Our Youth and Family Treatment Specialist is primarily responsible for coordinating and providing services to children and families using a trauma informed and strengths-based model. Services provided will be best practice and evidenced based for working with youth in foster care. This position serves as the primary clinical case coordinator conducting home visits, assessing the relationship and stability of the placement, conducting trauma assessments, providing case management, home studies, therapeutic intervention, and development of treatment plans. Also links families and youth to community resources and services, provides family support to increase stability and promote relationships that are healing for youth. Will serve as team leader and a liaison with custodial agency.
EnCircle requires all employees be vaccinated for COVID-19. If you are hired, we will require you prove that you have received the COVID-19 vaccine or are willing to be vaccinated subject to applicable laws.
MINIMUM EDUCATION, TRAINING, REQUIREMENTS AND PREREQUISITES

• Master's degree in Social Work from a college or university accredited by the Council on Social Work Education or a field related to social work such as sociology, psychology, special education or counseling with a student placement in case work services to children and families or a minimum of one-year experience providing casework services to children and families; or
• Bachelor's degree in Social Work or a field related to social work such as sociology, psychology, special education or counseling with one year providing casework services to families and children.
• Knowledge of and ability to comply with state licensing, Medicaid and other accreditation standards.
• Ability to provide quality assurance of resource, foster family and youth charts to ensure they meet all required standards.
• Ability to work on-call to provide crisis intervention and assistance.
• Familiarity with state licensing and Medicaid standards preferred.
• Valid Virginia Drivers' License and proof of insurance with satisfactory driving record.
• Ability to work a flexible work schedule including weekend and evening work.
• Ability to acquire Crisis De-escalation, First Aid, CPR Certification, Pre-Service and other necessary trainings as required by state regulations for child placing agencies.
• Ability to drive agency vehicle and access to a personal vehicle for client transport.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Essential Functions: May be required to perform any of the following duties:

• Conducts interviews of children and families to complete a variety of tasks including but not limited to home study and evaluation, service planning and assessment, incident investigation, and discharge/transitional planning.
• Coordinates services to minimize fragmentation of care, reduce barriers, and link children with appropriate services to ensure comprehensive, continuous access to needed medical, social, educational, and other services appropriate to the needs of the child.
• Drives agency vehicle and personal vehicle for client transport.
• Performs tasks related to client referrals, intake, and placement and assists with the transition of the child in/out of a foster home. This includes, but is not limited to meeting with families; completing eligibility determination and other assessment activities; coordinating with referring agencies and agency staff; completing and documenting referral information.
• Counsels children and families in preparation for placement or discharge.
• Supervises children in resource, foster and adoptive homes.
• Works from a trauma-informed perspective conducting periodic assessments; coaches families to assist with stability and permanency using interventions designed to increase resource and foster family parenting capacities.
• Works with youth in home using a trauma informed and relationship-based model and provides interventions to assist youth with success in a community-based setting.
• Develops individual service plans for assigned cases that are trauma informed and strengths based in coordination with service planning team and acts as team leader to coordinate meetings, assign tasks and provide guidance and direction.
• Maintains current working knowledge of VDSS licensing and Medicaid requirements as they relate to assigned responsibilities.
• Leads and participates in periodic assessment to determine the child's needs for psychosocial, nutritional, medical, and educational services.
• Ensures that all services are provided in accordance with the individual service plan and documented as required by agency procedures and licensing/funding agency standards.
• Monitors and follows up by assessing on-going progress in each case and ensuring services are delivered.
• Continually evaluates and reviews each child's plan of care.
• Collaborates with the family assessment and planning teams and other involved parties in the preparation and review of all service plans and coordination of services to children and families.
• Manages all assigned cases and maintains face-to-face and regular contact with the child and family as defined by the specific case needs.
• Educates and counsels child by guiding child and developing a supportive relationship with the child and the foster family to promote the service plan including the placement and discharge of youth. Provides support and education to the family. Counseling and support to children and families is done within the scope of the case worker's professional training and competence.
• Coordinates referrals for youth and family by assisting youth and family in arranging for appropriate services and ensuring continuity of care for the child.
  
  1. Links the child and/or family to services and supports either specified in or connected to the individualized treatment and service plan.
  2. Directly assists the child or family in locating and obtaining needed services and resources.
  3. Coordinates services and service planning with other agencies and providers involved with the child by arranging, as needed, medical, educational, psychiatric, psychotherapy, therapeutic support and dental services.
• Participates in tasks for recruitment, certification, and evaluation of resource/foster and adoptive homes, include conducting information meetings or other activities, conducting and writing home studies, periodic home evaluations and maintaining contact with assigned foster homes that do not have a current placement.
• Participates in crisis intervention and provides support as required, including providing intervention to prevent disruption of placements.
• Participates in on-call rotation to assist youth and families maintain stable placements by providing crisis intervention.
• Provides supervision, support, and assistance to youth and foster families through regular home visits and telephone contact, as assigned, and continuously evaluates and monitors placements and home compliance during visits.
• Completes periodic progress reviews and documents as required by agency procedures and licensing/funding agency standards. Cooperates with the referring agency and provides them with required reports and documentation, attends meetings as requested.
• Prepares and maintains accurate, complete, and up-to-date files on all youth and parents assigned.
• Participates in the file review process and corrects file deficiencies in a timely manner.

Other Job Functions:

• Supports the program's operational philosophy, goals and objectives congruent with enCircle's mission, values, vision and strategic direction.
• Participates in on-going relevant staff trainings that are evidence-based and promote best practice models as well as agency required trainings.
• Maintains weekly contact with therapeutic mentors on assigned cases.
• Adheres to agency guidelines and policies.
• Participates in foster parent support activities as requested.
• Attends and participates in team meetings to include staff, disposition, clinical group and individual supervisions.
• Reviews paperwork for accuracy; prepares documentation and paperwork and creates files.
• Conducts investigations with regard to client concerns related to service provisions.
• Performs administrative tasks, including submission of expense reports, employee leave reports, documentation of client information for entry into client tracking system.
• Participates in administrative supervision with Manager of Treatment Foster Care at least bi-weekly and keeps supervisor informed of significant changes in status for assigned cases.
• Performs other related duties as required and assigned.

Why you'll love working at enCircle:
We offer a competitive salary starting at $22 per hour plus an exceptional benefits package including:

• Health, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Nationwide Pet Insurance, including coverage for reptiles, birds and exoticpets
• 401(k) and 401(k) Matching
• Employee Assistance Program, including Access to Chaplain Services
• Educational Assistance Program
• STD, LTD, Life, and AD&D Insurance
• Generous PTO and Paid Holidays
• Retention Bonus
• Cell Phone Reimbursement
• Unlimited Access to Premium Calm App for Staff plus Friends and Family
• Early access to paid wages with PayActiv