Early Impressions Ministry- Nursery Caregiver

Early Impressions Ministry

NURSERY CAREGIVER

Position Summary

The Nursery Caregiver provides attentive, nurturing, and Christ-centered care for children approximately 3 months old (after age-appropriate immunizations) through 4 years old during worship services and designated church activities. The caregiver helps maintain a safe, welcoming, and developmentally appropriate environment in which children can learn, play, and experience the love of Christ.

This position supports the religious mission of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church (SMBC). The employee is expected to respect and support SMBC's Christian mission, teach assigned age-appropriate Bible content, and conduct all work in a manner consistent with church policies and ministry expectations.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide direct, attentive supervision and compassionate care for infants, toddlers, and preschool-age children.
• Follow check-in, check-out, identification, attendance, security, and authorized-release procedures.
• Teach or assist with brief, age-appropriate Bible lessons, prayer, music, play, and ministry activities.
• Change diapers and assist with toileting and hygiene needs using approved procedures and infection-control practices.
• Provide approved snacks and drinks; follow written allergy, dietary, choking-prevention, and food-safety instructions.
• Observe children for illness, injury, distress, or unsafe conditions and promptly notify ministry leadership and the parent or guardian as required.
• Respond to emergencies within the scope of training, including activating emergency procedures and completing required incident documentation.
• Maintain a clean, sanitary, organized, and hazard-free nursery; disinfect toys, surfaces, and equipment as assigned.
• Use positive, age-appropriate guidance. Corporal punishment, humiliating discipline, threats, and unauthorized physical restraint are prohibited.
• Protect confidential information concerning children and families and use photographs, recordings, and social media only as authorized by SMBC policy.
• Comply with SMBC child-safety rules, supervision ratios, two-adult or visibility practices, mandated-reporting requirements, and all applicable policies and laws.
• Communicate respectfully with parents, guardians, coworkers, volunteers, and ministry leadership, and complete other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• At least 21 years of age, or the minimum age required by SMBC's insurer and adopted policy.
• Demonstrated ability to care for infants, toddlers, and preschool-age children with patience, sound judgment, and reliability.
• Ability to teach or support simple Christian lessons and to uphold the ministry purpose of the position.
• Current pediatric CPR and First Aid certification, or ability to obtain and maintain certification within the timeframe set by SMBC.
• Successful completion of SMBC's screening process, which may include application review, reference checks, identity and work-authorization verification, and a job-related background check conducted with required notices and authorization.
• Completion of required child-safety, abuse-prevention, emergency-response, and nursery-procedure training before unsupervised service.
• Reliable attendance and ability to work the scheduled Sunday hours and occasional special events.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous paid or volunteer experience in a nursery, childcare, preschool, children's ministry, or similar setting.
• Training in infant and toddler development, safe sleep, allergy response, or trauma-informed care.

Physical and Environmental Requirements

The employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation. Work regularly involves standing, walking, sitting on the floor, bending, kneeling, reaching, lifting or carrying children and nursery supplies, responding quickly to safety needs, and hearing and observing children in an active indoor environment. Specific lifting expectations should be confirmed by SMBC based on actual equipment, staffing, and insurer guidance.

Safeguarding and Reporting Responsibilities

Every employee is responsible for protecting children. The Nursery Caregiver must immediately follow SMBC's internal safety and escalation procedures and must make any report required by Texas law. Suspected abuse or neglect must never be investigated independently, delayed, or withheld in exchange for internal handling. Retaliation against a person who raises a good-faith safety concern is prohibited.

Scheduling and Timekeeping

Nursery Caregivers are scheduled according to ministry needs and are not guaranteed work every Sunday or a minimum number of hours. Employees must accurately record all time worked and obtain approval before working outside the assigned schedule. All compensable time will be paid in accordance with applicable law and SMBC policy.

Equal Opportunity and Religious Organization Notice

SMBC provides equal employment opportunity in accordance with applicable law. Employment decisions will not be based on race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law. As a religious organization, SMBC reserves rights available under applicable law to make employment decisions based on religion and alignment with its religious mission when lawful. SMBC will consider reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants and employees as required by applicable law.

Employment Relationship and Document Status

Employment with SMBC is at will to the extent permitted by Texas law. This means either the employee or SMBC may end the employment relationship at any time, with or without notice or cause, subject to applicable law. This job description is not an employment contract and does not alter the at-will relationship. It summarizes the position's primary responsibilities and may be revised as ministry needs, policies, or legal requirements change.

To Apply for This Position

To be considered for this opportunity, please complete the SMBC Employment Contact Form in full and submit your résumé. Applications will be reviewed and candidates whose qualifications align with the position will be contacted for the next steps in the process.