Child Care Specialist

Full-time DescriptionAbout The RoleSierra Meadows Behavioral Health is launching a Postpartum Outpatient Track and we’re building something we’re genuinely proud of — a program that treats the whole picture of a new mother’s experience, including her baby. As part of that, we’re opening an on-site nursery so mothers in treatment don’t have to choose between getting the help they need and being close to their infant.This isn’t a typical daycare job. You’ll be caring for infants and toddlers (ages 0–24 months) inside a behavioral health program, alongside mothers who are doing real and difficult work. Your role is to keep their babies safe, fed, clean, and calm while they’re in group — and to do it with the kind of steady, professional warmth that lets moms actually focus on treatment without worrying about what’s happening in the next room.If you’ve worked in infant care before and you’re looking for a role with more purpose behind it, this might be the right fit.ScheduleFull Time | Monday - Friday | 8:30 AM - 5:00 PMWhat You’ll DoProvide direct care for infants and toddlers — feeding, burping, diapering, soothing, and age-appropriate interaction — in accordance with AAP safe sleep and infection control standardsComplete check-in and check-out documentation for each child at every sessionLog all feedings and diaper changes in real time throughout each sessionDeliver a warm, clear verbal handoff to each mother at pickup — what her baby ate, how they slept, anything worth notingMaintain nursery cleanliness and sanitize equipment between uses; conduct daily supply checksDocument any health observations and report to clinical staff per protocolRespond calmly and competently to infant emergencies per established proceduresParticipate in required training including Pediatric CPR/First Aid, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) safe sleep, and mandated reporter trainingMaintain strict confidentiality — you’re operating inside a behavioral health programRequirementsRequired to be considered:Minimum one year of professional experience providing direct care to infants and toddlers in a structured care setting (childcare center, family daycare, pediatric healthcare setting, or comparable — personal babysitting does not qualify) — RequiredCurrent Pediatric CPR and First Aid certification, or willingness to obtain within 30 days of hire — RequiredCurrent TB clearance — RequiredDOJ/FBI fingerprint clearance prior to first day of contact with children — RequiredCompletion of SMBH mandated reporter training before first day — RequiredPreferred — Will Make You a Stronger CandidateChild Development Associate (CDA) credential or Early Childhood Education (ECE) coursework — PreferredExperience in a healthcare or behavioral health setting — PreferredBilingual in English and Spanish — PreferredExperience with newborns specifically (0–3 months) — PreferredWho You AreBeyond credentials, here’s what this role actually requires day to day:You stay calm when things get loud — a fussy infant, a mother in distress, and a half-eaten bottle on the floor all at the same time is a real TuesdayYou show up. This program cannot run if the nursery is unstaffed. Reliability isn’t a nice-to-have here, it’s the job.You understand what it means to be a mandated reporter — not just that you are one, but what it actually requires you to doYou work well with clinical staff and know how to communicate clearly across a teamYou can hold a warm, reassuring presence with a mother who is anxious about leaving her baby — because many of ours will beSalary Description $17 - $22 / HR