DEPARTMENT: Enhanced Family Foster Care
LOCATION: Primary office Queens (will be required to work in Brooklyn, as needed)
FUNCTION OF THE POSITION: The Socio-therapist Supervisor will provide leadership, supervision, and support to a team of Socio-therapists, who are providing services to youth and families in the foster care system. The Socio-therapist Supervisor will work with the socio-therapists in adhering to ACS, OCFS, and SCO policies to ensure the safety, permanency, and well-being to all children and youth.
REPORTS TO: EFFC Case Planning & Socio-therapist Director
SUPERVISES: Socio-therapists
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Ensures unit compliance with all rules and regulations of the Agency, NYC Children’s Services, NYS Office of Children and Family Services and all other regulatory and accreditation bodies, as it relates to foster care and adoption. Ensures adherence to the Agency’s mission, values, Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct. Works cooperatively with all other Agency departments to achieve common goals.
- Supervises Socio-therapists to ensure they:
- Will complete initial treatment plans within 30 days of assignment.
- Conduct ongoing face-to-face contacts with the child on caseload, adhering to SCO socio-therapist contact polices.
- Complete ongoing documentation in Connections with 7 business days of the event date.
- Work on individualized goals with the child which include but are not limited to social skills, coping techniques, impulse control, relationship building, self-esteem, and more.
- Engage the child in creative/recreational and socialization activities in the community, at least monthly.
- Work with the child around socialization issues, including accompanying the child to recreational and/or educational activities.
- Work side-by-side with the foster parent and birthparent to support and provide treatment to the child in their care.
- Attends all required trainings including Core Case Planning and TRIPP. Socio-therapists should be aware of any significant changes in the field and be willing to attend outside trainings, seminars, and workshops, as needed for professional development.
- Intervene in crisis situations to help the child and family stabilize.
- Reinforce foster parent trainings.
- Count and monitor medication and medication and lockbox compliance.
- If necessary, represent/assist Case Planner’s in court appearances.
- Supervise and oversee family visits between parents and children as needed.
- Attend all interdisciplinary team meetings and actively provide information regarding services being provided to the child.
- Attend all interdisciplinary treatment teams to assess the child’s adjustment and progress on the child and family reaching the goals related to the treatment and services provided.
- Assess child needs and foster home characteristics to collaborate with homefinding and intake department to match children when placement or transfers are needed.
- Responsible for ensuring timely and accurate submission of all forms and documents required by ACS
- Communicates and work in collaboration with programing staff including Case Planning Supervisors.
- Timely respond to all hotline and emergency calls, including nights and weekends.
- Ensures the maintenance of complete, accurate and organized case records as well as program records such as time and attendance.
- Participate in case conferences, family team conferences, and meetings with clients, foster parents and other stakeholders, as needed.
- Meets with Socio-therapists one-on-one supervision at minimum on a bi-weekly basis to discuss safety, permanency, and well-being issues on all assigned cases.
- Complete Supervision notes in Connections with 7 business days of the event date.
- Provide coverage in event of PTO, a schedule conflict or vacancy.
- Attends all required trainings including Supervisory Core Training and TRIPP. Supervisors should be aware of any significant changes in the field and be willing to attend outside trainings, seminars, and workshops, as needed for professional development.
- Complete staff evaluations, resolve and address staff issues, participate in hiring, and disciplinary actions.
- Fulfills duty of Mandated Reporter, which entails reporting any suspected instances of child abuse or maltreatment.
- Perform all other duties as assigned by the EFFC Director and Vice President.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Master’s degree required, MSW degree preferred and a minimum of two (2) years in child welfare.
- Approved background clearances and fingerprinting are required.
- Excellent oral and written communication
- Proficiency in computer skills, including Microsoft Office, Excel and Connections.
- Bilingual abilities are strongly encouraged.
- Valid NYS Driver License is
In addition, all EFFC employees should possess the following characteristics:
- Be team players. Maintain a constructive, cooperative, and positive atmosphere.
- Demonstrate commitment to the Agency’s mission and values.
- Be able to empathize and provide quality services to children and families that have histories of chemical dependency, mental illness, neglect, physical, sexual and/or emotional abuse.
- Be willing to work closely with children, families, and staff from different cultural and religious backgrounds, as well as from varying socio-economic statuses.
- Work competently, compassionately and without judgment with individuals who may identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or may be in different stages of discovering or disclosing their sexual orientation or gender identity.
- Possess a strong belief in people’s ability to grow and change; forge a mutually respectful partnership with persons served and their families.
- Be flexible in their ability to work extended hours or irregular schedules in response to the program’s needs. Be willing to travel between the various EFFC offices and other agency sites, as required.
- Demonstrate an ability to set limits and maintain the helping role of practitioner, as well as to intervene appropriately.