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Form of workJob Description
BASIC PURPOSE OF THE JOB
The Permanency Specialist coordinates and delivery of appropriate services and level of care for youth.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
NON-ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Requirements
REQUIRED SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES
MINIMUM JOB REQUIREMENTS
MINIMUM WORK EXPERIENCE
MINIMUM EDUCATION AND LICENSURE/CERTIFICATIONS
CLIENT POPULATION SERVED
BASIC PURPOSE OF THE JOB
The Permanency Specialist coordinates and delivery of appropriate services and level of care for youth.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Completes initial and ongoing assessments by gathering information from, children and their families, and collaterals.
- Responsible for initial contact of children within 4 hours of referral and subsequent placement.
- Researches and recommends possible relative placements, giving them priority, whenever viable.
- Facilitates and coordinates family meetings.
- Develops and implements case plans and permanency goals with children and families, ensuring that goals are reached within established time frames.
- Determines and recommends which services are needed for the child and family, including mental health, drug and alcohol services, respite care and supervised or unsupervised visitations/interactions.
- Assists families to establish a support network of family, kinship, and community.
- Preparing families and/or children for moves, reunification or other appropriate permanency goals.
- Provides intervention for children and families in crisis situations.
- Ability to work with the court system and follow court protocols including appropriate business attire.
- Assesses ongoing case plan goals and recommends reunification, termination of parental rights or other permanency options.
- Completes reports for court, participates in court participates in court proceedings, including testifying, and makes sure court orders are followed.
- Completes and maintains written documentation in child/family's case record accurately and within established time frames.
- Supports kinship and foster families to maintain placements and help children work toward permanency.
- If child's permanency goal becomes adoption, complete necessary documents to assist in the adoption process.
- Participates in supervisory and team meetings, sharing pertinent information about children/families' progress, critical trends, barriers and solutions to achieving outcomes; and relationships with other agencies/communities.
- Participates in monthly supervision.
- Works collaboratively and provides guidance to family support workers assigned.
- Supervises and transports children and families as needed.
- Reports critical incidents to DFPS verbally within 12 hours, written within 24 hours.
- Implements Saint Francis policies and follows directives as required. Follows and adheres to all pertinent Saint Francis Standard Operating Procedures (SOP's), rules, personnel policies and procedures; related accreditation and licensure standards; and federal, state and local rules, statutes, regulations, and contractual terms.
- Is knowledgeable of and follows all safety procedures.
- Reports unusual incidents through appropriate Risk Management, clinical and safety channels.
- Ensures clients' rights are protected.
NON-ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Prefer a minimum of 40 hours in-service education per year
- Other duties as assigned
Requirements
REQUIRED SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES
- Mandated reporter
- Receives training in trauma informed practice and incorporates knowledge in day to day practice
- Ability to work flexible schedule including on-call
- Understanding of family centered practice, genograms, ecomaps, and social histories
- Understanding of the child welfare and state system
- Ability to engage families in working relationships
- Understanding of child and adolescent development
- Demonstrates effective written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to travel throughout the State
- Consistently exercises discretion and independent judgment in performance of duties in conformance with applicable policies, procedures, statutes, rules and regulations
- Ability to work with minimal supervision
- Handles multiple priorities
- Independent discretion/decision making within the scope and responsibility of the position
- Manages emotions and can make decisions under pressure
- Manages stress appropriately
- Works alone effectively
- Works in close proximity to others and/or in a distracting environment
- Works with others effectively/teamwork
- Ability to work with diverse populations
- Understands and practices Universal Precautions
MINIMUM JOB REQUIREMENTS
- Must be 21 years of age
- Must pass a drug screen, MVR, Criminal History and DFPS History Check, Centralized Background Check Unit Texas Health and Human Services Eligibility and any background checks deemed to be necessary.
- FBI Fingerprint Check
- Lifting requirements of 30-50 lbs.
- Must have valid driver's license, acceptable driving record and reliable transportation
MINIMUM WORK EXPERIENCE
- One-year child welfare direct service or related experience
MINIMUM EDUCATION AND LICENSURE/CERTIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in social work or related degree from an accredited college or university
- Master's degree in social work or related degree from an accredited college or university
CLIENT POPULATION SERVED
- Demonstrates competence and continues training in age-specific competencies for infant through adult clients
