Family Services Specialist - Foster Care/Adoption

Performs responsible professional work to support and assist agency clients with personal, social, health and economic needs, by performing the following duties.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Other duties to provide direct or indirect service to the citizens may be assigned.

• Makes comprehensive assessment of families/clients in crisis
• Analyzes needs and coordinates resources, which will support the family/client
• Develops and implements a plan of action for the family/client which directly involves family/client input;
• Engages family/client and community in problem solving, conflict resolution and achieving goals in order to resolve the crisis;
• Stabilizes and improves family/client living and interpersonal skills through counseling and referrals to collateral resources;
• Executes complex and critical decisions involving families/clients in crisis, under possible adverse conditions
• Performs scheduled and unscheduled field visits in frequently highly volatile and dangerous environments
• Participates in extensive networking and collaboration with community and professional agencies, both public and private
• Provides analysis, recommendations and testimony in complex court proceedings, which requires thorough assessment and documentation of the family/client's situations; assists in formulating recommendations on difficult and important technical problems relating to the court action;
• Interprets, implements and administers complex policies, regulations, and laws, and refines established complex procedures which require frequent independent thinking and resourcefulness in a complex environment.

ADDITIONAL ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES when assigned to Family Services Specialist - Intake

• Receives and determines validity of calls from the public, mandated reports, police, schools etc. regarding suspected abuse/neglect
• Assigns cases to Family Services workers
• Works closely with service providers
• Engages with the public in collecting information regarding suspected abuse/neglect

ADDITIONAL ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES when assigned to Family Services Specialist - Foster Care/Adoption - Resource Home Coordinator

• Participates in licensing activities for prospective Parents including orientation, training and certification packet completion
• Assists in providing pre-service and on-going training to Foster Parents or prospective parents
• Evaluates and monitors foster homes for compliance with state and local guidelines
• Maintains accurate foster parent files, quarterly status reports (at a minimum) and records regarding the certification status of each foster home; tracks expiration of licensing documentation for renewal process
• Responds to licensing alerts
• Takes the lead in placing children in foster care into appropriate foster homes
• Conducts foster home meetings in conjunction with foster home trainer and Family Service Specialists
• Maintains knowledge of all certification laws and changes; informs the appropriate personnel of changes
• Performs professional recruitment and marketing duties, including developing and implementing a strategic recruitment plan for identifying, engaging and training potentially successful foster and respite families in our community
• Performs marketing duties for recruitment, such as public speaking, social media and other creative outlets
• Performs child specific recruitment for some children, such as youth over the age of 13
• Coordinates training and recruitment activities in collaboration with Social Service staff
• Conducts Mutual Family Assessments with prospective foster parents who have applied to foster with the City of Lynchburg
• Performs compliance and approval duties for over 90 resource families (including extensive background checks, training, home visits and recertification).
• Works in conjunction with Resource family trainer to aid in the development, delivery and evaluation for resource families
• Serves as a support for each resource family
• Performs other duties as assigned

ADDITIONAL DUTIES

• Assists in the evaluation of programs and services rendered to families/clients
• Processes financial documentation related to family/client services
• Interprets agency programs to other agencies, community groups, and associations;
• Identifies homes suitable for placement of children and adults
• Researches and develops community resources, gives presentations, and participates in interagency meetings such as FAPT, eligibility, and IEP meetings with schools;
• Transports clients to medical and mental health appointments
• Assists in the operation of emergency shelters.
• Other duties to provide direct or indirect service to the citizens may be assigned.
• When unusual situations occur and/or the City Manager declares a State of Emergency, all City employees may be required to accept special assignments and perform as needed to ensure appropriate service delivery.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Minimum of a Bachelor's degree in a Human Services field or minimum of a Bachelor's degree in any field with a minimum of two years of appropriate and related experience in a Human Services area (Section 22VAC40-670-20 of the Administrative Code of Virginia). Experience in assigned program area and completion of required training programs or equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities. Possession of a BSW or MSW degree and a Commonwealth of Virginia Social Worker license are desirable.Possession of valid driver's license issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia and acceptable driving record according to City criteria.

Must successfully complete IS100 and IS700 National Incident Management (NIMS) training within 90 days of employment. May also be required to complete higher levels of NIMS training as determined appropriate for the position.