Description

General Description

Serves families with the unique needs of post-adoptive, post-guardianship, and kinship placements in their families. Provides supportive services in the home or community within the 4-county services area (Monroe, Wayne, Steuben and Schuyler). Assists assigned families and youth to improve overall communication skills, emotional regulation skills and household management skills. Connects families to resources such as parent training, peer support, mentoring, navigation for cross-system needs. Utilizes casework assessment skills and considerable independent judgment, decision making, and creativity in assisting the individual’s/family’s personal growth and development while enhancing the stability of their social network. Supports ongoing and collaborative communication amongst all program staff and is responsible for ensuring a trauma informed care environment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Manages youth/family activities within an individual or group dynamic, assuring the safety of the youth/families assigned, and applying appropriate crisis intervention or de-escalation principles and techniques.

• Proactively maintains current knowledge of the youth/families emotional and behavioral status, assesses the effectiveness of service plans, and supports youth/families’ interactions with family and local community.
• Provides life skills and social skills training for youth and families.
• Provides transportation of youth to activities when necessary

• Works collaboratively with Monroe, Wayne, Steuben and Schuyler Counties, the NYS Kinship Navigator and the NYS Office of Children and Family Services

• Collaborates with agencies and local district office to gather information and develop a supportive community network to educate families regarding availability of Kinship and Adoptive services.
• Attends local community events to educate community and obtain program referrals.
• Stays up to date on community resources and services that can benefit parents and children in the program.

• Meets regularly with program supervisor to evaluate and implement professional growth in practice and performance.

• Informs supervisor in a timely fashion about significant events related to client issues.
• Participates in consistent supervision, ongoing staff training, and program development.
• Initiates professional development through reading and applying current, relevant literature, development of program activities for Kinship and Adoptive families.

• Completes required record documentation in accordance with Program Policies and Procedures.

• Documents significant interventions in case records.
• Completes strength-based assessments and needs analysis with individual/family.
• In collaboration with client(s), creates client action plans, conducts case reviews and participates in client- based meetings.
• Coordinates service delivery and completes required pre/post-test, evaluations, and screenings.
• Completes all documentation within required timelines.

• Participates in relevant Agency meetings and/or training.
• Actively pursues development of professional competencies related to job role performance through reading, supervision, in-service training and attendance at conferences and workshops.
•  Awareness and active support of the Agency's Mission, Vision, Values and Strategic Plan. Including, but not limited to, supporting the Agency's Core Competency initiatives of being Collaborative and Community Focused, Innovative and Entrepreneurial, and Culturally Competent and Diverse.
• Other duties as assigned.

Note: The above description is illustrative of tasks and responsibilities. It is not meant to be all inclusive. Employees are required to follow appropriate supervisory direction and perform other related duties as required.

Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in social science or social work degree. A combination of education and experience will be considered.

Experience: Experience in child welfare, adoption, and/or family court systems.

Physical Demands/Work Environment: The physical demands/work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk, hear, stand, walk, use hands to type and/or perform light lifting. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.

Compliance: Adheres to all applicable federal and state laws and regulations including, but not limited to, those governing confidentiality, privacy, program, billing, and documentation standards. All duties must be performed in accordance with CCFCS’s corporate compliance & ethics program.

Additional Requirements:

• Ability to prioritize assignments, plan, and complete work projects with minimal direction,
• An ability to work efficiently and effectively and meet deadlines,
• An ability to work under pressure,
• Excellent verbal/written skills,
• Ability to maintain confidentiality,
• Ability to demonstrate behaviors and attitudes which support agency mission, philosophy, and policies.
• Willingness and ability to foster agency and program wide cooperation and teamwork through use of positive/constructive communication techniques,
• Possession of a valid NYS Driver’s license and a driver's record considered acceptable by agency and insurance carrier.
• Continuous use of a reliable, registered and insured vehicle.
• Willingness to travel within the region.
• Some late afternoons or evenings may be required.
• Demonstrate commitment to Agency Mission Statement.
• Compliance: Adheres to all applicable federal and state laws and regulations including, but not limited to, those governing confidentiality, privacy, program, billing and documentation standards. All duties must be performed in accordance with CCDR’s corporate compliance and ethics program

Ability to meet the following physical requirements with or without reasonable accommodation:

• Use hands to manipulate, handle, feel, and control items or equipment, including motor vehicle;
• Stand, sit, walk, bend, stoop, kneel, and reach;
• Climb up or down stairs;
• Able to reach above or below shoulders;
• Occasionally lift or move objects weighing up to 10 lbs.;
• Sitting at a desk or in a vehicle for long periods of time to perform certain job functions;
• Be able to read write and interpret written documents;