness of current trends and evidence-based approaches in early childhood education and early childhood development.
- Liaise with local professionals, complementary services and relevant government departments in the interest of child and family support.
- Support and encourage home-based educators to develop internal and external partnerships.
- Support commitment to inclusion and access to a quality early childhood education program for all children and families, ensuring all children and families are treated with dignity and respect.
- Ensure protecting children's safety and wellbeing is embedded in everyday practice, ensuring compliance with policy and procedures by all, by implementing the Safe Church Child Protection Framework and investigating all incidents/hazards.
- Work collaboratively with the Family Day Care Operations Manager to enable the service to achieve best practice and quality outcomes.
- Exemplify personal drive and integrity, taking personal responsibility for meeting objectives, showing initiative and committing energy to achieving goals, showing resilience and professional conduct under pressure and scrutiny.
- Ensure compliance with policy and procedures by self and home-based educators including investigation of all incidents/hazards.
- Model the values of the Uniting Church in Australia, Queensland Synod in day to day work including in interactions with managers, lay staff, ministry agents, clients and stakeholders.
- Identify and develop strategies to provide internal and external client focused customer service including identifying improvements to policy, process and the work environment.
- Work within the Code of Conduct and other policies and procedures of the Uniting Church in Australia, Queensland Synod and the provisions of the Workplace Health and Safety and other relevant legislation, including reporting hazards/incidents, support for injured workers and full participation in return to work plans.
- Undertake other duties as and when directed within the scope of the role and the capabilities of the incumbent.
Qualifications:
- Early Childhood approved Diploma or equivalent as approved by ACECQA (required)
Experience and skills:
- Demonstrated thorough knowledge and understanding of current early childhood education practices, knowledge of child development legislative and framework documentation, including Education and Care Regulations, National Quality Framework and Early Years Framework.
- Demonstrated experience mentoring and supporting educators, whilst driving performance and delivering positive results in early childhood/ Family Day Care environment, with particular regard to day to day operations as well as client relationship management and retention.
- Ability to multitask, set priorities, work with limited supervision and part of a team.
- Demonstrated ability to respond appropriately in difficult situations with educators, parents/guardians and parents.
- Knowledge and understandin