Foster Care Case Manager - Clinical Specialist II

Growing Home Southeast Clinical Specialists (II) supervise the foster placement of youth and families in therapeutic care and have primary responsibility for case management and coordination. Clinical Specialists are supervisors and consultants to contracted treatment parents of therapeutic family foster care.

The Clinical Specialist is the practical leader of the treatment team. As such, the Clinical Specialist initiates the development of the treatment plans based upon the strengths and needs identified in the family’s treatment plan. The Clinical Specialist provides support and consultation to TFC Foster parents, to families of children in care and to other team members related to their role in the treatment plan, and advocates for, coordinates, and links children and their families with needed services available within the agency or greater community. More specifically the Clinical Specialist must perform the functions and meet the qualifications listed below:

The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following:

• Treatment Planning. Under the supervision of the Regional Supervisor, the Clinical Specialist II takes the primary day-to-day responsibility for leadership of the treatment team. The Clinical Specialist II organizes and manages all treatment team meetings to guide supports and services for client/s. As treatment team leader, the Clinical Specialist II coordinates team decision-making regarding the care and treatment of the child and services to the child’s family, as identified in the comprehensive treatment plan. The Clinical Specialist provides information and training as needed to treatment team members, as needed. The Clinical Specialist prepares these individuals to work with the foster parents to facilitate their participation in the treatment of the child in a manner consistent with foster care practices and values. The Clinical Specialist II shall take an active role in identifying goals and coordinating treatment services provided to the child by persons or agencies outside the FC program, whether these persons or agencies participate regularly as treatment team members.

• Support and Consultation. The Clinical Specialist provides regular clinical support and assistance to the foster care staff, TFC Foster parents and other treatment team members in their implementation of the treatment planning and supports and services. Fundamental components may include but is not limited to completing diagnostic assessments, Calocus, BMP’s, plan of cares, initial and reauthorization for services monthly treatment team meeting and monthly progress summaries. Can also support in assistance in the design or the revision of the in-home treatment strategies including pro-active goal setting and planning and the provision of ongoing child-specific skills training and problem solving in the home during home visits. Other types of support and supervision includes sharing of information and general training to enhance professional development, assessment of a child’s progress, observation and assessment of family interactions, stress and safety issues.

• Caseloads. The number of children assigned to a Clinical Specialist II is a function of several variables, including the size and density of the regional caseloads served, the array of job responsibilities assigned, and the difficulty of the population assigned. The number of children assigned to any Clinical Specialist II ranges based on the regional caseload.

• Contact with the Foster Family/ and child/ren. The Clinical Specialist II staff shall provide at least monthly contact with the TFC Foster parent of each child in his/her caseload to review and support treatments services.

• Support and Consultation to Families of Children. The Clinical Specialist will be responsible for coordinating and leading all required monthly treatment team meetings. The Clinical Specialist II involves the child and foster parents, clinical specialist assigned to client, referring worker (and other treatment team member when possible) in treatment team meetings, to stay informed of the child’s progress with program and service provision. If the child and/or foster parent is not actively involved in treatment team meeting/s they will document this in the progress summary and/or treatment team notes.

• Community Liaison and Advocacy. The Clinical Specialist II works jointly with the caseworker, foster family, and treatment team members in identifying which community resources and/or services are required and how they may be used to achieve the goals of the child’s treatment plan. The Clinical Specialist II, in collaboration with these others, assist with advocating and in coordinating the provision of such services and shall provide technical assistance to community service providers as needed to maximize the benefit of these services to the child.

• Crisis On-Call. The Clinical Specialist, together with other professional staff as designated by GHSE, shall be on-call to foster parents and/or children. This coverage is 24 hour/7days per week. Staff coverage occurs on a rotating basis.

• Referrals. Receive and evaluate referral materials regarding children and youth in need of a placement with regional foster care intake coordinator and regional staff. Consult with team members, assess appropriate resources for youth or families, contact treatment parents and placement referral sources, and seek designated approval regarding placements.

• Documentation. Complete and submit all required documentation within the stated guidelines: Documentation includes assessments, treatment plans, treatment plan reviews, treatment plan reformulations, progress summary notes, and other client information required by all regulatory agencies.

• Staff Training. Maintain the required number of training hours annually as directed by federal, state and other regulations. Licensed staff must maintain those hours as required by local licensing boards.

None

Positions Supervised: None

Minimum qualifications include: (1) Bachelor's degree (preferably a BSW) and 10 years experience of which three years must be with the population being served or (2) Master's degree in a field related to social work and six years experience of which three years must be with the population being served; or (3) Holder of an active license in a field related to social work and three years experience of which one year of experience must be with the population being served.

The Clinical Specialist II must be committed to understanding and conducting their work consistent with Growing Home SE's mission and core principles. Must also have the ability to forge mutually respectful partnerships; conviction about the capacity of people to grow and change; the ability to maintain the helping role of the practitioner to meet the needs of the persons served or other family members; and the ability to work in partnership with other team members.

Clinical Specialists should have knowledge of developmental and attachment theory, child psychopathology, behavior management, family systems dynamics, community organization theory, demonstrated ability to effectively work cross-culturally, and be able to approach interventions from an ecological framework. Skills in group and team facilitation, family assessment, and networking with community resources are essential. Clinical Specialists must demonstrate an ability to work independently, possess effective organizational and time management skills, and demonstrate professional oral and written communication skills. Clinical Specialists must be able to function under various amounts of stress and must have the self-knowledge to assure proper self-care and wellness. Clinical specialists must possess a valid driver's license, have reliable transportation, be willing to work irregular hours, and be board licensed for the appropriate professional discipline as required by state law.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) of this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments. All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.

To perform this job successfully, the employee(s) will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an at will relationship.