Early Childhood Teacher - OZ

Come Play With Us

Ranken Jordan is one only a few hospitals in the country specializing in children with medical complexities. This small but growing population requires hospital-level care as well as transitional support and specialized therapies to help bridge home. So our hospital doesn't look like any other hospital. We have playgrounds, a six-hole putting green, a rock climbing wall, gaming centers, and more so our young patients can continue to play as part of their healing process.

OZ (Optimization Zone) is a play-based learning program for our 0-5-year-old patients. This one-of-a-kind initiative aims to reduce the adverse developmental impacts that accompany long-term hospitalization. Ranken Jordan staff recognize that we are charged with caring for many young patients during a critically important window of early childhood development growth, a time when children are developing foundational skills for all future learning. This responsibility, along with our mission to get patients up and out of bed as much as possible, drove the creation of OZ. The OZ team includes: an OZ coordinator, Child Life Specialists, Psychologists, Physical, Speech, and Occupational Therapy Professionals, Therapy Technicians, Nurses, Respiratory Therapists and volunteers. This team works in consultation with our medical and infection prevention teams to meet patients' health needs.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Optimization Zone (OZ) Lead Teacher will plan and implement engaging activities for OZ participants aged zero to school entry, fostering their continued development as they recover from accident, injury, illness, and/or extended hospitalization. This position will collaborate with a highly performing OZ multidisciplinary Team including professionals in Early Education, Clinical, and Support roles; ensuring optimal patient outcomes in accordance with Ranken Jordan's vision, mission and values. Blood Borne Pathogen Exposure: Yes

Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:30am-5pm

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Program Implementation & Patient Care (70%)

• Work closely with OZ manager to plan and implement OZ programming and activities that foster development in all domains: cognitive, social/emotional, language, and physical, including mobility assistance as needed.

• Ensures a safe and inclusive environment that allows patients to explore boundaries and learn positive behaviors by utilizing trauma informed care best practices and reinforcing patient behavior plans to foster optimal development.

• Provides direct patient care and support during OZ sessions, including facilitating activities, addressing patient needs, and ensuring patient safety.

• Collaborates with the interdisciplinary team to evaluate the effectiveness of OZ interventions and adjust programming as necessary to optimize patient outcomes.

• Leads OZ team in the set-up and clean-up of daily sessions, weekly toy and book rotation, organization and maintenance or OZ spaces to ensure a therapeutic and safe environment for patients, caregivers, staff, and volunteers.

• Safely transitions patients to and from OZ activities, supporting the Care Beyond the Bedside Model.

• Communication with OZ and larger care teams regarding in-the-moment patient status, attendance, and participation to ensure safe handoff of patients.

Programmatic Support (20%)

• Reviews charts for pertinent information relevant to OZ interventions, documents patient progress from OZ participation, and schedules appropriate patients for participation in the electronic medical record as directed.

• Monitors and documents patient progress, behavior, and developmental milestones, reporting observations to the appropriate team members as directed.

• Collaborates with the multidisciplinary team to evaluate the effectiveness of OZ interventions and make necessary adjustments to optimize patient outcomes

• Coordinates logistical aspects of OZ activities, such choosing spaces, arranging equipment, and ensuring necessary supplies are available.

Other Responsibilities (10%)

• Engages in professional development opportunities to deepen understanding of early childhood education and refine best practices tailored to children with medical complexities

• Performs general clerical and administrative tasks as required.

• Facilitates the orientation of volunteers, offering guidance on how to interact appropriately with patients and support program activities.

• Fulfill any additional duties as assigned by the Manager - OZ, contributing to the overall mission of Ranken Jordan.

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS REQUIRED:

• Bachelor's degree in early childhood education, early childhood special education, or related field required.

• 3 years' experience as a lead teacher in an early childhood program required.

• Experience working in a medical setting, or work with medically complex children preferred.

• Hold a current Basic Life Support (BLS) from the American Heart Association.

• The ideal candidate exhibits a genuine passion for early childhood education, knowledge of child development principles and best practices, is committed to supporting a nurturing environment, displays strong communication skills, flexibility, self-motivation, and can collaborate as part of a team working with young children.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

These include stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, grasping, pulling, pushing, standing, carrying, and lifting of light loads (up to 35 lb.).

Ranken Jordan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by law.

The Ranken-Jordan Home for Convalescent Crippled Children