Parent Partner (Success First West)

PROGRAM SUMMARY:

South Coast Community Services takes pride in providing our staff with competitive compensation, opportunities for professional growth, access to diverse client populations, clinical autonomy, and a strong support system of seasoned employees. The Parent Partner/Peer Specialist provides support and resources to parents/caregivers to promote a successful home placement. They engage, inspire, and facilitate meaningful conversations with clients served that assist the person to explore, create, and meet their goals. The Parent Partner/Peer Specialist ensures the parent’s voice and choice is respected and implemented throughout the course of treatment. The Parent Partner/Peer Specialist empowers parents/caregivers in achieving self-sufficiently and independence and provides coaching and support in completing interventions and activities.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

The Success First program serves children & youth ages 0-21 who are at risk of loss of placement (e.g. children involved with the foster care or juvenile justice systems, those experiencing psychiatric hospitalizations, suspensions/expulsions, and eating disorders). Children are typically referred from hospitals, schools, CFS, probation, or Department of Behavioral Health. Services are provided in clients’ homes, schools, or local communities. Children typically remain in the program for 3-6 months with the goal of reducing disruptions to their placements by improving their ability to successfully manage their mental health needs.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:

Education/Experience

• High school diploma or GED.
• Identify as having experience with the process of recovery from a mental illness or substance use disorder.
• Personal parenting experience with an emotionally/behaviorally-disturbed child through the County’s Child Welfare Services, Probation, or Mental Health System, and/or experience with a special needs youth preferred.

Licensure, Registration, Certification

• Valid CA driver’s license and proof of automobile insurance.
• Completion of CPR/First Aid/ProACT certification within the first thirty (30) days of employment.

JOB DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Listen to and assess the parents’ needs and provide relevant interventions, resources and support.
• Serve as support person and advocate for parents during Children and Family Team meetings.
• Ensure sensitivity to family culture, values and beliefs, and operate from a family- centered, strength-based perspective.
• Maintain proficient and accurate documentation adhering to all program and contract standards.
• Work in coordination with the client’s multidisciplinary team, including county representatives, schools etc. in the development and execution of the treatment plan. Participate in all required meetings.
• Develop and utilize knowledge of community resources to serve children and their families.
• Perform other related duties as required and assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Must be proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel and Microsoft Outlook.
• Demonstrate knowledge of crisis management skills and can perform such skills as necessary.
• Ability to remain organized and manage multiple tasks at once.
• Able to establish and maintain appropriate rapport parents/caregivers.
• Knowledge of parenting techniques, child development, and/or the Child Welfare system.
• Able to work effectively as a member of a multidisciplinary team.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to drive a motor vehicle without restrictions, often in heavy traffic and frequently long distances (one hour or more) to ensure safe transport to client settings and to safely transport clients to appointments as needed.
• Senses of vision, hearing and smell sufficient to regularly operate a motor vehicle, to visualize threats in the environment or risks to clients, and to operate safely in the field.
• Required to occasionally lift and carry 10-20 pounds.
• Regularly required to sit, stand, climb stairs (1 or more flights) and walk while in route to and during family visits.
• Regularly required to sit and use computer in office settings

Management reserves the right to add, change, delete or rescind duties or responsibilities of positions within the job classification at any time.