Best Start Worker

Job Description:

General Responsibilities:

Families/infants participating in the Best Start Program have been assessed by Public Health Nursing as being vulnerable, using a standardized screen based on the Social Determinants of Health. Providing family centered care and support, utilizing a strength-based approach is essential to the Best Start in-home visiting program. The purpose of this support is primarily preventative in nature, to strengthen the parents’ capacity to effectively care for, and nurture their infant, as well as increase the family’s network of support.

1. In-home Visiting:

Establishing and maintaining trusting relationships with overburdened, vulnerable families, who are dealing with a variety of stressors in their lives, that may include income/food insecurity, lack of stable housing, involvement with child protection, excessive use of alcohol or drugs, mental health related issues, family violence etc.

Assessing overall safety of the home environment as appropriate for in-home visiting support. This is essential in ensuring the safety of Best Start Workers as service is provided in isolated settings, with vulnerable infants, children and families.

Assessing the families’ needs for support at time of entry into the Best Start program and ongoing throughout the program.

Assisting the family in establishing appropriate goals and developing a plan that will support them in achieving their goals.

Conducting regular in-home visits as determined by the level of support required by families.

Timing of home visits is based on the needs of the family and may take place during daytime or evening hours.

Sharing/discussing information on a variety of topics aligned with the established goals, including child development, breastfeeding, postnatal care, infant care, nutrition, healthy relationships, etc. To ensure the information is most accurate and updated it must be consistent with the Best Start Core Curriculum and Best Start Supplemental Curriculum.

Modeling and implementing positive parent-child interactions activities with the parents and children that promote positive relationships and foster age-appropriate development.

Assisting parents in enhancing their parenting skills.

Supporting families in providing a caring and nurturing environment for their infant and young children as well as supporting their overall growth and development.

Referring families to appropriate resources as required.

2.  Assessments / Documentation:

Completing the standardized Family Assessment upon the family’s entry to the program.

Utilizing the information from the completed Family Assessment to focus on opportunities for parent development with targeted Best Start Curriculum.

Conducting and documenting additional standardized assessments as required such as the Ages and Stages Assessment; Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test; Family Stress Test; Early Years Evaluation; etc.

Establishing and documenting specific goals that will guide in-home visits.

Developing a plan for achieving the goals established by the family.

Monitoring and documenting the families progress in moving towards the goals they have established.

Complete learning stories thereby documenting children’s learning

Completing home-visit notes in a timely manner after every in-home visit that clearly outline progress and challenges related to goals; curriculum covered; parent-child interaction activity implemented; as well as other discussions with the family.

Ensuring the Best Start database is kept updated with all essential infant/family related information, Family Assessments, the established family related goals, home visit notes, as well as contacts made with families and other involved agencies.

Completing time sheets and mileage claim forms.

Collecting and documenting information/data as required to support the evaluation of the Best Start Program.

3. Team Member:

Working cooperatively and collaboratively as a member of the Best Start Team as well as a member of the broader CHANCES staffing unit.

Supporting the Best Start team and contributing to a healthy work environment through the exchange of ideas, knowledge, skills, and experiences.

Contributing to ongoing program quality improvement by offering positive feedback and suggestions to improve services offered to infants and families participating in Best Start.

4. Community Awareness:

Being knowledgeable about existing government and community resources available to support families and making referrals as appropriate.

Building and maintaining strong working relationships with other service providers and partnering agencies involved in providing support to families.

Representing the Best Start program in an ethical and professional manner.