** Resource Parent Support Specialist**

**Job Category****:** Not defined **Requisition Number****:** RESOU03809 Showing 1 location **Job Details**

**Description**

PHMC is proud to be a leader in public health. PHMC requires all employees to be vaccinated by first day of employment. We will offer the vaccination at no cost, via our Health Centers.

The Resource Parent Support Specialist provides a range of services to Turning Points foster and kinship resource parents to support placement stability and permanency, and to ensure ongoing compliance with home certification standards. They are part of the larger Turning Points Foster Care team responsible for developing and retaining high quality resource parents.

**Responsibilities:**

* Ensure home is in full compliance with agency and PA DHS regulations related to safety, training, clearances, and all other regulated activities.

* Complete and document a minimum of monthly home visits with assigned resource families.

* Provide non-case management supports to resource parents according to the DHS-Approved Scope of Services for General Foster Care. Among these supports are:

Ensuring the safety and well-being of the child/youth

Monitor that the Resource Parent is able to meet the daily needs of the child/youth and assesses and responds to their need for supports in fulfilling the caregiving role.

Assuring the Resource Parent understands their responsibility to communicate with any education, medical, dental or other service providers working with the child/youth

Helping the Resource Parent to develop and implement strategies to resolve issues or challenges that could ultimately jeopardize placement stability and/or the child/youths well-being.

Supporting the Resource Parent in conducting any activities that may be designated for the Resource Parent to perform on the Single Case Plan, in collaboration with the CUA Case Manager.

Review Resource Parent documentation, such as medication logs, family visit logs, life skills assessments, behavior charting, etc., for content and timeliness; provide feedback and corrective action focused on Resource Parent development as necessary

Support the Resource Parent with developing a plan to meet the transportation needs of the child/youth and assist with transportation as necessary

Support the Resource Parent as they mentor the child/youths natural parents

Support and coach the Resource Parent to reinforce caregiving strengths and assist in resolving issues and concerns that may impact the child/youths safety, functioning and stability in the resource home.

In the event a child/youth experiences acute behavior acting out, be it occasional or chronic, the Resource Parent Support Specialist will be the primary point of contact for the Resource Caregiver to resolve the immediate presenting circumstances, unless otherwise specified in the Single Case Plan.

Provide Megans Law notifications to Resource Parents as necessary.

Assure that the Resource Parent conducts a clothing inventory at least quarterly.

Assist the Resource Parent in the scheduling and logistics related to visitations.

* Maintain regular face-to-face contact and other methods of communication with the Resource Parent with the frequency and duration necessary to achieve expected outcomes, including ensuring that the Resource Parent fulfills their role in providing for the safety, permanency, well-being and comprehensive care of all children/youth placed in the Resource Parents home.

* Maintain regular communication with the CUA case manager to share information, including immediate notification regarding issues impacting child safety, which will be used by the CUA case manager to inform planning for the child and/or the family. If a child is experiencing circumstances or exhibiting behaviors that may call for a CM response or a SCP modification, contact the CM within one business day

* The Resource Parent Support Specialist is responsible for the maintenance of foster and kinship resource parent files, which must be kept in an orderly and organized fashion.

* Perform annual resource home recertification tasks.

* Interact with program participants and other community based agencies.

* Contact CUA Case Managers of clients in assigned Resource Homes to gather data to be able to complete annual Resource Parent Home Recertification.

* It is also the responsibility of the Resource Parent Support Specialist to assure that the following activities occur in a high-quality and timely fashion:

That, following each visit, documentation is completed on the visit and placed into the relevant resource parent file. If applicable, a copy of this completed form is passed to the childs case manager.

That following each visit or telephone contact with a resource parent, any issues identified are coordinated with the relevant member(s) of TPFC staff. Excellent, clear and immediate communication is the essence of this position.

* The Resource Parent Support Specialist is expected to make troubleshooting visits or telephone calls to a foster or kinship resource home in order to resolve particular day-to-day issues. Such issues may be, for example, concern over a childs sleeping arrangements, the absence of a fire extinguisher, and other day-to-day issues.

* When a resource parent receives a placement, the Resource Parent Support Specialist must visit the resource home within the first three (3) working days. The purpose of this visit is to answer questions the resource parent may have, to ensure the child is being properly cared for, to advise concerning what expenses can be claimed, to answer questions about policy and procedure, and to generally help the new resource parent in his/her beginnings with TPFC.

* The Resource Parent Support Specialist is responsible for ensuring that each home continues in compliance with State and City regulations and TPFC policies. A compliance tour should be completed at every visit, ensuring that smoke alarms are tested and that fire extinguishers are charged. Fire drills must be carried out at least quarterly and as specified in the policies and procedures. Carbon Monoxide detectors are to be present in every resource home.

* The Resource Parent Support Specialist is responsible for assuring that annual inspections and re-evaluations of each foster or kinship resource home is carried out in a timely fashion. This re-evaluation takes place in the month prior to the anniversary date of approval. The re-evaluation must never be done after the expiration of each annual approval. Aspects of re-evaluation include an assessment of resource parents capability, resource parents attendance at training (minimum of six hours per certification year), household members requirements, an evaluation of foster/kinship child discipline, punishment and control, and other requirements as specified by TPFC policy. The Resource Parent Support Specialist is responsible for notifying the foster/kinship resource parent of the upcoming evaluation, and sending to each foster/kinship resource parent the results of the evaluation, together with the approval letter.

* The Resource Parent Support Specialist is responsible for tracking re-evaluation documents due for each family member in the foster/kinship household.

* In cases where a foster or kinship resource home is out of compliance at the annual evaluation, the Resource Parent Support Specialist is responsible for notifying the relevant TPFC and CUA staff and taking the agreed-upon action.

* The Resource Parent Support Specialist is expected to attend some resource parent training sessions, and may be asked to chair some of the meetings at the discretion of his/her supervisor.

* The Resource Parent Support Specialist must track and record the placements, transfers and discharges of children within each assigned foster home.

**Skills:**

* Knowledge of social services, child welfare and family s