Youth and Family Treatment Specialist– Foster Care
Classification Title: Youth and Family Treatment Specialist – Foster Care
Classification: Non-Exempt
Reports to: Manager - Treatment Foster Care
GENERAL STATEMENT OF JOB
This position 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. 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 serves to link families and youth to community resources and services, provides family support to increase stability and promote relationships that are healing for youth. Serves as team leader and a liaison with custodial agency.
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
· Ability to work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds
· Familiarity with state licensing and Medicaid standards preferred
· Valid Virginia Drivers’ License and proof of insurance
· 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
· Good oral, written, interpersonal and communication skills
· Ability to organize work effectively
· Ability to maintain records, prepare reports and required paperwork according to licensing and agency requirements on a timely basis
· Basic computer skills and experience working with Microsoft Office
· Ability to drive agency vehicle and access to a personal vehicle for client transport
· Ability to observe health and safety regulations
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
a. Links the child and/or family to services and supports either specified in or connected to the individualized treatment and service plan
b. Directly assists the child or family in locating and obtaining needed services and resources
c. 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 the Lutheran Family Services of Virginia, Inc. (LFSVA) 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
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Youth and Family Treatment Specialist– Foster Care
· 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
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Youth and Family Treatment Specialist– Foster Care
SUMMARY OF PHYSICAL, SENSORY AND ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS NEEDED TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES
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Youth and Family Treatment Specialist– Foster Care
Not Applicable
Rarely = (less than ½ hour per day)
Occasionally = (1/2 - 2.5 hours per day)
Frequently = (2.5 - 5.5 hours per day)
Continually = (5.5 - 8 hours per day)
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Youth and Family Treatment Specialist– Foster Care
Physical Requirements
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Youth and Family Treatment Specialist– Foster Care
1. Lifting: Up to 40 lbs.
2. Carrying: Up to 40 lbs.
3. Pushing/Pulling: Up to 40 lbs.
4. Use of Equipment:
a. Computer, telephone, copier, agency vehicle, fax, typewriter
5. Sitting: Frequently
6. Standing: Frequently
7. Walking: Frequently
8. Bending: Occasionally
9. Stooping: Occasionally
10. Crawling: Not at all
11. Climbing: Occasionally
12. Reaching above head: Frequently
13. Grasping:
a. One hand: Frequently
b. Both hands: Frequently
14. Fine Manipulating:
a. One hand: Frequently
b. Both hands: Frequently
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Environmental Requirements
1. Exposed to marked changes in temperature: Occasionally
2. Outside work: Occasionally
3. Exposure to dust, fumes, odors, water, etc.: Occasionally
4. Exposure to biological, mechanical, electrical and/or chemical hazards: Not at all
5. Normal (inside) environment: Continuously
6. Noise: Occasionally
Sensory Requirements
1. Eyesight:
a. Normal/corrected: Necessary
b. Close eye work: Necessary
c. Other: ______
2. Hearing:
a. Normal tones: Necessary
b. Soft tones: Necessary
c. Other: ______
3. Distinguish Smells: Not necessary
4. Distinguish Temperatures:
a. Touch: Not necessary
- Proximity: Not necessary
Acknowledgment
This job description reflects Lutheran Family Services of Virginia, Inc.’s best effort to describe the essential functions, other functions and qualifications of the job described. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of all duties, responsibilities or qualifications of the job, and does not limit the assignment of additional duties. This is not intended to be a contract.
I have read, understand, and accept the duties, standards, and expectations required of this position. I have reviewed the attached Summary of Physical, Sensory and Environmental Requirements Needed to Perform Essential Job Duties and affirm that I am able to perform the duties required of this position. I hereby affirm my good-faith compliance with all Agency policies and procedures.
Signature
Print Name
Date
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