What are the responsibilities and job description for the Direct Care Staff Lead position at Foster Heart?
Direct Care Staff - Team Lead Position
Foster Heart is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization serving the Treasure Valley. Our mission is to ignite the hearts of our community to foster and meet the needs of children in foster care. One expression of this mission is transitional homes for children ages 0-17 entering the foster care system. These homes will house up to 8 children at a time and will be staffed with direct care staff trained to care for children in some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare are able to place children with us until the right foster family is found for them. This ensures that children are placed in the right home and that sibling sets can stay together so that while they may be facing the unknown, they don’t have to face it alone.
Job Summary
The Social Work Intern will support Foster Heart in delivering high-quality services to children and families within the foster care system. This internship provides an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in social work, develop professional skills, and contribute to meaningful outcomes for our clients. The intern will work under the supervision of experienced social workers and will be involved in various aspects of case management, advocacy, and community outreach.
Essential Functions:
- Case Management Support: Assist in the assessment, planning, and implementation of individualized service plans for children and families.
- Client Interaction: Conduct initial intakes, follow-up visits, and provide support to clients through phone calls, home visits, and in-office meetings.
- Resource Coordination: Help connect clients with community resources and services, such as healthcare, education, and counseling.
- Documentation: Maintain accurate and up-to-date client records, case notes, and reports in compliance with organizational and legal standards.
- Advocacy: Advocate for the needs and rights of children and families within the foster care system.
- Training and Development: Participate in training sessions, workshops, and team meetings to enhance professional development and understanding of foster care concerns.
- Collaborates with Direct Care Staff to help provide quality services to children by interacting with children and volunteers.
- Effectively responds, communicates with, and presents information to co-workers.
- Engages with supervisor and co-workers on constructive and timely feedback, accepting feedback as a growth opportunity, and is open to continuous improvement for oneself and the organization
Qualifications:
- Currently pursuing a degree in social work, psychology, sociology, or a related field.
- Strong communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills; ability to work independently and as part of a team; empathy and compassion for children and families in crisis.
- Completes and maintains Infant/Child CPR and First Aid certification.
- Must pass an enhanced criminal background check that meets required state, federal, and IDAPA standards.
- Knowledge of adult and child learning principles, social services, and resource organizations.
Benefits:
- Gain practical experience in social work within the foster care system.
- Receive mentorship and supervision from experienced social workers.
- Opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of children and families.
- Professional development through training and hands-on experience.
Typical Physical Requirements
- Sufficient clarity of speech and hearing or other communication capabilities which permits the employee to communicate effectively with children, families, and co-workers.
- Constantly involves sitting, using hands to handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms, talking, and hearing.
- Consistently requires standing, walking, and moving from sitting to standing and back to sitting.
- Consistently requires moving to the floor to interact with children.
- Moderate to vigorous physical activity such as running, dancing, marching, etc. with the children. Involves moving from the home to the playground.
- Must have sufficient manual dexterity to work with the fingers and to reach/handle items.
- Involves light physical activity performing non-strenuous daily activities of a primarily administrative nature.
- Must be able to lift and carry up to 45 pounds.
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distant vision, and color vision.
- Related job tasks require, with or without reasonable accommodation, climbing, stooping, kneeling,crouching, reaching, pushing, pulling, lifting, twisting and grasping.
- All activities and physical requirements must be performed with or without reasonable accommodations.
Additional Functions
- Complies with all safety policies, practices, and procedures. Reports all unsafe activities to a member of management.
- Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks.
- Prioritizes and adjusts to the changing demands of the position.
- Handles and adapts to stressful situations.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Typical Environmental Conditions
- May be exposed to moderate noise levels.
Disclaimer
Must perform the essential duties and responsibilities with or without reasonable accommodation efficiently and accurately without causing significant safety threat to self or others. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and/or skills required of all personnel so classified. When duties and responsibilities change and develop, the job description will be reviewed and subject to changes of business necessity.