Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest is a non-profit organization with Corporate Offices in Phoenix and Tucson and additional offices throughout Arizona.

Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest administers programs and services to help build collaborative Community Partnerships and strengthen individuals, families, and communities.

Working for our organization is a positive, challenging and rewarding experience with opportunities for personal and professional development.

General Description:

In concert with the Supervisor, this position performs a variety of general support tasks and activities to implement the objectives of Children and Family Services department. The position provides program support by working collaboratively with staff, community providers and clients. This position will actively participate in recruitment activities and community engagement to help identify and develop relationships with prospective foster parents, kinship caregivers and/or adoptive parents. This position coordinates referrals and service authorizations in accordance with contract and licensing standards, state laws and regulatory requirements. Requires the ability to take initiative to ensure productivity, organization, and completion of assignments efficiently and within established time frames. The job requires sensitivity to the program population's cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following:

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, the individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
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Minimum of a High School Diploma or GED.
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One year experience in the Human Services field working with children, families, and or adults preferred.
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Must be at least 21 years of age.
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Provide and maintain a current Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card, clear the Department of Economic Security Central Registry Background Check and a criminal background and motor vehicle screening; must maintain valid AZ Driver's License, a clear driving record and reliable transportation for the duration of employment.
•Clean drug testing records including pre-employment drug testing results and random annual drug testing results.
•Must show proof of freedom from TB before client contact.
•Obtain training as required by ADCS and DDD within 30 days of hire.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Proficient computer skills and knowledge of Outlook and Microsoft Office Programs (i.e. Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Skills in English/ Spanish composition, grammar, spelling and punctuation.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to handle sensitive and confidential situations.
• Ability to relate well with families of varied lifestyles, backgrounds and ethnicities.
• Experience in cultural diversity.
• Ability to assess family's strengths and weaknesses.
• Ability to recognize signs of abuse/neglect.
• Ability to participate as a member of a team, including collaboration, cross-training, and mutual assistance.
• Participate in ongoing Professional Development Training. Training must be relevant to position
• Ability to work independently with high initiative.
• Ability to travel to throughout the state and provide own transportation as requested by the Supervisor.

Language Skills:

Bilingual English/Spanish preferred. Ability to communicate clearly. Ability to listen and perceive need, working with people from diverse backgrounds non-judgmentally. Ability to effectively present and represent LSS-SW and the program's needs to religious and community groups as well as others in the social services community.

Mathematical Skills:

Good ability to calculate figures.

Reasoning Abilities:

Ability to define problems, collect data, evaluate information, draw conclusions, and take appropriate action based on this information. Ability and confidence to make decisions when appropriate and when to solicit guidance from the Program Manager.

Physical Demands/Work Environment:

Ability to define problems, collect data, evaluate information, draw conclusions, and take appropriate action based on this information. Ability and confidence to make decisions when appropriate and when to solicit guidance from the Program Manager.
Physical Demands/Work Environment
The physical demands and work environment characteristics here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be required to sit or stand for long periods of time.
• The employee frequently is required to use hands to hold objects and operate office equipment.
• The employee is required to be able to listen and communicate effectively.
• The employee may be required to occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• The noise level in the work environment varies with the activity level of the facility.
• Maintain valid AZ Driver License, vehicle insurance and reliable transportation.
• Ability to work within mission of LSS-SW.

All positions at Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest require a background check.