Family Support Specialist- Foster Care Hartford

Job Description

Job Description

The Village was one of the first agencies in the country to provide homes for neglected children. Today, we continue to achieve our mission “to build a community of strong, healthy families who protect and nurture children” by providing a full range of behavioral health, early childhood and youth development, substance use treatment and support services for children, adults and families in the Greater Hartford, Connecticut region.

Named a Connecticut Top Workplace for six consecutive years with national distinction for workplace culture and diversity, equity and inclusion practices, you can be sure you're joining an organization that's just as committed to your success as we are to those we serve.

Salary ranges $43,888-$45,000

It is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their role. Actual placement within range will be contingent upon a number of factors, including but not limited to the candidate's qualifications, education, experience, internal equity and alignment with market data.

The FFT-FC Family Support Specialist works in close collaboration providing home visiting services with a clinician. They will be trained in the Functional Family Therapy-Foster Care evidence based treatment model and adhere to the model requirements. Documentation will be completed according to model requirements and implemented into the electronic database systems. They will participate in individual supervision and submit video tapes for FFT consultation and certification. The FSS will identify and refer children and families (both birth and foster) to community-based resources, as well as provide supervised visitation to birth families.

JOB SUMMARY

The  Family Support Specialist  is responsible for provision of case management, support services, mental health services to children and families, or community programs, in coordination with other agency and community services and documentation of services as required by program policies and funding sources.  Provides service in the office, home or host setting, to meet the unique needs of families served.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Provides direct services to children and their families which may include:
   1. Conducts comprehensive assessments and engagement
   2. Develops treatment plans and contracts for services
   3. Implements treatment plans, modifying it as appropriate during the course of treatment
   4. Discharge planning, which may include plans for follow up treatment and connection to community  services and programs
   5. Provides case management services
   6. Works with community groups in collaborative ventures
2. Completes clinical documentation and reports, as well as any other documentation and reports required by agency and program policies and funding sources, accurately and timely. 
3. Develops and maintains collaborative relationships with other community agencies and organizations, in order to provide comprehensive and effective treatment services for clients (i.e., schools, courts, hospitals, etc.).
4. Works as a team member with other clinical and administrative staff to respond to client and programmatic needs.
5. Contributes to agency organizational life by participating in agency wide task forces, committees or problem solving teams as appropriate.
6. Contributes to agency visibility and development of community linkages by representing The Village in community groups or committees, as assigned by supervisor.

BA in social work, sociology, psychology or comparable human service program.  

EXPERIENCE

• Two years experience in a comparable position in a human services agency preferred.
• Excellent oral and written skills and ability to communicate comfortably with children, parents, and school personnel.
• Experience providing in home services, case management, coordinating systems of care, and working with complex family systems strongly preferred.
• Coursework or training in child development and trauma preferred.
• Organized and able to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Flexible and able to multi-task.
• Cultural competency to serve targeted populations. 
• Bilingual skills preferred. 
• May be required to maintain valid driver's license and ability to drive or otherwise obtain transportation to provide services throughout the service area.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office and spreadsheet applications.  Possess solid general computer skills.   Familiarity with specific applications used by The Village a plus.