Observer (Supervised Visitation, Direct Observation, Hospital Sitting)

IF YOUR RESUME DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY WORK WITH CHILDREN AT ALL, YOU WILL NOT BE CONTACTED BECAUSE DFPS WILL NOT APPROVE YOUR SUBCONTRACTOR AGREEMENT.

*Ideal candidate has open availability*

If you have experience with children that is not yet on your resume, PLEASE UPDATE YOUR RESUME TO INCLUDE YOUR WORK WITH CHILDREN BEFORE SUBMITTING even if it is volunteer work or was many years ago. Your work with children MUST be on the resume you submit and must include dates to document a MINIMUM of one year of working with children or you will not be contacted. This requirement is NOT negotiable. A degree such as psychology or education is NOT a substitute for experience, however, if while obtaining your degree you performed internships, practicums, or volunteer work, that experience may help meet this requirement. Please make sure ALL your experience with children and families is reflected on your resume before you send it to us. Your resume must show a minimum of one year of full time work (or several years of part time work that add up to the equivalent of one year full time) with CHILDREN AND FAMILIES or our contact with Department of Family and Protective Services will not allow us to contract with you.

For Supervised Visitation assignments, you will work primarily at the CPS office located at 3635 SE Military Drive in 1-2 hour increments, but may schedule them back-to-back to have a full work day
For Hospital Sitting assignments, you will work at any local hospital for 4 hours, 8 hours, or 12 hours.
For supplemental caregiver services, you will work at any pre-determined location for 4 hours, 8 hours, or 12 hours.

Please ensure that you are familiar with 3635 SE Military Drive location and are willing to drive to it before submitting paperwork to be considered

Compensation: varies with assignment, but is currently a minimum of $12.00 and a maximum of $15.00. If you are not comfortable with accepting both of these rates, please do not apply. While increases are likely in the near future, the current rates apply for all new contractors at this time.

Type of position: contract (you will be an independent contractor)

Alamo Heights Counseling, Inc. is seeking reliable individuals willing to observe visits for parents who have open Child Protective Services cases or provide supervision for children who are in the custody of the State on an as needed basis. This is an independent contractor position.

Contractors make their own schedules but MUST be willing to make a commitment to work the same days and hours on a regular basis to meet the needs of the families and DFPS. (In other words, you set your schedule and agree to work when you said you would. People will be counting on you, so you must provide sufficient advanced notice when you change your schedule.)

REQUIREMENTS

Education: high school diploma/GED or higher

Experience: one year of experience working with children and families in a social service setting

Training: training will be provided and you MUST be willing to complete it before you will be get any assignments.

Other Requirements:

1) reliable transportation

2) proficient in using Microsoft word, Microsoft Excel, email, typing--because this position is remote, if you do not have sufficient computer skills, you will not be able to perform your duties

3) regular access to a computer with internet service (ideally, you will use a personal laptop or e-tablet to complete your work)

4) pass criminal history background check and child protective services check. One year of experience with children and families can include teaching, teacher's aid, daycare/nanny, camp counselor or other camp employee with direct contact with children and families, etc.

5) TB test (some assignments require a TB test; AHC will reimburse for you for this expense under certain circumstances. Details provided at interview and again at orientation.

Location:

Most visits are held at the Department of Family and Protective Services office located at 3635 SE Military Drive. Depending on circumstances, visits MAY be held in public places or at the Alamo Heights Counseling office. In very rare occasions, visits may take place in another location. More information will be provided at the interview and at the orientation.

Duties:

• 1) Arrive 15 minutes before scheduled start time
• 2) Ensure parents, caregivers, and children sign in properly.
• 3) Require parents to follow all Child Protective Services rules
• 4) Observe visits between parents and children
• 5) Make notes on interactions between parent & child on a check-list style report to be typed and turned in within five days of visit
• 6) Schedule and confirm appointment times as needed
• 7) Occasionally testify in children's court

It is very important that paperwork be turned in ON TIME. Late documentation can result in late payment or non-payment.

Schedule:

Schedules are flexible in that you may select what days of the week and hours of the day you work, however, you MUST be willing to COMMIT to those days and hours because once you are assigned cases, you are responsible for visits that occur during those times each week at the same time and families will be counting on your so they can have their visit. You may work as many or as few cases as you wish.

No specific number of hours is guaranteed but there is a high demand for this service, so there is potential for a large number of cases. Many appointments will take place during "after school" hours or on weekends, however, some daytime appointments are available. You tell us when you are available and we will assign your cases accordingly. Additionally, some 12-hour shifts exist, either at DFPS for youth without placement or in hospitals for youth who are hospitalized. (Observers are needed for all hours, especially after school and on weekends. If you are available all evenings and weekends, you will be more likely to be offered a large number of cases.)

Great extra income for teachers, daycare employees, retired persons from social service backgrounds and stay-at-home parents (who have childcare/social service experience). Good experience for students working toward careers in education, health and human services, social work, counseling, psychology, sociology, etc. as long as some experience can already be documented. The ideal candidate is available for 20 hours a week or more and has a flexible schedule.

Contractor payments are made ONCE A MONTH when Department of Family and Protective Services pays contractors. DFPS has 30 days to process an invoice once it is turned in, therefore your first check will most likely be 30-45 days after you turn in your first invoice. Payments are usually issued on the 15th of each month. Alamo Heights Counseling, Inc. does not choose the pay schedule, DFPS does. If you are unwilling or unable to be paid on a once monthly basis with a 30-day wait period from when invoices are turned in, do not apply for this contract. If you are looking for immediate additional income within the next week, this is not the position for you.

This is an Independent Contractor position. We do not withhold taxes from your paycheck, and you maybe able to deduct expenses* you incur, for example driving to and from appointments. You will be paid per hour for the hours you are actually observing visit/youth. Some assignments allow partial payments for no-shows.

START: We need you immediately, but all contracts require a background check and DFPS approval. This can take from 2 days to 30 days. We will start you immediately upon approval from DFPS.

How to apply:

Submit your resume via indeed.

Be sure to provide your REAL email address (not the indeed id mail) so our staff can send you forms 2970c and 2971c for background check purposes.

Submit (by replying to our email) all of the following:

• Document 2970c
• Document 2971c
• Proof that you possess a high school diploma, GED, or higher (proof is a copy of your diploma or GED certificate OR a transcript-we do not need both).

You MUST submit all four documents (the three listed above and the resume previously mentioned). Please do not make partial submissions.

Compensation: hourly rate is $12, $13, or $15 depending upon the assignment.

Payment is once monthly, on the 15th of the month.

Remember: this is a subcontractor arrangement under a contract with the State of Texas, so you must be willing to work with the state's payment arrangements. Alamo Heights Counseling will bill the state for your work at the end of each month and you will be paid when the State disburses funds to Alamo Heights Counseling.

*Regarding deducting expenses, you may need to contact a tax professional for information on how to do this.

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Contract

Pay: $12.00 - $15.00 per hour

Expected hours: 1 – 15 per week

Schedule:

• 10 hour shift
• 12 hour shift
• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Holidays
• Monday to Friday
• Night shift
• On call
• Weekends as needed

Application Question(s):

• Are you able to pass the state-required background check indicating no history of child abuse or criminal acts that would pose a danger to a child?

Education:

• High school or equivalent (Required)

Experience:

• Childcare: 1 year (Required)

Language:

• Spanish (Preferred)

Work Location: Multiple locations