ISFC Support Specialist

Be a Source of Hope

Children First FFA has been a source of hope for our community's most vulnerable youth for more than 20 years. This hope is embodied in our mission "to helping children who have been neglected, sexually, emotionally, or physically abused" and is delivered every day by our dedicated, experienced, and compassionate staff members.

We're looking for people who want to join us and be a source of hope. That hope could be you.

Summary

This position provides direct service to children between the ages of 3 to 19 years of age whose behaviors, placement history, and situations have kept them from achieving successful outcomes.

Duties and responsibilities are varied and include tasks from

• Travel to foster child/ RFA home
• Participation in staff meetings and other related meetings as necessary
• Work with Treatment Team, agency Social Workers, and other designated service providers
• Attend Treatment Team meetings as necessary per Social Work Supervisor
• Consult with agency Social Worker, Social Work Supervisor, and Agency Director as needed
• Effectively communicate information
• Demonstrate self as a positive role model
• Respond calmly and professionally to crises
• Respond to crisis situations on short notice
• Have intervention/ crisis management toolbox readily available
• Respond to crisis situations on evenings and weekends
• Report to agency Social Worker / Social Work Supervisor behaviors and concerns
• Contribute to and follow a plan for partnering with a foster family
• Maintain adult/child boundaries
• Consult with FFA SW, SW Supervisor, or Agency Director to call the police if de-escalation techniques do not work or if the client is a danger to self or others
• Encourage child involvement in positive activities, i.e., hobbies, music, sports, community groups
• Use supervision and feedback to enhance job skills and grow professionally
• Proficiently take notes and transfer into written documentation
• Adherence to emergency on-call protocol (general, runaway, 5150, emergency room visits, disaster)
• Take responsibility for implementing interventions
• Take responsibility for modifying interventions to fit child and situation
• Research and implement new interventions on a regular basis
• Provide safe, effective, efficient culturally competent support services
• Provide crisis response when approved by SW Supervisor or Agency Director
• Transport child to appointments or to designated location as needed
• Protect the "Personal Rights" and dignity of the child
• Develop a strong understanding of the ISFC program
• Have a clear understanding of the WIC requirements
• Complete entire ISFC training program within two months of starting position
• Obtain Social Work Supervisor approval for "odds-n-ends" type tasks – i.e., transporting
• Take responsibility for overseeing the check-out and check-in of training modules for on-going ISFC foster homes as well as new homes seeking ISFC certification
• Support Specialist services may be used for general foster care cases on a limited and Supervisor or Director pre-approval basis

Qualified Applicants for an ISFC Support Specialist:

Client support staff shall have at least one of the following:

(i) A minimum of a bachelor's degree and six months of experience in working with children who have serious emotional or behavioral needs, or children who have special needs, including, but not limited to, intensive medical needs.

(ii) A minimum of an associate's degree and one year of experience in working with children who have serious emotional or behavioral needs, or children who have special needs, including, but not limited to, intensive medical needs.

(iii) The department may waive the educational requirements described in clauses (i) and (ii) for client support staff who have direct client supervision with at least two years of experience working with children who have serious emotional or behavioral needs, or children who have special needs, including, but not limited to, intensive medical needs, and who have demonstrated a combination of education, skills, and experience that meets the specific needs of the target population, including, but not limited to, cultural and linguistic needs.

The successful candidate will be a part of the Children First Foster Family Agency, a non-profit agency founded in 1999 by Mike Logan. Over the past 20 years, Children First has grown from one employee to over 50, and from one small office to offices in Tehama, Shasta, Sutter, and Siskiyou counties.

Children First was originally created to meet the needs of children in foster care. After several years, the mission was expanded to include the counseling of children and adults. Today, we have programs and services for children that include foster care, counseling, and programs that give children a chance to excel. We have become the primary Foster Family agency in both Tehama and Siskiyou counties and have worked closely with all three counties. Children First are known for reliability, consistency, and support. Our goal is to serve children and foster parents, and we will continue to grow and change as needed to accomplish this.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $18.00 - $20.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday
• On call

Education:

• Associate (Required)

Work Location: On the road

Salary : $18 - $20