What are the responsibilities and job description for the Foster Care Specialist position at DePaul Community Resources?
DePaul Community Resources seeks a full-time (37.5 hours per week) Foster Care Specialist in the Lynchburg location.
JOB SUMMARY:
Practices responsible, professional community social work and provides case management services in accordance with established social work principles. Supports and assists clients and families with personal, family, and social growth. Empowers the client/family to the highest level of self-sufficiency. Provides comprehensive casework services to children, adolescents, and families on assigned caseload. The position is assigned to an on-call rotation.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED:
The Foster Care Specialist will report directly to the Foster Care Supervisor.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES:
This list is not an exhaustive & all-inclusive list of job responsibilities. The distribution of time allotted for any function or duty is subject to change with or without notice. Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign other responsibilities to this job or reassign them elsewhere at any time.
· Counsel children and families in preparation for placement or discharge
· Coordinate referrals and assist in arranging appropriate services to ensure that continuity of care is provided to the child and supervision of birth/adoptive family visits
· Coordinate services and planning with other agencies and providers involved with the child, by arranging needed medical/dental and remedial services
· Directly assist the child to locate or obtain needed services or resources as well as offering referrals to client and/or family to community resources when needed
· Work closely with the referral agency for coordination of services
· Educate, counsel, and guide the child and develop a supportive relationship that promotes the service plan while continually evaluate and review each child’s plan of care
· Need Assessment: Collaborate with supervisor to ensure that all Comprehensive Treatment and Service Plans are appropriately implemented
· Coordinate the development of each client’s Comprehensive Treatment and Service Plan with the Treatment Teams
· Regularly assess child’s need for psychosocial, nutritional, medical, educational and other services
· Monitor and follow up by assessing ongoing progress in each case, ensuring services are delivered
· Provide supportive counseling and crisis intervention to clients and families as well as provide on-call services as scheduled
· Maintain positive professional relationship with parents, co-workers, referral agencies and community liaisons
· Provide support, consultation, and educational direction for foster parents with respect to the needs of each child placed in their home, helping them to improve their ability to care for the child
· Ensure foster home compliance with Minimum Standards, Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) policies, program and policies and procedures, and child abuse reporting requirements and best practices standards
· Attend court hearings as needed
· Attend trainings or workshops in the community, as appropriate
· Evaluate the continued need for placement
· Keep immediate supervisor informed of all significant developments on assigned caseload in addition to participating in regularly scheduled supervision with supervisor
· Attend regular staff meetings, New Worker training, Attachment, Pre-service and in-service trainings/case presentations
· Provide transportation for clients when needed and other duties as assigned
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES & OTHER CHARACTERISTICS REQUIRED:
Knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics or KSAOs are attributes needed to perform a job that is demonstrated through qualifying training, education, and experience. This list is not an exhaustive & all-inclusive list of all KSAOs for this job.
Knowledge of:
· Office and records administration techniques and procedures
· The structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar
· Microsoft Office Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook, Sharepoint, Teams, and virtual meeting applications such as Zoom, WebEx, Google Meet
· DePaul's policies, procedures, and standard practices and the rules and guidelines established by regulatory and governing agencies
· Relevant policies, procedures, and strategies to promote the safety and protection of people, data, and property
· Knowledge of methodologies and resources used to assess the needs of the listener or audience to share information or engage in ongoing communication
Skill/Ability to:
· Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times
· Verbal and written communication and body language that conveys information, ideas, or inquiries effectively and concisely that purveys professional composure, emotional intelligence, thoughtfulness, patience, and respect amidst change, ambiguity, and within the daily trajectories of work
· Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems
· Collecting and analyzing data
· Using standard office equipment such as telephone, calculator, printer, scanner, cellular phone, tablet, computer, postage machine, shredder
· Managing multiple priorities and completing assignments on time, accurately, and with attention to detail
· Developing and maintaining professional working relationships and appropriate boundaries with individuals served, coworkers, community partners, and business associates
· Work collaboratively within a team environment and build strategic relations with community partners, co-workers, management, and business associates
· Communicate effectively in both oral and written form
· Make arithmetical computations and tabulations
· Operate a personal computer with a general understanding of MS Office Suites, virtual meeting software, the Internet, and department or program-specific software
· Develop objectives, evaluate effectiveness, and assess service plans for individuals served
· Analyze and prepare concise and accurate documents, reports, and correspondence
· Effectively market the programs and services of the department
· Train others
· Assistant with the general upkeep and cleaning of office areas and agency vehicles
· Exercise sound judgment and critical thinking in decision-making and solving various work-related situations
· Learn policies, procedures, and guidelines established by DePaul, professional organizations, governing agencies, and local laws, statutes, regulations, codes, and standards related to the area of responsibility
· Read and understand information and ideas presented in writing
Other Characteristics:
· Demonstrate self-awareness, ongoing self-evaluation, and a commitment to being part of a diverse, equitable, respectful, and inclusive workplace where all people are valued
· Demonstrate professional composure in difficult and stressful situations
· Demonstrate the FIRST (fairness, integrity, respect, safety, trust) values in the daily trajectories of work
· Demonstrate professionalism regarding access to sensitive and confidential information related to employees, clients, and business records with no disclosure to others without needing to know.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO APPLY:
A Bachelor's degree in social work or an acceptable degree is required. Must have one year of casework experience.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described herein represent those an employee encounters while performing the position's essential functions. The employee regularly works in an office environment and occasionally in the field. Due to the nature of the work, the incumbent may be exposed to situations of a highly emotional nature; incumbents are expected to use verbal skills to resolve interpersonal situations to achieve desired results independently. Incumbents are exposed to various living situations and lifestyles. Work is generally completed regularly during weekdays; however, daily work hours will vary. Participation in an on-call rotation and completion of job duties outside of normally scheduled hours is required. Work is subject to frequent interruptions, and noise levels are varied based on the work locations.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
The physical demands described herein are representative of those that an employee in this position must meet, with or without reasonable accommodations, to perform the essential functions successfully. Physical activities required are finger dexterity necessary to operate equipment used in the position, effective communication and seeing or hearing verbal cues. Walking for up to sixty-seven percent of the time, sitting up to sixty-seven percent of the time, bending/stooping for up to sixty-seven percent of the time, lifting/pushing/pulling no more than twenty pounds, and minimal unassisted lifting associated with the job duties are required. When accessing various locations, the incumbent must climb stairs and ramps. This position requires driving to various locations approximately ten to twenty percent of the employee's working time. Public transportation may not be available. Individuals needing reasonable accommodations should speak with their immediate supervisor/hiring manager.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS:
After a conditional job offer, the following may be required: current DMV driving record with results that comply with insurer guidelines; drug and alcohol screening with satisfactory results stipulated by applicable governing, funding, or regulatory agencies; criminal and child protective services background report. The applicant shall not have been convicted of any barrier crime(s) on the criminal background report. The applicant will have no founded disposition of child abuse or neglect as documented by the Child Protective Services background report.
NOTE:
This description provides information regarding the essential functions of the designated job and the general nature and level of work associated with the job. It should not be interpreted to describe all the duties whose performance may be required of such employees or be used to limit the nature and extent of assignments such an individual may be given.
Compensation depends on qualifications and experience.
DePaul is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
E-Verify Participant.
Salary : $21 - $23
