Home Study Specialist- FAP

About CK Family Services

CK Family Services is the premiere foster care, adoption, and behavioral health organization in North Texas. For over two decades our team of mission-focused professionals has moved the needle in achieving the mission, People united through God to enhance the physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing of at-risk children and families. For more information regarding our work and focus visit www.ckfamilyservices.org.

Job Summary

As a Home Study Specialist at CK Family Services, you will be responsible for conducting home screenings, reports, and assessments.

General Responsibilities

• Maintain non-Child Placing Management Staff requirements in order to conduct home screenings, reports, and assessments, and additional requirements indicated by contract, as noted.
• Conduct thorough screenings, reports, and assessments, ensuring they meet DFPS Minimum Standards and are of high quality.
• Work from home independently with minimal direct supervision.
• Deliver timely, accurate, and complete home screenings, adoption readiness reports, and kinship caregiver home assessments according to contract guidelines and as outlined within Family Assessment Program Policies and Procedures.
• Participate in Quality Assurance Process, as requested.
• Provide Court Related services related to screenings, reports, and assessments, as requested.
• Complete trainings as requirements.
• Maintain professional contact with CK Family Services staff, TDFPS staff, and program subcontractors.
• Maintain knowledge of DFPS Contract Scope of Work and Minimum Standards for Child Placing Agencies related to verification and screening.
• Participate in Family Staffing meetings to review concerns, as requested.
• Participate in team meetings.
• Complete and report documentation in timely and accurate manner.
• Open and process mail / e-mail, daily, in a timely manner.
• Answer phone, collect messages and respond to requests in an accurate and timely manner.
• Input data into computer in an accurate and timely manner.
• Maintain compliance with all CK Family Services policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements including all state and federal laws.
• Maintain confidentiality as required by government law and regulations.
• Travel inside and outside of designated region with personal vehicle.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Requires basic understanding of a specialized area within a comprehensive field of knowledge normally acquired through bachelor’s degree; minimum one-year related experience, plus experience previously writing home studies.
• Ability to assess clinical information and appropriately document.
• Ability to concentrate on fine detail with some interruption; ability to focus attention on tasks for 45-60 minutes at a time on a continuous basis.
• Professional demeanor and appearance required. Ability to comply with CK Family Services professional appearance policy.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks; self-starter; energetic; detail oriented, with good organizational skills.

• Ability to communicate professionally and effectively both orally and in writing.
• Ability to deal with a variety of adults and children with a range of personalities and problems; maintain confidentiality.
• Personality attuned to the requirements of meeting needs of clients and ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees and the public.
• Ability to relate to multiple ideas and the concepts/theories behind the ideas; ability to remember multiple verbal and written tasks/assignments over several days and occasionally up to several months.
• Good character, personal attributes and mannerisms to be a good adult role model for clients and their foster families, and as a professional for staff under supervision.
• Perform the physical demands of the position
  • Ability to use up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently and/or a small amount of force continuously to life, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including people. Work can be done while sitting most of the time. Walking and standing are required occasionally.
  • Ability to walk frequently; occasionally stand for prolonged periods of time; occasionally required to squat, climb stairs, kneel and twist; sit for prolonged periods of time.
  • Sufficient good health to properly fulfill all role responsibilities. Employees shall not be permitted to work who have infectious diseases or skin lesions for the duration of the communicability.

Benefits (Depending on Employment Status)

• Medical, dental and vision insurance
• HRA
• 401(K)
• Paid Vacation
• Paid Holidays
• Annualized reviews for merit increases
• Potential for advancement