LifeSet Specialist

About the Role

The Life Set Specialist is responsible for providing services to address the needs of young people aged 17.5-21 who are transitioning out of care. The role focuses on individualized skill development and support to help young adults successfully transition into adulthood, specifically in areas such as obtaining and maintaining safe housing, continuing education, learning independent living skills, securing employment, building a support system, and avoiding legal involvement.

The specialist works to establish or re-establish meaningful relationships with parents, siblings, or other significant adults, coordinates family contact, and ensures compliance with all DCFS service requirements, including service plans, sibling visitation, and court hearings. The specialist also manages all aspects of discharge planning in coordination with the team.

Responsibilities

• Provides individual services to 6-8 young adults in home and community settings, meeting at least once per week face-to-face, with additional support via phone, text, or in-person as needed.
• May see a young person daily to ensure safety and stability when indicated.
• Handles all interventions associated with assigned young adults and their families, including case management and collaboration with external stakeholders such as probation, child welfare workers, and therapists.
• Conducts ongoing assessments of the young person’s needs from a strength-focused, solution-based perspective and develops monthly service plans.
• Documents all service contacts within organizational timelines.
• Attends meetings related to the young adult and/or family to gather information and advocate for the young adult’s long-term stability.
• Participates in a 24/7 on-call rotation to meet young people’s needs after hours, on weekends, and holidays.
• Attends and actively participates in individual and team supervision sessions and trainings, implementing feedback from supervisors and clinical consultants.
• Adheres to all ethical and legal guidelines, including confidentiality and mandated reporting.
• Develops service plans as required by the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and attends Administrative Case Reviews, court hearings, IEP meetings, and other required reviews.
• Conducts detailed reviews of youth case records to identify significant adults and assess their capacity and willingness to support the youth. Establishes and coordinates visiting plans.
• Completes and maintains case records in accordance with DCFS requirements, including face-to-face, phone, and collateral contacts.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in social services with two years of related experience in counseling and/or case management is required. Master’s degree in social work, psychology, or a related field preferred.
• Licensure by DCFS or eligibility for licensing.
• Knowledge and/or experience working with adolescents preferred.
• Good oral and written communication skills.
• Valid driver’s license in good standing, proof of insurance, and reliable transportation.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to maintain a flexible schedule and manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Must meet DCFS/CANTS Clearance Requirements.
• Must be at least 21 years of age.

Skills

• Excellent verbal and written communication.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to apply trauma-informed and developmentally focused principles in practice.
• Proficiency in case management and documentation.

Training

• Completion of CARE (Children and Residential Experience) training, grounded in six core principles: Developmentally Focused, Family Involved, Relationship Based, Ecologically Oriented, Competence Centered, and Trauma Informed.
• TCI (Therapeutic Crisis Intervention) training, including passing a written test annually and a physical test every six months (if applicable).
• Ongoing application of CARE and TCI principles is essential to job performance.

Benefits

• Medical insurance with company-funded Health Savings Account (HSA).
• Dental and vision insurance.
• Paid vacation, sick, and personal days.
• 10 company holidays and 1 floating holiday.
• Monthly cell phone reimbursement.
• 6 weeks paid parental leave.
• 403(b) retirement plan with up to 5% employer match.
• Employer-paid life insurance.
• Optional supplemental benefits: voluntary life, short-term disability, long-term disability, accident, and critical illness coverage.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) available to employees and household members.
• Tuition reimbursement for continued learning and growth.
• BenefitHub Perks Program offering employee discounts.