Permanency Specialist (Aftercare & Res.)

Job Description

Job Description

PERMANENCY SPECIALIST

Title: Permanency Specialist (QRTP AFTERCARE & RESIDENTIAL)

Location:  Albany, NY 

Program : QRTP Aftercare/Residential Services

Type:  Full-time  (Non-exempt)/ Hybrid position)

Pay Range: $22.06 - $25.69 per hour

Schedule : Monday - Friday; 9am-5pm w/evening flexibility 

Notes : Local & moderate distance travel; Clean & Valid NYS Driver’s License is required.

Job Ref. # : 0207

Our Mission

St. Catherine's Center for Children provides a comprehensive range of human services designed to offer hope, foster growth, and improve the lives of the children, families and adults we serve.

Our Vision

St. Catherine’s willingness to embrace change and develop new services is, and will remain, our guiding philosophy as we support the human service needs of children, families, and adults throughout the region.

Position Overview

The function of the Certified Teacher Assistant is to collaborate with the Master Teacher in conducting the therapeutic educational program for each student assigned to the classroom.

Position Requirements & Specifications

• Associate’s degree in Human Services or related field with at least 2 years’ relevant professional experience is required; BSW / Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work or related field, preferred.
• Ability to work flexible hours to accommodate client needs, which may include evening hours. 
• Local and moderate distance travel is regularly required for this role; a Clean and Valid New York State Driver’s License (actively licensed at least one year) with reliable vehicle for transporting clients--in the event an agency vehicle is unavailable-- is required * .

• Previous experience working in a human services agency is a plus!
• Proficiency in computer applications: Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Google Business Workspace Suite (Gmail, Docs, Meet, Sheets), and use secure Internet practices.
• Experience using TCI strategies and techniques is helpful.
• Experience with AWARDS and NYS OCFS Connections preferred.
• Excellent organization, planning, and time management skills.
• Ability to build strong working relationships with county professionals and others.
• Qualities of positivity, patience, flexibility and adaptability to both the work environment and in the homes of families served.
• Willingness and ability to work in close proximity with the clients we serve.
• Self-motivated and engaged, with a strong attention to detail; excellent writing aptitude.
• Capable of exercising ethical, independent judgment and discretion, and handle sensitive data with strict confidentiality.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities include :

• Carry a caseload of up to 15 children ages 5-13. At any given time this will include a combination of children both in residential placement with SCCC, and children post discharge with a permanency resource in the community.
• Attend entrance meeting for child; establish role with child, discharge resource, and stakeholders
• Connect with the child’s identified discharge resources within 24 hours of child’s entrance into St. Catherine’s residential care.
• Make, and maintain contact with DCYF Case Manager to gain understanding of what is needed of the child and family in order to achieve permanency outside of the residential setting.
• Establish and execute bi-weekly, face to face contact with the child, as well as a minimum of monthly contact with the permanency resource (if one has been identified). If the PR is local, this should occur face to face in their home, if they are out of state, this can occur by phone and video conference.
• Support permanency resource in areas of need identified. This includes but is not limited to, treatment referrals, housing support, assistance with applying for benefits, parenting skills and/or linkage to parenting classes, reduction of barriers such as transportation, use of flex funds to support needs, support with accessing basic needs. Prepare permanency resource for youth’s return to their care in all areas including education, medical, and behavioral health.
• Schedule and lead Permanency meetings with the child (if 10 or older), the permanency resource, DCYF, and any other collaterals involved, at intervals of every 6 weeks while the child is in care.
• Complete Aftercare Plans in AWARDs in partnership with the child and permanency resource; upload in Connections, monthly.
• Input case notes in both AWARDs and NYS Connections within 7 days of all case related contacts.
• Participate actively as part of the child’s treatment team by attending all pertinent meetings, providing input and updates via phone or email with other providers, provide input for the FASP including creating and maintaining a permanency goal and active steps being taken towards hastening permanency efforts.
• Establish a visitation plan in accordance with DCYF expectations around frequency and duration of contact between child and their permanency resource, as well as siblings or other family members as assigned. Coordinate and/or supervise the visitation as agreed upon using “Quality Family Time” standards.
• For youth needing temporary foster care placement, collaborate with DCYF and SCCC home finding units to help identify potential foster homes; engage child and potential foster parents around “meet and greets”, assist in coordination of next steps if deemed a good fit.
• Once child is discharged to “lower level of care” such as to a foster home, or other discharge resource, continue to conduct bi-weekly home visits and provide “hands on” assistance with ensuring the child is established with all providers associate with medical (primary care, dental, specialists, medications, etc.), behavioral health (therapy, med management, etc.), education (school, alternatives to school), and permanency (continue supporting overall functioning of household). This to occur for 6 months post discharge.
• Transports children, as assigned, to and from case-related appointments and home visits, providing a safe, secure, and therapeutic environment.
• Supports the team’s documentation of child- and family-specific case information in the electronic records – St. Catherine’s AWARDS system and NYS-OCFS CONNECTIONS.
• Assists with general documentation and other administrative-related tasks linked to the preventative aftercare program.
• Carries out other duties to support the agency’s aftercare and treatment team work, as assigned by the Director of Prevention Services.

What We Offer You**

• Competitive Pay with an Excellent Benefits Package
• Health Insurance options: Medical, Dental and Vision
• $600 Well-being Reimbursement Benefit
• Generous Combined Leave Time (CLT) and Paid Holidays! 
• We are a 501(c) (3) agency, which is a qualifying employer for eligible staff under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
• Pension Plan with Generous Agency Contribution
• 403b Retirement Savings Plan
• Life Insurance – Automatic Benefit at no cost to employee
• Paid Training, including TCI and CPR/AED/First Aid Certification & Update courses, if role appropriate
• Tuition Reimbursement & Travel/ Mileage Reimbursement
• Professional Development & Career Growth Opportunities
• The Comfort of a Business Casual Environment
• Our Commitment to Embrace & Foster Mindfulness, Relevance, Respect and Solidarity.

** To qualify, certain conditions may apply

About Us

St. Catherine’s Center for Children is a non-profit organization located in the Greater Capital Region of New York. We offer a wide array of human services designed to meet the needs of vulnerable children, families and adults, including residential and therapeutic foster care programs for children and youth, Kinship support, homeless and community-based services for adults and families, a special education elementary school for ages 5-13, and so much more. 

St. Catherine’s is committed to cultivating a culture where all employees feel safe to bring their authentic and best selves to the workplace. We are invested in fostering an equitable, inclusive and diversified workplace; collaboratively embracing mindfulness, relevance, respect and solidarity. 

If you would like to learn more about our agency or one of our many programs, please visit our website at: 

EEO Statement

St. Catherine’s Center for Children is committed to creating a diverse environment and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, reproductive health and pregnancy, family history and genetics, disability, age, military status, veteran status, politics, or other beliefs, and any other characteristics protected by law.