Bilingual Visitation Counselor

Overview

The Visitation Counselor  is responsible for providing supervision of visits between children and parents who are referred by the Department of Children and Family Services and are working toward reunification. The visits will take place at a visitation center. Supervision involves oversight of the interactions between parents and children, transportation to and from visits, and documentation of visits. Visitation Counselors observe family interactions and provide role modeling, coaching, and verbal communication to ensure a safe and successful visit. The program is designed to provide opportunities for parents to build parental capacity, strengthen family relationships, and increase successful reunification and permanency outcomes.

ABOUT FIRST STOP VISITATION CENTER

The First Stop Visitation Center provides services to children and parents who are referred by San Francisco Department of Family and Children’s Services who are working toward reunification. The program hosts the visits on site and is designed to provide opportunities for parents to build parental capacity, strengthen family relationships, and increase successful reunification and permanency outcomes.

ABOUT SENECA 

Seneca Family of Agencies is a non-profit with a simple but powerful mission: to help children and families through the most difficult times of their lives. Since then, Seneca provides a broad continuum of permanency, mental health, education, and juvenile justice services, which today reach over 18,000 youth and families throughout California and Washington State each year. The agency’s growth has been guided by a commitment to our Unconditional Care® model – doing whatever it takes to help children and families thrive, even when faced with tremendous challenges. Seneca is committed to supporting historically underrepresented communities and informing agency policies and practices through its agency-wide DEI Initiative and DEI Advisory Board. Seneca is committed to fostering an agency culture that is welcoming, cooperative, and inclusive of diverse peoples and worldviews.

Responsibilities

• Supervise visits between children and parents by ensuring children have age-appropriate opportunities for interaction with their parents and by maintaining safety of all participants.
• Prepare reports, assessments, goals, and case planning based on observations/interventions during the visit.
• Keep Child and Welfare Worker informed of progress and challenges.
• Work with Child Welfare Worker to build enrichment programs/opportunities for each visit.
• Transport children and families as requested by the Child Welfare Worker or Visitation Coordinator.
• Assist in the orientation of families to the visitation center and the procedures for visits prior to the initial visitation.
• Utilize crisis communication and de-escalation techniques as per Seneca's crisis response training. This may include intervening with the clients' behavioral program through physical management of the clients, if applicable. Training in additional crisis intervention modalities may be required.
• Assist with special events/projects that enhance the operations of the visitation center.
• Travel between sites, up to 90 mile radius.

Qualifications

REQUIRED

• Education/experience requirements:
  • Bachelor's degree OR
  • Associate degree or equivalent 1 year of applicable work experience OR
  • High school diploma/GED 2 years of applicable work experience.
  • Applicable experience can include paid or unpaid experience working with youth or families or working in the social services field.
• Bilingual in English/Spanish.
• Experience and interest working with children and families.
• At least 21 years of age.
• TB test clearance, fingerprinting clearance, and any other state/federal licensing or certification requirements.
• Valid driver's license, clean driving record, and insurability through Seneca Family of Agencies' insurance policy.
• Proof of up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination.

SKILLS OF AN IDEAL CANDIDATE

• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to work as a team player.
• Ability to work with diverse population.
• Willing and able to work flexible hours.

Schedule

• Full-time
  • Tuesday - Friday, 10:45 AM - 7:15 PM
  • Saturday, 8:45 AM - 5:15 PM

Benefits

• Starting at $25.46 - $27.96 per hour.
  • Actual salary dependent on creditable experience above the minimum qualification.
• Mileage reimbursement.
• 5 weeks of PTO and 11 paid holidays.
• Seneca is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness certified employer.
• Comprehensive employee benefits package, including:
  • Medical, dental, vision, chiropractic, acupuncture, and fertility coverage.
  • Long-term disability, family leave, and life insurance.
  • 50% paid premiums for dependents.
  • 403b retirement plan.
  • Employer-paid Employee Assistance Plan.
• Training stipend and professional development opportunities.
• Opportunities to develop specialized skills, including clinical supervision and evidence-based practices.
• Abundant promotional opportunities across the agency in California and Washington.

Salary : $25 - $28