What are the responsibilities and job description for the Family Support Specialist position at Lutheran Family Services?
Family Support Specialist
Job Type
Full-Time
Do you want a rewarding career helping families? Join our new Family Centered Treatment® (FCT) team! This position will work closely with children and families within their homes or community setting who are at-risk of family separation or in need of reunification. You will walk side-by-side families and help them strengthen attachment bonds and change behavior interactions.
Position Summary:
- The Family Centered Treatment worker utilizes the Family Centered Treatment® (FCT) evidenced based home-based trauma treatment model with children and families within a family home or in a community setting. FCT is designed for families who are at-risk of dissolution or in need of reunification. It is also designed to serve youth who move between the child welfare, behavioral health, and juvenile justice systems. During treatment, FCT practitioners aim to help families identify their core emotional issues, identify functions of behaviors in a family systems context, change the emotional tone and behavioral interaction patterns among family members, and develop secure relationships by strengthening attachment bonds.
Job Duties:
- Assist families to build self-sufficiency through activities such as teaching parenting techniques and nurturing skills, facilitating family bonding, helping families create respectful boundaries, and teaching home economics and care.
- Assigned caseloads are limited to 5 families, spending an average of 4 hours per week with a minimum of 2 weekly contacts.
- Enroll in Wheels of Change and complete FCT certification within 1 year of start date.
- Attends and participates in weekly team supervision meetings where cases are reviewed, and feedback is provided.
- Complete and maintain all program fidelity documents, reports, and assessments in a timely manner reflecting the FCT language.
- Provides intervention to families in crisis situations.
- Provides FCT in-home family treatment, adhering to and ensuring fidelity to the FCT model.
- Ability to prioritize cases for multiple clients.
- Serves as liaison with DHHS, courts, schools and additional providers as needed.
- Complete and maintain all program fidelity documents in a timely manner.
- Completes reports for court and attends when needed.
- Work closely with at-risk youth and their families, utilizing the Family Centered Treatment (FCT) model.
- Conduct individual and family sessions within the community.
- Provide comprehensive case management to support the mental health and overall well-being of clients.
- Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to ensure coordinated care and support.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Required Skills/Abilities:
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Excellent interpersonal, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to prioritize tasks and delegate them when appropriate.
- Ability to act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software.
- Regular and predictable attendance, and promptness for work.
- Commitment to uphold the mission, vision, and values of Lutheran Family Services.
- Support Lutheran Family Services in the organization’s objective to be a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible workplace.
Position Competencies:
- Verbal communication
- Written Communication
- Empathy Skills
- Organizational Skills
- Relationship Builder Skills
Education and Experience:
- Bachelor’s Degree required.
- At least one year of previous experience specifically working with children and families.
- FCT Practitioner must be able to become certified or be actively enrolled in certification training in FCT upon hire.
- Demonstrated understanding of and ability to work with people of diverse backgrounds.
Physical Requirements:
- Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
- Hybrid work environment (in office and remote).
- Laptop and company-issued cell phone.
- Travel in identified counties is required.
- Ability to work a flexible work schedule, including evenings, weekends or on call as needed for client care, program needs or supervisor request.
Lutheran Family Services is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of age, race, religion, color, ethnicity, disability, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.
