CHILD CARE QUALITY ASSURANCE INSPECTOR 1

Code: 62226 Unknown Unknown

Official job specification

The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.

Definition

Under the close supervision of a supervisory official in the Department of Children and Families, administers the licensure and enforcement provisions of the Child Care Licensing Act (N.J.S.A. 30:5-1) and the Resource Family Parent Licensing Act (N.J.S.A. 30:4C-27.3); conducts inspections and evaluations of physical facilities and residential treatment center programs, pregnant and parenting adolescent programs, children's residential adventure programs, juvenile sex offender programs, partial care programs, youth case management programs, children's shelters and shelter homes, children's group homes, supervised transitional living homes, treatment homes, teaching family homes, psychiatric community residences for youth, resource family homes and parents, child care centers, registered family care homes, sponsoring organizations, and adoption agencies to ensure their compliance with State and federal statutes and regulations and with department standards; does other related duties as required.

Examples of work

Conducts field inspections and evaluations of child care facilities and resource family homes/parents to determine and ensure compliance with the physical facility and programmatic criteria of appropriate State law and applicable regulations governing child care and residential facilities and homes. Conducts onsite inspections of child care facilities, homes, and agencies for initial and renewal licenses. Investigates complaints about the physical condition, program, and operation of licensed or certified child care facilities, homes, and agencies to ensure that conditions do not exist which present a potentially dangerous hazard to the health, safety, and proper development of enrolled children; takes appropriate follow-up action to ensure immediate compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Conducts on-site programmatic inspections of family day care sponsoring organizations and child placement agencies to evaluate their compliance with appropriate State laws and applicable regulations. Investigates complaints against unlicensed or uncertified facilities, homes, and agencies that may be operating contrary to State law; takes appropriate follow-up action to ensure compliance with the law. Inspects to ensure that child care facilities and homes are kept in good repair according to building safety requirements. Evaluates measures taken by child care facilities, homes, and agencies to abate violations of applicable laws and regulations; recommends enforcement action in keeping with due process of law when proper child care or safety is at risk. Reviews and evaluates existing and proposed child education, development, and related programmatic components of child care facilities, homes, and agencies to ensure that they effectively meet the social, cognitive, developmental, and treatment needs of the children served. Provides technical guidance to child care facilities, homes, and agencies to aid them in developing and implementing child care programs and policies conducive to the needs of the children served, including effectively utilizing room arrangements, equipment, and materials, treatment strategies, staff qualifications and training, and coordinating and allocating staff and other resources. Provides technical guidance to architects, engineers, contractors, local officials, and prospective owners/operators in preparation for a license or Certificate of Approval. Reviews and evaluates the qualifications of staff responsible for setting and conducting educational, developmental, social service treatment programs, and policies at child care facilities, homes, and agencies, including the evaluation of official transcripts, academic credentials, and experience qualifications; provides recommendations to supervisor concerning the appropriateness of those qualifications. Monitors the safety, health, and well-being of children served in resource families through risk prevention; works in partnership with licensing constituents, child advocates, and community organizations. Conducts annual inspections and triennial renewal inspections of existing licenses to ensure the continued safety and well-being of the children in placement and may enforce revocation, denial, or suspension when safety is compromised. Provides testimony at administrative hearings and appears as a witness in enforcement actions, such as show cause hearings, settlement conferences, and court actions relating to the emotional and developmental needs of the children served by child care facilities, homes, and agencies under the department's licensing jurisdiction. Prepares written inspection/violation reports following inspections, re-inspections, and complaint investigations. Maintains extensive records and files. Uses automated technologies to record and report the results of inspections of child care facilities, homes, and agencies. Handles routine situations requiring administrative interpretations of State child care licensing regulations or certifications as they relate to educational, programmatic, social service, treatment, and physical facility requirements. Reports unusual and critical situations to a supervisor or other appropriate authority. Will be required to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

License

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

Knowledge of the methods used to conduct inspections and investigations of child care facilities, homes/parents, and agencies. Knowledge of the methods used to operate child care centers, infant and toddler programs, before and after school child care programs, child care programs for mildly ill children, or related programs for children. Knowledge of the methods used to operate child placement agencies, residential child care facilities, group homes, shelters, foster homes, and other residential services and programs for children. Knowledge of the educational, nutritional, health, safety, developmental, social service, and other treatment needs of children enrolled in all categories of programs defined under the law. Knowledge of developmentally appropriate practices in child care facilities, including programming, supervision, and discipline practices. Knowledge of child care and development concepts, practices, and activities. Knowledge of automated technologies applicable to the inspection of child care facilities, homes, and agencies. Knowledge of approved safety devices, including fire alarm, signal, and sprinkler systems. Knowledge of the methods used to maintain proper ventilation and room temperature, and fire escape and firefighting equipment laws of New Jersey. Ability to schedule and complete field assignments within the timeframes established by applicable laws and regulations. Ability to recognize and identify conditions at child care facilities, homes, and agencies that constitute violations of applicable laws and regulations, and to identify measures to abate the violations. Ability to evaluate and recommend the effective use of space, staff, schedules, materials, and equipment for children at the facilities or homes. Ability to recognize, analyze, and develop solutions to problems encountered in the development and implementation of programs and activities in child care facilities, homes, and agencies for the health, well-being, and proper development of the children, and to provide technical assistance in the implementation of those solutions. Ability to keep current with trends and issues in child care and development. Ability to provide technical advice and assistance. Ability to evaluate educational credentials and certification requirements for managerial and professional staff in child care facilities, homes, and agencies. Ability to conduct inspections and investigations. Ability to comprehend, analyze, and interpret laws, rules, and regulations and apply them to specific situations. Ability to provide recommendations that balance child development and safety with the rights of child care facility, home, and agency operators to due process of law. Ability to prepare reports. Ability to prepare correspondence. Ability to establish and maintain records and files. Ability to testify at court proceedings and administrative hearings. Ability to promote effective relationships between staff of child care facilities, homes, or agencies and parents of enrolled children. Ability to interview staff, parents, and children, and to inform directors about violations found during facility, home, and agency inspections. Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units. Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication. Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible if they can perform essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible. CODE: 11/23/2019

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed. Incumbents at the entry-level typically conduct inspections as part of a team and may recommend, but not approve actions. Incumbents may only conduct re-inspections for the renewal of a license, not initial licensing inspections. Applicants must meet one of the following or a combination of both experience and education. Thirty (30) semester hour credits are equal to one (1) year of relevant experience. Six (6) years of professional experience in the licensing, regulation, inspection, or evaluation of child care centers, family day care homes, child placement agencies, residential or shelter facilities, group homes, resource family homes, or other facilities or homes for children or, as a manager, director, administrator, supervisor, or comparable position in a child care placement agency, child care center, residential facility, shelter, group home, or other facility/home for children. OR Six (6) years of professional experience in social work, direct support counseling, guidance and/or casework involving high risk child abuse and neglect or other problematic socioeconomic situations involving counseling services to clients with social, emotional, psychological, or behavioral problems including gathering and analyzing information, determining needs, and planning and supporting and/or carrying out treatment plans. OR Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; and two (2) years of the above-mentioned professional experience. OR Possession of a master's degree in Sociology, Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, Education, Early Education, Public Health/Health Care, Nursing, or other area related to human services; and one (1) year of the above-mentioned professional experience. "Professional experience" refers to work that is analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range of basic knowledge of the profession's concepts and practices; and is performed with the authority to act and make accurate and informed decisions.