Part-Time Youth & Family Specialist

Primary Responsibilities

• Youth and Family Support
• Create a trusting and safe relationship with the client and encourages personal growth of the client;
• Advocate for the youth’s needs to ensure equitable and quality care;
• Provide clinical case management working in multiple systems and settings providing services to foster children, foster families and biological families;
• Depending on level of training, provides group and/or individual counseling and coaching services, mediation and guidance to children and their biological and/or foster families;
• Facilitate supervised family visits, and provides parent coaching as appropriate;
• Undertake the responsibility of “on-call” duty as assigned and is responsive to crises independently either by phone and/or in person, demonstrating a calm and professional approach while assuring safety for all involved;
• Facilitate treatment meetings/foster care review, and invites the appropriate attendees, while ensuring effective interagency collaboration;
• Coordinate dental, medical, psychological and community support for youth; Ensure that educational needs are met including advocacy for special education services;
• Attend all meetings called by collaterals and support a team approach to best serve the needs of children, youth and families.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work or a related field with 1 year experience and LSW licensure eligibility;
• Ability to work within the Mission of the agency;
• Significant experience working with children with social/emotional/physical problems desirable;
• Meditation and conflict resolution skills helpful;
• Word processing/computer skills;
• Open to new ideas and desire to grow professionally;
• Flexibility in thinking and scheduling;
• Possession of a valid driver’s license and a good driving record;
• Ability to utilize independent sound clinical judgement and decision making with regards to best interest of children and families;
• Ability to work flexible hours and be available to meet for emergency situations;
• Ability to effectively manage client behavior, foster independence, and maintain perspective and a sense of humor;
• Ability to handle people and situations with compassion, diplomacy, and tact;
• Ability to work independently by setting priorities; organizing resources and effectively performing tasks in a timely manner;
• Ability to provide documentation such as valid driver's license, evidence of automobile insurance and a clear criminal record check;
• Ability to work cooperatively in a team environment and to problem solve unexpected/unpredictable circumstances calmly;
• Knowledge of federal, state and local regulations, protocols and/or procedures;
• Ability to travel to meet client needs;
• Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills;
• Knowledge of Spanish communication skills (oral & verbal) preferred;

Physical/Mental Demands

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit and talk or hear;
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds;
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus;
• The employee is frequently required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms;
• Required to sit for long periods;
• Infrequent light physical effort required;
• Requires driving own vehicle to various sites.