Permanency Specialist II Youth

Job Summary

The Permanency Specialist II Youth delivers permanency services using the Hillside Family Finding Model or the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Child-focused Recruitment Model. The Permanency Specialist II – Youth also facilitates Permanency Roundtables for youth in need of permanency who are receiving services from Hillside. Both require intensive collaboration with stake holders in order to develop emotional, relational, and/or legal permanency for youth. Youth are referred from Onondaga County Dept of Children and Family Services.

Essential Job functions

• Implement the Family Finding and/or Child-focused Recruitment Model to fidelity with assigned youth.
• Facilitate, scribe, and/or coordinate Permanency Roundtables for referred youth.
• Engage youth, caregivers, relatives, fictive kin and/or other appropriate adults to increase connections and build a lifetime network of support for each youth and their families.
• Support teams in determining the type of permanency intervention needed for youth.
• Educate youth, families, providers, and strategic partners (i.e. DSS, OCFS) about the positive impact of Family Finding and/or Wendy’s Wonderful Kids permanency services.
• Participate and provide expertise in Service Plan Reviews, Treatment Conferences, and Benchmark team meetings as it relates to permanency.
• Develop, maintain, and update all required documentation in a timely manner utilizing effective written and oral communication.
• While this job description covers many aspects of the role, employees may be required to perform other duties as assigned.

Education & Experience

• Associate’s degree in Human Services or a related field required.
• Minimum 2 of years relevant experience required.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Unrestricted, valid NYS driver’s license for minimum of 1 year with a clean driving record and minimum insurance coverage that meets agency standards.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

In addition to demonstrating the Hillside Professional Competencies of Communicates Effectively, Personal Excellence, Cultural Competence, Builds and Leverages Relationships, and Optimizes Decision Making, the following occupational competencies must be demonstrated:

• Ability to impact the philosophy of youth permanency for colleagues and teams.
• Ability to implement and facilitate Permanency Round Table and Model meetings.
• Knowledge of the legal and social rights of children, youth and parents to assure that these rights are understood and protected.
• Ability to use problem solving skills to positively impact decision making.
• Ability to be independent and self-directed

Physical Demands & Work Environment

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

• Must be able to work a variable scheduling including evenings and weekends
• The following daily physical demands are required:
  • Sitting (up to 6 hours)
  • Occasional standing (up to 2 hour)
  • Occasional walking (up to 2.5 hours)
  • Driving (several times a week up to 6 hours)
  • Continuous balancing (up to 8 hours)
  • Occasional balancing, bending, stooping, climbing, kneeling, pushing, pulling, reaching forward or down, reaching overhead, running, and twisting (up to 2.5 hours)
  • Weekly lifting up to 10-15 lbs. on a daily basis
  • Manual dexterity is required, including the frequent ability to grasp in both hands and continuous use of fine manipulation skills in both hands (approximately 1-2.5 hrs.)
  • Occasional exposure to dust, fumes, gases, chemicals, or smoke is apparent
  • Ability to change positions as needed

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

While Hillside is a restraint free environment, there may be times in a “life or limb” situation, that staff may be required to physically restrain clients weighing between 50 lbs. and 300 lbs. and guide them safely to the floor. In some circumstances, restraints can last up to 15 minutes and may require repetition as necessary.