Developmental Specialist I (Educational)

This is a therapeutic nursery and preschool setting. We serve children 18 months to 5 years that have experienced trauma and display behaviors. The children we serve require more support than what is available in a typically childcare or school setting. Our ideal candidate is an educator with coursework in early childhood education. Experience with children aged 0-5, supporting Kindergarten readiness and in creating engaging lessons.

Matilda Theiss Therapeutic Nursery & Preschool includes multidisciplinary teams that support children ages 2-5 with social emotional and educational development. Each team is passionate about serving children well using developmentally appropriate techniques. Each team includes 1 educator and 2 mental health workers that serve approximately 12 students. Teams are provided with clinical oversight by a master level clinician and educational supported by a lead educator.

Responsibilities:

• Complete all other duties as assigned.
• Complete lesson planning, lesson implementation, kindergarten readiness implementing and curriculum implementation
• Complete all educational assessments, parent conferences, educational Snap Shots, educational trackers, and any additional educational expectations by identified timelines.
• Consistently adhere to educational, regulatory, and partnership expectations. Actively engage in quality improvement projects and help to ensure inspection and audit readiness at all times.
• Regularly assess, record, and communicate the developmental progress of clients. Utilize assessment information to inform care, inform educational instruction/interventions and to inform guardians of client progress.
• Accurately complete all required documentation within assigned timelines. Maintain current and accurate client and program records that meet educational, regulatory, and partnership standards.
• Communicate with families regularly and provide necessary support. Communicate any identified family need with the treatment team.
• Actively participate in assigned educational meetings, unit meetings, staff meetings, treatment team, and supervisory sessions as assigned.
• Report pertinent clinical and non-clinical (i.e., educational) needs or concerns to appropriate classroom, clinical and administrative leadership.
• Maintain ongoing communication with educational leads and supervisor.
• Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, Child Development, Elementary Education, or Early Childhood Special Education.
• Experience working in a child care setting preferred.
• Desire to work with young children and ability to sensitively respond to their needs.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Alignment with the core values of UPMC.

Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:

• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
• Comprehensive Crisis Management (CCMC)
• Act 31 Child Abuse Reporting with renewal
• Act 33 with renewal
• Act 34 with renewal
• Act 73 FBI Clearance with renewal

UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran