VA ITSN Infant and Toddler Behavior Consultation (ITBC) Consultant

Full time – 40 Hours per week

The Behavior Consultation Consultant will increase caregivers/teachers/directors and families use of strategies and practices to promote the social emotional development of infants and toddlers and address challenging behaviors.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in infant and toddler or early childhood education, child development, human services, social work or related field required. Master’s degree preferred.
A minimum of three years of direct service which includes at least one year of direct work with infants and toddlers; a minimum of one year of experience working with adults (e.g. training, mentoring, or leading caregivers/teachers); 25-40 hours of previously delivered training experience; and Early intervention background preferred

Skills

Must possess a strong knowledge base in child growth and development, including social emotional development in children birth to three.
Must possess excellent planning, organizational, and time management skills, the ability to mentor and coach adult learners, the capacity to build collaborative partnerships with stakeholders and community partners, and provide services that are culturally competent and appropriate to the needs of the target audience.
Must possess the capacity to plan and conduct training for adults.
Must exercise independent judgment and initiative in working with stakeholders, infant and toddler caregivers/teachers, directors, families, and staff to carry out regional activities.
Must be able to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate orally in person, by telephone, and in writing with stakeholders, infant and toddler caregivers/teachers, directors, families, and those from diverse populations.
Must possess knowledge of mental health prevention and promotion including integration of social emotional development supports in child care settings as well as screening and assessment.
Must possess knowledge of best practices to provide a family-centered approach to consultation.
- Must possess the skills and ability to use equipment necessary to carry out job responsibilities (e.g., computer and training software, cell/telephone, facsimile machine, projectors, digital cameras, and video recorders).
Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office Suite, videoconferencing, teaching or webinar tools (e.g., Zoom, Canvas), virtual platforms (e.g., SharePoint, OneDrive).

Other

Must be able to travel throughout the region, including overnight travel as needed.
Must maintain a valid motor vehicle operator’s license and will maintain at all times a motor vehicle insurance policy. It is suggested that the employee carries at least the minimum limits of liability of $300,000 combined single limit or $100/300/100 split limits ($100,000 per occurrence, $300,000 per accident for bodily injury, $100,000 per accident for property damage), dependable transportation.
Must have a negative TB test, and a child protective services, criminal record, and sexual offenders’ registry screening.
Must be physically able to independently operate a vehicle and travel independently throughout the region, statewide, and occasionally out-of-state, as needed, including overnights and/or on weekends.
Must be physically able to independently operate a vehicle and travel independently throughout the region, and statewide as needed.

TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES

Human Service Knowledge and Abilities

Maintain current CPR/First Aid certification

Assessment/Case Planning/Service Provision

Work with ITBC supervisor to plan work scope and monitor time lines.
Monitors timelines and manages caseload.
Completes training and reliability requirements for Ages and Stages Questionnaires, Third Edition (ASQ^®-3), Ages and Stages Questionnaires Social-Emotional, Second Edition (ASQ^®: SE-2), Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised with Follow-Up (M-CHAT-R/F^TM), The Pyramid Infant-Toddler Observation Scale (TPITOS^TM), Parenting Interactions with Children: Checklist of Observations Linked to Outcomes (PICCOLO^TM); Language Environment Analysis (LENA^®) and Classroom Assessment Scoring System^TM (CLASS^TM)
Maintains certification for CLASS^TM, PICCOLO^TM, and TPITOS^TM
Work with stakeholders, infant and toddler caregivers/teachers, directors, and families to increase the use of strategies and practices by caregivers, teachers, and directors and families to promote the social emotional development of infants and toddlers
- Coaching – provide consultation on promoting the social emotional development of infants and toddlers that include ensuring that the parents or family of the infant or toddler are informed of screening options.
  - Coordinate recruitment approaches with VDOE, Ready Regions and other Improvement Partners who provide instructional coaching or have existing relationships with programs to provide referrals, as appropriate
  - Prioritize recruitment for VQB5 participating programs and programs with a specific referral for a child demonstrating need
  - Provide ongoing consultation using the finalized ITSN Behavior Consultation models throughout the span of the agreement.
- Training – provide training on implementing strategies for promoting the social emotional development of infants and toddlers, and training or technical assistance on the screening of infants and toddlers on a classroom or family day home level and the program/director level.
  - Provide training on topics using the finalized ITBC Social Emotional Professional Competency Training Plan that prepare caregivers, teachers, and directors to promote the social emotional development of infants and toddlers and topics to support the well-being of infant and toddler caregivers, teachers, and directors in order to better support the needs of the children in their care.
  - Training should be provided in a variety of formats and incorporate other state partners, where applicable.
  - Offer training on the screening of infants and toddlers either in-person within each region, online, or collaborate with applicable state or regional partners to ensure infant and toddler caregivers, teachers, and directors have access to information on screening tools.
  - Provide technical assistance on using particular screening tools, where needed.
  - Provide resources for child/family referrals following screenings, where applicable.

