Foster Care Specialist
hace 4 días
Jackson
Job DescriptionDescription: General Job Summary: The primary responsibility of the Foster Care Specialist is to ensure the foster homes are fully prepared for licensure and annual re-licensure and to provide transition therapeutic services as needed. It is imperative that the Foster Care Specialist understands the Core Values and Mission of Methodist Children’s Home. The Foster Care Specialist reports directly to the Director of Foster Care. Essential Functions: • Create and maintain foster parent files for licensure/annual re-licensure to include background checks, annual trainings and all other requirements for licensure compliance., • Conducts at least two foster parent contacts a month. · Assists in coordinating and facilitating recruitment efforts • Completes Home Studies for foster parent licensure · Assist TFC Director with admissions and other necessary work to appropriately place individual children and youth with prospective therapeutic foster care parent • Plans and facilitates monthly support groups and activities · Coordinates and provides Pre-certification Training to potential therapeutic foster parents or therapeutic resource parents. • Maintain a case load, not to exceed five, for community support services services as needed., • Model appropriate moral, ethical, and professional values not just for self but also for youth, colleagues, and community at large, • Regularly seek consultation from appropriate supervisory staff and regularly provide any and all information regarding significant issues with youth in the home to supervisor, and accept and implement feedback, • Establish and maintain positive and effective relationships with all program consumers, including but not limited to, youth, parents, family, school personnel, neighbors, referral agencies, volunteers, campus visitors, administrators, etc, • Attend and take advantage of regularly scheduled in-services or trainings, • Perform any other related duties as assigned by the TFC Director, • Some travel to assist with improving/increasing community networks and resources and completing home study interviews Knowledge and Experience • Must be twenty-one (21) years of age, • Bachelor’s Degree from accredited college/university required and one year of experience working with client population. Master’s degree preferred., • Must be eligible to be licensed by MS State Board for Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapists, License Professional Counselor or at a minimum, provisionally certified by MDMH within 90 days of hire., • Must have prior experience in completing home studies and therapy for foster families., • Strong people skills and strong communication skills Skills/Working Conditions • Must maintain a valid driver’s license and must have acceptable driving record; Must be insurable by Methodist Children’s Home, • Must be able to work flexible schedule and shifts including overnights, weekends, holidays and extended periods of time., • Must successfully complete all phases of pre-service and on-going training., • Must be able to work in a fast paced, high pressure, high stress environment, • Possible exposure to infectious diseases Physical Requirements • Must provide a negative drug screen result prior to employment and must pass a pre-employment physical and TB skin test and on-going physical assessments as required, • Have the ability to perform physical demands associated with daily operational functions, property management, and client maintenance, shopping, supplies, inventory, and other rotating assignments, • Have the ability to demonstrate organizational and leadership skills and generate multiple solutions to the changing needs of clients, staff, and communities, • Have the ability to comprehend and produce accurate program documentation, including but not limited to, progress summaries, serious incident reports, emergency crisis reports, monthly state reporting and community correspondence, • Have the ability to communicate professionally, in both verbal and written formats, with consumers, including but not limited to, parents, supervisors, colleagues, and community service providers, • Have the ability to provide on-going visual and physical proximity supervision to clients, • Have the ability to participate in recreational activities with youth, including but not limited to, arts, athletics and outdoor activities and to be able to drive for agency related events day or night as assigned, • Have the ability to drive a seven (7) passenger van to transport clients, • Regular, punctual attendance at primary worksite and agency related events, • Have the ability and flexibility to work overtime as approved by supervisor