On-Call Permanency Specialist (3E Counties)

Description

Position Function:

On-Call OCOK Permanency Specialists provide support for day staff responsible for permanency planning and placement for abused and neglected children. They respond quickly in crisis and urgent situations involving children and their families that occur after normal business hours. This is a remote position requiring rapid response to the field when required. On-Call OCOK Permanency Specialists work closely with children, families, community stakeholders and internal/external partners.

Exposure to Confidential Information: The Permanency Specialist will have access to confidential records including youth files, foster care and adoption records, and foster parent information. Must maintain confidentiality and follow policies related to personnel records and client records information. Must maintain confidentiality and follow policies related to personnel records and client records.

Working Conditions:

Position includes interaction with parents, guardians, and conservators as well as to youth with behavioral problems, including possible physical aggression. A personal vehicle is required for travel. Out of state travel may be a requirement of this role. This position supports clients, and families, in the following counties: - (Northeast 3E Region to include Collin, Grayson, Fannin, Hunt, Rockwall, Ellis, Kaufman and Navarro Counties. 

Key Expectations/Responsibilities:

• Maintain high ethical standards which are outlined in the ACH/OCOK Code of Ethics.
• A commitment to empowering others to solve their problems.
• Value a nurturing family as the ideal environment for a person.
• A conviction about the capacity of people to grow and change.
• The ability to establish a respectful relationship with persons served to help them gain skills and confidence.
• The ability to work collaboratively with other personnel and/or service providers and professionals.
• The capacity to maintain a helping role and to intervene appropriately to meet service goals.
• The ability to set appropriate limits.
• Performs other duties as assigned and required to maintain unit operations.
• Attends work regularly in accordance with agency leave policy.

Implementation:

• Collaborates with others, to include the primary Permanency Team, Stakeholders, Placement Team, and Kinship Team.
• Documents case records by completing forms, narratives, and reports to form a written record for each client.
• Understanding that some case situations will require physical response to situations that occur after business hours, including nights and weekends
• Works within constant deadlines that require prioritizing tasks and the ability to work after normal business hours.
• Develops and maintains effective working relationships with others -law enforcement, medical professionals, judicial officials and stakeholders as well as internal and external partners.
• Assesses child safety and partners with others to ensure children are safe.
• Assists with supervision of children in need of placement when there are no on call emergencies.

Training and Supervision:

• Attend continuing education necessary to expand knowledge and maintain certifications or licenses.
• Communicate regularly with supervisor and seek supervision when appropriate.
• Participate in in-service training.

Requirements

Education: Bachelor's degree required, Master's degree within social services is preferred.

Experience: Two years of experience working in social / human services. Case management experience preferred.

Functional: Knowledge of good child placement practices. Skills in preparing children for permanency. Skills in developing and maintaining professional working relationships. Ability to support families dealing with separation and attachment issues. Ability to access child’s needs and process in the placement progress. Ability to maintain timely documentation and effectively manage caseload. Knowledge of agency policies, procedures, and regulations. Knowledge of laws and regulations to child care, abuse, and neglect. Ability to assess current life situations of children to determine the presence of child abuse or neglect. Ability to articulate an understanding of the intersection between race and poverty and the different outcomes and conditions that exist among specific groups as compared to other groups due to unequal treatment of services. Ability to negotiate available services. Ability to gather, assemble, correlate, and analyze facts. Ability to prepare clear and concise reports. Ability to travel locally, within the region, and out of state, as needed, to best support clients and client needs.