What are the responsibilities and job description for the Therapeutic Visitation Specialist - Bilingual Preferred position at YMCA of Greater Monmouth County?
Overview:
Responsible for supporting parent-child visitation for families in their homes or communities who require therapeutic intervention; completing initial intake assessments, assessment tools, and visitation plans; documenting visits and completing reports; facilitating parent debriefings before and after visits and visitation planning meetings; transporting children and/or parents; communicating with children, parents, relatives, resource parents, DCP&P, and/or other stakeholders by phone and in person; attending various meetings and trainings; and assessing families’ service needs and linking them to appropriate community providers.
ABOUT SUPPORTIVE VISTATION SERVICES: Parent-child visitation services for CP&P- involved families with children in out-of-home placement to maintain and strengthen familial interactions and facilitate permanency. Services are provided in the least restrictive setting that maintains safety along a continuum of supervision based on family need. Core activities include ongoing assessment, visitation, aftercare (post-reunification support), transportation and documentation.
This position is contingent upon the availability of grant funding.
Responsibilities:
The Supportive Visitation Specialist at The YMCA of Greater Monmouth County intentionally fosters a cause-centered culture that is welcoming, genuine, hopeful, nurturing, and determined.
Responsible for supporting parent-child visitation for families in their homes or communities who require therapeutic intervention; completing initial intake assessments, assessment tools, and visitation plans; documenting visits and completing reports; facilitating parent debriefings before and after visits and visitation planning meetings; transporting children and/or parents; communicating with children, parents, relatives, resource parents, DCP&P, and/or other stakeholders by phone and in person; attending various meetings and trainings; and assessing families’ service needs and linking them to appropriate community providers.
ABOUT SUPPORTIVE VISTATION SERVICES: Parent-child visitation services for CP&P- involved families with children in out-of-home placement to maintain and strengthen familial interactions and facilitate permanency. Services are provided in the least restrictive setting that maintains safety along a continuum of supervision based on family need. Core activities include ongoing assessment, visitation, aftercare (post-reunification support), transportation and documentation.
This position is contingent upon the availability of grant funding.
Engaging
- Initiates and maintains ongoing communication with families in a culturally sensitive manner utilizing a family's preferred language taking into consideration a family's faith and culture.
- Schedules and conducts visits in the least-restrictive, most home-like location (the first preference being within the family's home) while ensuring the safety of the children.
- Ensures the environment for parent-child contact is safe, non-traumatizing, and promotes healthy attachment.
- Uses strengths-based, solutions-focused, family centered, trauma informed strategies to elicit family input.
- Initiates and maintains ongoing communication with DCP&P, other providers, and supports.
Assessing
- Uses a process to gather information which includes reviewing collateral information and inquiring about family's natural supports.
- Completes required assessment tools including but not limited to bio-psychological assessments, Rose Wentz Matrix and SVS Caregiver Surveys and documents contacts with families in agency's progress notes and DCP&P contact sheets.
- Creates a visitation plan with active familial involvement and updates the plan at regular intervals.
Active Listening
- Creates an environment that empowers family members, including parents, children, and caregivers to communicate their goals and
- Utilizes various interviewing and/or communication techniques in a culturally competent manner.
- Recognizes non-verbal communication and maintains good eye contact and posture.
Teaming
- Advocates for parents/families as necessary and supports them in advocating for
- Links the family to community resources and formal and informal supports and coordinates with DCP&P.
- Collaborates with and shares relevant information with DCP&P staff, other providers, and supports.
- Deliver and score assessment
Coaching
- Enhances parental skills by goal setting, modeling, mentoring, reinforcement and feedback and reflection through a trauma-informed perspective.
- Prepares for each visit with caregivers reviewing goals and expectations and encouraging them to be the lead in visit planning.
- Debriefs with caregivers after each visit to allow for processing and self-reflection and discussion of strengths and challenges.
Operational
- Contact referral source and client within 2 business days of receipt of referral.
- Carry a caseload of 3 visit hours and 1 transport hours daily. Part-time staff will conduct a prorated number of transportation and visit hours per week based on hours worked.
- Available a minimum of 3 evenings per week.
- Establish visit parameters with all parties involved.
- Provide transportation to family members who require it as per caseworker.
- Supervisor visits according to level of supervision required by caseworker, the exception being emergency bathroom breaks.
- Document activity and interaction between family members during visits and provide copies to caseworkers within 5 business days of visit.
- Complete program paperwork in a timely manner including end-of-month paperwork, weekly schedules, vehicle log/maintenance, expense forms, and evaluation forms.
- Complete all record keeping according to COA and DCF standards.
- Compile and transmit all required progress reports and termination summaries.
- Attend and participate in weekly clinical supervision. Attend all mandatory training.
- Participate in all DCF and YMCA meetings.
- Maintain a safe driving record.
- Valid NJ Driver’s License and clean driver’s abstract.
- Minimum of 1 year’s experience with children and families, particularly families involved with the child welfare system and/or affected by trauma.
- Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling or related field.
- Valid Professional license (LPC, LAC, LSW, CSW). May be in process of obtaining licensure.
- Knowledge of trauma and effect on children and families.
- Experience/willingness to work with culturally diverse populations.
- Skills in problem analysis and problem resolution at both a strategic and functional level.
- Ability to communicate effectively.
- Bilingual in spanish preferred.