Reporting/Documentation/Evaluation

Work with Program Director to assess program effectiveness and individual performance through outcome evaluation.
Maintains accurate records by inputting required information into database following program activities and assist in preparing monthly outcome reports.

Supervision

Be prepared and meet with Program Director as required to discuss assigned program activities.
Participate in group supervision and training sessions, team meetings and program meetings.
Be prepared for and provide input at team and other agency meetings.
Consults with ITBC supervisor on a regular basis, at a minimum, to discuss caseload progress and program issues.
Will complete annual professional development plan in collaboration with regional office supervisor.
Comply with VA ITSN Program Procedures guide and meet target goals.
Perform other job-related duties as requested by supervisor.

Community Collaboration and Training

Share professional knowledge with other ReadyKids staff.
Participates in staff meetings, ITBC orientation, and all other trainings and meetings as required by position.
Attend or conduct training in the evening or during weekends, as needed.
Actively recruits and markets programs.

Additional Responsibilities As Specified by VA ITSN

Return all materials acquired with grant money to the regional office upon termination of employment.

CORE COMPETENCIES

All ReadyKids Employees will…

Relational:

Actively promote vital connections between children, caregivers, staff, and our community partners.
Resolve issues with the person(s) most directly involved by sharing your thoughts and feelings directly and respectfully, remembering that others have thoughts and feelings, too.
Recognize each person’s uniqueness and strengths. Treat people in a caring and respectful fashion, mindful of individual, cultural and ethnic differences.
Be respectful in verbal and written communication to and about participants and colleagues.
Maintain appropriate professional boundaries with participants, colleagues and donors.
Protect privacy and confidentiality of participants, colleagues and donors.

Engaged:

Fully embrace our mission and vision, actively contribute to meeting them, and serve as an ambassador to engage the community in our efforts by providing clear and accurate information regarding the agency’s function and current programs.
Participate in the decision-making process as opportunities are available to inform agency and program decisions.
Participate in scheduled agency and other team meetings.

Adaptable:

Recognize that one way does not work for everyone and stay flexible in our approach and thinking. Maintain flexibility in order to change when things change.
Present solutions along with problems with the goal of getting to yes. Stay open to new ideas and offer suggestions for new ways of doing things.
Be proactive; give and receive input and seek solutions that balance the needs of the individual, program, agency, and community.

Driven:

Maintain the highest integrity in all aspects of agency and program operations and duties.
Utilize evidence-based and best practice models and strategies to provide the best opportunity for success.
Set appropriate priorities and make progress toward performance-based goals established for self, program, and agency.
Be accountable for individual and program results and give and receive feedback to improve individual, program, and agency performance.
Seek and utilize all available sources of data on an ongoing basis to inform decision-making in completion of all job duties.
Reflect on individual, program and agency results for continuous learning and quality improvement.

You:

Participate in professional development and supervision to seek guidance, expand knowledge, and develop use of best practices.
Maintain passion and commitment to the agency’s work and participants.
Do your part to ensure the health and well-being of the entire organization.
Respect and protect agency-owned property and assets and use agency resources for business-appropriate purposes.

COMPENSATION/BENEFITS

Salary: Starting at $56,000
ReadyKids pays 100% health, dental, and life insurance premiums for employee only plans
Voluntary vision and supplemental insurance
Generous paid vacation and sick leave; paid holidays
Employer-matched retirement plan

Open until filled. ReadyKids is seeking a diverse pool of applicants; all are encouraged to apply. Email CV/resume to Shannon Banks at [email protected]. ReadyKids is a drug-free workplace. EOE/ADA/AA.