Description

Are you passionate about seeing families unite to become strong, healthy, and connected? So are we. We work with families when they are struggling and need support to help provide their children a safe and stable home. Our goal is to increase the safety, permanency, and well-being of each child and family we serve in Oklahoma.

A Family Preservation Specialist (FPS) provides in home parenting education and care coordination to families referred by Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) Child Welfare to our Comprehensive Home Based Services (CHBS) program. Each provider uses a trauma informed and strengths-based approach to supporting families in meeting their personal and DHS specified goals. FPS providers spend 40 – 50% of their time each week in homes with families working toward solutions to address the risk issues that led the children and family to come in contact with OKDHS. Our providers recognize that families may be experiencing struggles with substance abuse, untreated mental health concerns, domestic violence, medical neglect, or home environment concerns. Weekly sessions can include providing parenting education, correcting unsafe living environments, making referrals to treatment services, providing resource information, observing parent child interactions, and spending time problem solving. Collaboration with OKDHS and other service providers is key to helping our families succeed.

Our CHBS program supports families at all levels of OKDHS involvement including voluntary services, prevention services, and court involved services. Our overall goal is to help children remain with their family. Our team utilizes evidenced based practices such as Motivational Interviewing and SafeCare curriculum to support families.

Travel is required due to services being provided in a family’s home and/or community. Dependent on the location of position, providers may travel anywhere from a few minutes up to 2 hours to see families. Applicants must have dependable transportation and provide verification of valid driver’s license. Applicants must also maintain and provide verification of current automobile liability insurance and uninsured motorist coverage. NorthCare provides mileage reimbursement in additional to a number of other great benefits.

JOB DUTIES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

Conducts a multi-level family assessment, develops an intervention plan and provides an array of needed services. Provides parent-child visitation and family reunification services to families whose children are in state custody.

Demonstrates the ability to teach and model skills from the SafeCare Models in Health, Safety, and Planned Activity Training to facilitate the parent’s development of special skills or increase knowledge in the areas of parenting, home management, behavior management, and child development.

Perform at least 2 home visits per month under the observation of the SafeCare Coach/Trainer to demonstrate the implementation of the SafeCare Models.

Maintains National SafeCare Home Visitor certification.

Conducts services that are sensitive with respect to each family’s culture, ethnic origin, race, language, gender, age, religion, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, mental and/or physical challenges. Provides services in a natural environment convenient to the family.

Provides advocacy on behalf of families with schools and other agencies available in the community. Assists consumers in the pursuit of needed resources or services. Arranges for any follow-up services needed following the end of services.

Demonstrates the ability to teach communication and negotiation skills, link and refer the families with needed community resources and supports.

Works a 40-hour full-time schedule being available to families 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Evening and weekend hours will be required to accommodate the work schedule of each caregiver and school schedules of the children in the family when scheduling appointments.

Clocks in and out of PayCom daily.

Utilize the outlook calendar to submit a weekly schedule to the supervisor which outlines scheduled appointments for the week. The schedule must include the consumer name and KK number, current address and telephone number. The Family Preservation Specialist must notify the Team Leader of any alterations to the schedule (cancellations, new appointments, missed appointments etc.).

Spends at least 40-50% of work hours providing services to family. A minimum of 75% of these hours are to be providing services in the family’s home.

Completes intake documentation within 24 hours, progress notes within 72 hours, planned discharges within 24 hours of obtaining signatures and unplanned discharges within 72 hours of directive.

Carry a cell phone at all times and must respond to all work related calls within 60 minutes of receiving a voice mail message and must read and respond to emails daily.

Attends all agency and program required training with Coach/Trainer, DHS staff meetings and program staff meetings as scheduled.

Coordinates services in a professional manner when collaborating with other service providers in order to maintain good working relationships in the community.

Abides by the agency policy on confidentiality and at all times and respects the integrity and confidentiality of the family.

Performs other related duties as required and assigned by supervisor and/or executive management.

EOE Statement: NorthCare provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work or related human services field and one year of experience in a human services position. A Master’s Degree in Social Work or related field is preferred.
• Knowledge of family systems, cultural and ethnic diversity, client engagement and community resources. Experience in assessment and intervention are desired.
• Position requires in-state travel. Must have dependable transportation. Must possess and provide verification of valid driver’s license and must maintain and provide verification of current automobile liability insurance and uninsured motorist coverage.
• Must have and/or complete Core Level Co-Occurring Training and Trauma Informed Training via MyLearning Point within 60 days of employment.
• Must display proficiency in the MS Word processing software and intermediate computer skills. Excellent written and oral skills are essential, along with strong organizational skills. Must demonstrate good interpersonal skills and display effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Casual professional dress required.
• Must be able to bend, stoop, climb stairs and move about freely.
• Must possess and maintain current CPR, First Aid and CAPE certifications; or obtain within 30 days of employment with NorthCare. Must have current (within past year) TB test; or obtain within 30 days of employment with NorthCare.
• Must be able to communicate clearly and effectively using the English language.
• Due to nature of contract, candidates & employees must report to NorthCare any current or prior confirmed record of child abuse as an adult. Any such confirmed record must be reviewed by the NorthCare Executive Team for hiring approval or, for current employees, continued employment with NorthCare.
• Every NorthCare employee is responsible for adhering to any and all laws, professional standards and ethical codes that apply to his/her job responsibilities

Must be COVID 19 vaccinated and follow CDC guidelines regarding COVID vaccination and Boosters.