Child and Family Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

SUMMARY

The Child and Family Specialist provides intensive in-home and field-based services to the children and families in Wraparound or Full-Service Partnership (FSP). Services include community outreach services and intensive mental health services within their scope of practice.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Supports and promotes the mission of the Agency: Foothill Family empowers children and families on their journey to achieve personal success.
• Provides intensive Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) services such as individual rehabilitation services, collateral services, and consultation on high need, high risk clients and families from various referring parties.
• Provides Intensive Home-Based Services (IHBS) and Intensive Care Coordination (ICC).
• Encompasses the values and principles of the Shared Core Practice Model in Engaging, Teaming, Assessment, Planning and Intervention, and Tracking and Adapting into services delivered.
• Provides trauma-informed care within scope of practice and focuses on building Protective Factors of Parental Resilience, Social Connections, Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development, Concrete Support in Times of Need, and Social and Emotional Competence of Children.
• Drives to clients’ home, school, community or Agency offices to provide field-based services to clients and families as assigned and based on the families’ needs and availability.
• Reinforces and practices skills the client has learned in therapy to assist in decreasing mental health symptoms and behaviors that are putting the client’s placement at risk.
• Assists clients to develop the skills necessary in improving, maintaining or restoring their functioning.
• Works collaboratively with parents/guardians to ensure treatment progress.
• Works on a multi-disciplinary Treatment team that includes Intensive Services Facilitators, Parent Partners, Psychiatrists, Clinicians, school personnel and support staff.
• Reinforces positive parenting skills to increase the caregiver’s ability to manage the behaviors of their child.
• Provides immediate response to a client exhibiting acute psychiatric symptoms which if untreated presents an imminent threat to the client and/or others and consults with supervisor immediately.
• Links clients to resources needed to support achievement of their goals.
• Performs services which may include crisis counseling, behavioral management, medication education, stress management, mentoring/role model for the caregiver of the identified child, psychosocial skills training, shadowing for the identified child, teaching and demonstrating life skills, homemaking, budgeting, case management, translation, helping to access respite care, educational support, parenting support and domestic violence services.
• Participates in the 4 Step Child and Family Team Meeting Model when applicable.
• Follows through with tasks that are assigned via the Client Treatment Plan, and through Child and Family Team meetings. 
• Provides flexible services in tune with the needs of the individual families, while maintaining open communication among the team.
• Models ethical and professional behavior at all times.
• Assists in monitoring the children and families to ensure child safety. 
• Identifies risk factors for child abuse or neglect, develops treatment plans to lower the risk to children and reports any cases of suspected child abuse or neglect as required by California child abuse reporting law. 
• Assists accounting in the collection of complete and accurate information necessary for billing.
• Effectively represents the Agency at community meetings; effectively consults with other agencies such as Department of Children and Family Services, Probation, Department of Mental Health, and schools.
• Carries a caseload of between 10 -12 families. 
• Performs on-call 24/7 crisis response as needed.
• Embraces change, making positive suggestions for changes in procedures and giving Program Managers feedback on team morale.
• Attends weekly supervision and team meetings. Prepares for supervision and incorporates supervisor's input into service provision.
• Supports and reinforces Agency policies and the smooth functioning and communication with in the Agency. 
• Works effectively and cooperatively with other Agency staff, collaborating when appropriate. 
• Comprehends and follows both oral and written instructions.
• Leads CFT Meetings as needed and if applicable to the program. 
• Contacts and collaborates with CSW’s, Probation Officers and client Attorney’s, obtaining authorizations for treatment, case coordination and to give case updates. 
• Provides care or services to minors or comes into contact with minors as part of their job duties.
• Provides services relating to the administration of public funds or benefits, including eligibility for public funds or public benefits.
• Travels between Foothill Family sites for training, meetings, and other in-person interactions.
• Attends in-person meetings and events at various locations within the Los Angeles County and surrounding areas.
• Displays sensitivity to the service population’s cultural and socioeconomics characteristics.
• Performs work in a safe manner at all times and ensures that other individuals do not put themselves or others at risk.
• Follows all policies, procedures and legal mandates related to HIPAA and maintenance of client files.
• Ensures performance and behaviors support the Agency’s performance quality improvement (PQI) goals and objectives.
• Reports to work on time and maintains reliable and regular attendance.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

• Provides services as required by the treatment plans for assigned cases.
• Meets productivity standards as set specifically for each Program in Intensive Services.
• Completes all charting and reports for assigned cases within required deadlines.
• Achieves program goals for clientele.
• Communicates effectively with supervisor, DCFS, Probation, Department of Mental Health and community service providers.
• Works primarily in the afternoons and evenings and is available to provide after-hours coverage.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor of Arts in Human Services, Social Work, or Psychology plus a minimum of one year of experience working with high-risk youth; or a high school diploma or General Education Diploma (GED) plus a minimum of three years’ experience working with high-risk youth.
• Experience providing direct service to individuals, families and groups. 
• Experience providing child abuse treatment services.
• Experience working with autism or behavior management.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to work cooperatively as a team member.
• Bilingual English/Spanish required or other language as determined by program need.
• Must not appear on any federal, state, or other applicable sanctions, exclusion, or debarment lists that would prohibit or restrict employment with an agency receiving federal or state health care funding.
• Requires regular and reliable driving throughout Los Angeles County.
• Valid CA Driver’s License and maintains insurability on the Agency’s auto liability policy (including a minimum of 2 years driving experience) and maintains the California state-required auto insurance liability limits

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job including daily driving to provide services. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outside-weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.