What Is a Senior Staff in a Child Care Center?
A childcare worker plays an essential role in managing the children's safety, health and general development, in the absence of their parent or guardians. In most childcare settings, ranking of staff is implemented to assign certain levels of responsibilities. When you're a senior staff member, you carry a wider scope of duties and responsibilities which should be congruent with your experience and skills.
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Duties
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In a childcare senior staff position you can manage a group of children without supervision. This means that you enjoy more independence in conducting activities, implementing daily tasks and making decisions in disciplinary strategies. You can also directly discuss with parents any issues and concerns regarding their children's behaviour and progress. In some cases, you also supervise a childcare assistant or junior staff employee and conduct evaluations about their work performance. Overall, you are more liable in making sure that the children's needs are addressed accordingly and that the childcare daily operations run smoothly.
Qualifications
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Requirements for childcare senior staff may vary depending on the childcare company policies and state regulations. Usually, the minimum education requirement is a high school diploma. It is a given that you already possess the required license and certification before you apply for the senior position. Qualifications for this position also depend heavily on experience and training. In most cases, you need to at least have a one year experience working under supervision in an accredited childcare institution. You may also need to take training programs before and during for further enhancement of knowledge and skills.
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Skills
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As a senior childcare worker, you need to have excellent communication and interaction skills, as you will deal with not only children but with parents and other childcare workers. You need to possess advance knowledge in handling special needs and disruptive behaviour cases. You also need to be firm with disciplinary issues and decisions. You also need group and time management skills as you will be independently supervising a group of kids and staff assistants.
Benefits
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Working in a childcare center gives you the rewarding feeling of helping children grow and acquire skills. As a part the senior staff you will no longer be occupied with setting up and packing up toys and materials. You will be able to learn more about children's behaviour and learning patterns. You acquire more patience and total understanding on the daily processes happening in your work environment.
Opportunities
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The Bureau of Labour and Statistic projects an increase in employment for child care workers by 11 percent between 2008 and 2018. This statistic guarantees a higher chance of employment if you have senior staff experience.
With adequate experience, training and education, you can advance to a supervisory position. You can also take an administrative position for large childcare companies. You can also venture in other childcare-related positions such as working for consultation or referral agencies for parents. You may also enter formal education teaching. One lucrative option is to use your background or position to put up your own childcare business.
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