Family Specialist (P/T)

Job description:

LEAF, a program of Parents In Training, was created to provide an intensive trauma-responsive, love-based wraparound services program for at-risk adoptive families in California. Our mission is to reduce the parents stress while teaching them how to be therapeutically available to their children. In this manner, we engage the entire family unit in the healing process. We believe healing happens inside the home throughout the diverse network of hidden communication patterns in the various family relationships. In instances that children cannot remain in the house, we provide temporary therapeutic respite services to enable the family to develop a therapeutic, healing environment.

Job Summary:

The Family Specialist is responsible for providing support services to youth and their families by engaging directly with the family and establishing a strengths-based relationship. Family Specialists will work in the home for the purpose of implementing the Plan of Care that is family-centered, community-oriented, strengths-based, and highly individualized. The Family Specialist will act as a supporting member of the Family Care Team to implement the Fear to Love approach with the child in service as identified according to the child’s identified needs. This position reports directly to the Trauma Support Specialist and Area Manager. The Family Specialist's role is crucial to the success of Wraparound, creating a high level of trust with the child/youth and adults as individualized proactive interventions are planned and implemented within the family and community.

Key function, accountabilities, and related duties:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Engage the child/youth and important adults in their life in authentic, supportive, respectful relationships that help them attain their vision of a better future.
• Support and ensure respect for child/youth voice, choice, and preference throughout the four phases of Wraparound.
• Support youth to participate effectively in the Child and Family Team (CFT) process, helping them plan what they want to address and supporting them in the meeting.
• Provide unconditional support using respectful listening for the child/youth.
• Develop effective, individualized strategies with the CFT to address specific unmet needs that reflect the parent and/or child/youth culture, strengths, and preferences.
• Implement strengths-based behavior plans with individualized and creative strategies, including supportive linkage to the community and school.
• Support parents and caregivers to understand the function of child/youth behaviors and to try new skills to meet the child/youth needs, allowing them to listen better and meet their child’s needs more quickly and accurately.
• Support the youth/child and parents to be more engaged in their family and community environments with skills to manage emotions and reactions in constructive ways.
• Reframe deficits and challenges into strengths to be honed.
• Recognize and celebrate successes, no matter how small.
• Assist family members to connect/reconnect in meaningful ways with relatives or other important adults to increase their sense of belonging and purpose.
• Work directly in-home with children in service.
• Implement the Fear to Love approach to support clients in managing their emotions and regulating stress.
• Report daily notes at the end of each visit to recap all events that occurred and any requested follow-up for members of the Family Care Team.
• Report any significant events directly to the Family Care Team via group chat.
• Act based on guidance and recommendations from Family Care Plan and Facilitator to maintain an individualized approach in each home.
• Record mileage and other reimbursements needed for services provided to clients.
• Act as a loving, nurturing figure or role model with each interaction.
• Coordinate safe, positive, and productive activities to entertain children.
• Actively listen to each family member so that each person feels heard and validated.
• Supervise children to always maintain a safe environment.
• Ensure the personal needs of each child are met during each visit.
• Encourage and participate in playtime.
• Organize and tidy the house and encourage child participation as needed.
• Help children implement their daily routines and chores, while encouraging a feeling of pride in their work.
• Engage and communicate effectively with all agency employees, youth and their families/legal guardians, and all community partners.
• Ability to assess and respond effectively to crisis situations.
• Adhere to confidentiality, HIPAA, and risk management policies and procedures including completing Incident Reports.
• Utilize technology provided to perform the job efficiently and effectively.
• Meet training requirements as established, including CPR-First Aid and crisis intervention.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Experience in social services and knowledge of community resources (preferred).
• Bachelor’s degree in social work or other related discipline (preferred).
• Experience in providing wraparound services (preferred).
• Experience and prior training working with children and adolescents with mental health, substance abuse, and co-existing diagnoses are preferred.
• Ability to support the agency's culture, growth, and success through communication, accountability, and positivity.
• Ability to be clear-headed and decisive based on the scope of the position.
• Ability to work efficiently and effectively both individually and as part of a team.
• Ability to appropriately accept feedback through the supervision process - thus displaying the willingness to learn, grow, and improve.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Well organized and adaptable.
• Effective conflict resolution skills.
• Possess an engaging and enthusiastic personality.
• Dedicated to the success of children and family teams.
• Proof of valid driver’s license (Type C).
• Access to reliable transportation.
• Proof of valid/current auto insurance.
• Copy of official state driving record.
• Three (3) employment references.
• Cleared criminal background check.
• Completion of California Mandated Reporter training course.
• Completion of California Sexual Harassment Prevention course.
• Able to blend divergent perspectives.
• Able to form a hypothesis for why people behave in certain ways.
• Able to listen and reflect understanding of what was said.
• Able to recognize and celebrate strengths and success.
• Able to translate deficits into functional strengths.
• Can de-escalate stressful or crisis situations.
• Clear writing skills.
• Curious.
• Creative problem-solving.
• Demonstrates cultural humility and curiosity; understands issues of implicit bias, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Seeks to understand the role of tribes and the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), as applicable to Wraparound.
• Time management.
• Empathic.
• Engaging; likes people.
• Knowledge of community resources.
• Optimistic, upbeat.
• Proactive communication.
• Ability to engage people from different cultures, ages, and backgrounds.
• Self-aware (self-care needs, triggers, etc.).
• Team player.

Core Values:

• Love – Our organization and each of its members are guided by love, which we believe is the most important driving force in all that we do.
• Responsibility – To take 100% ownership of our role in fulfilling the promise that we have made to our clients, our peers, and ourselves.
• Integrity – Our actions adhere to the values of Love and Responsibility.

Physical Demands:

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, with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Employee is regularly required to use hands; reach with hands and arms; and see, hear, and communicate with sufficient acuity to successfully perform all aspects of the job.
• The employee may sit for extended periods of time
• The ability to drive long distances.
• Employee must be able to demonstrate manual dexterity, hand-eye coordination and perform simple grasping and fine manipulation.
• A reasonable accommodation will be made as outlined by law. Reasonable accommodation is defined as any modification or adjustment to a job or the work environment that will enable a qualified applicant or employee with a disability to perform essential job functions.

Pay:

• $22.00 - $23.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Day shift
• Evening shift
• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Required)

Work Location: On the road

*Please be advised that all candidates will be required to undergo a comprehensive background check as part of the hiring process. We are committed to maintaining a safe and secure work environment, and as such, individuals with certain misdemeanor convictions may not be eligible for this position. If you have any questions about the background check process or eligibility, please contact our HR Generalist at fariba.wazed@theleafcompany.com

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $22.00 - $23.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

Education:

• Associate (Required)

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Required)

Work Location: On the road

Salary : $22 - $23