Professional Family Support Worker

Position Title: Professional Family Support Worker (Part-Time)

Department: Foster Care (FC)

Reports to: Family Support Supervisor

Position Objective and Summary:

Works as a part of a professional family support team to assist youth and their families by providing transportation to assigned destinations, observing and reporting youth’s action and interactions during family visits, and offering mentoring and support in various areas of positive youth development. Responsibilities will be to maintain youth and family records by completing required visitation records and assist with file maintenance.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• While driving/escorting agency youth/or youth family from home to an agency-designated site will ensure appropriate structure and boundaries between children and adult's and provide appropriate limits.
• Supervises parent-child interaction where appropriate. Will observe and report the actions and interactions of the youth and families while with them.
• Keeps accurate and complete records of destinations, mileage and expenses.
• Keeps accurate and complete DCFS Visitation Records that includes information related to family visits.
• Is responsible for the safety and well-being of youth in their care by providing appropriate limits and modeling and reinforcing positive behaviors.
• Under supervision, demonstrates an understanding of individual youth needs by employing different approaches in relating to the youth.
• Will supervise waiting children during the period prior to or immediately following a counseling session, visit, or appointment. May be expected to assist in implementing a children group of class by performing specific tasks related to child care, recreational activities or food preparation.
• Keep visiting area neat.
• May aid in the enrichment program for selected children, such as taking them on recreational outings, to visit natural families, or for pre-placement visits.
• May be asked to perform occasional messenger service tasks for the agency.
• Will attend staff meetings as required and to participate in scheduled training in order to maintain and upgrade skills.
• Attend Child and Family Team meetings as requested.
• May be asked to teach older children or parents how to reach a destination by public transportation rather than driving them.
• Serves as a team leader within the support service department.
• Support with managing Ventra cards for client public transportation.
• Maintain client data using the Evolv system.
• Perform closed case data entry in Chicago Record Management System.
• Keep daily record of agency vehicle usage.
• Assist with maintaining proper vehicle operations.
• Assist with maintaining legal vehicle operation.

Mentoring Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Engages in weekly visits with the youth.
• Completes all required documentation on time, as outlined in the manual.
• Serves as a liaison between community resources, UCAN and the youth.
• Identifies and participates in activities which meet the goals in the youth’s service/treatment plan.
• Attends initial orientation and training as outlined in the manual.
• Reports emergencies, unusual incidents or signs of abuse and neglect immediately to UCAN staff.
• Provide child care during department trainings and meetings. 
• Facilitate mentoring group sessions for positive youth development or other duties assigned.

Professionalism and Work Conduct

• Behaves with integrity, demonstrates high ethical standard, and displays a positive image of UCAN.
• Acts in a professional manner at all times and maintains appropriate boundaries with youth.
• Demonstrated accountability for results and keeps commitment to others.
• Reports to work meetings, training, and other job related activities prepared and as scheduled.
• Demonstrated openness and respect for cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of clients and coworkers.
• Understands and support UCAN’s standard of Diversity Equity and Inclusion and strives to meet those standards.
• Perform other related tasks as required or assigned.

Education/Job Experience/Certification:

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Car and valid Illinois driver’s license and insurance required.

Special Knowledge and Qualifications:

• Ability to maintain confidentiality of classified information.
• Skill and a license to drive a motor vehicle.
• Ability to hear and speak well enough to supervise children near streets and in crosswalks.
• Ability to compose all required documentation following specific formats where available.
• Ability to lift up to 25lbs., (carry non-walking children and toy boxes).
• Ability to walk upstairs in the absence of elevators.
• Ability to run after children in order to redirect them in the direction of their transportation of the office or to prevent them from harming themselves.
• Ability to communicate with children, youth and adults in a courteous and professional manner.
• Ability to read a map.
• Has an understanding of trauma-informed practice.
• Has an understanding of Positive Youth Development.
• Is open and respectful of cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of clients and is willing and competent to work with a diverse client population.
• Ability to work both independently and a part of a high functioning team.
• Experience and ability to use computers for data entry, communication and report writing.
• Working knowledge of the child welfare system.
• Ability to transport children in accordance with IDCFS regulations.
• Ability to drive an extended distance outside of the Cook County area.

Work Environment: Requires travel to various Foster homes, agencies and care centers. Requires transporting youth in the community.

Work Conditions: This position may require work on weekends and evenings.