Family Services Specialist IV (Senior) - In-Home & Prevention

Description

The City of Lynchburg is an Equal Opportunity Employer

The City of Lynchburg's Human Services Department is seeking a Senior Family Services Specialist to work in the child welfare In-Home and Prevention Unit. The successful candidate will serve as the lead worker in specifically focusing case management for high and very high risk cases.The role involves identifying problems and referring families to outside services to address the needs and issues that are of risk to the safety offamilies and children in their own homes. It also includes maintaining case records, preparing written reports of services, and testifying in court hearings when required. This program specifically works with families whose children are at risk of being placed in foster care.

The work involves facilitating services that address mental health, domestic violence, substance use disorders, and skill-based services for parents within their homes to prevent placement of children outside the home. The position is also responsible for engaging and supporting relatives caretakers, creating prevention strategies, developing prevention service plans, and accessing federal funding in order to keep families together. Collaboration with agencies such as the courts, schools, and other community partners is essential.

Essential Duties

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Other duties to provide direct or indirect service to the citizens may be assigned.

This individual will set the standard for quality and quantity of work performed by the unit, implement human resource practices in the supervision of staff as directed by supervisor, establish and maintain good working relationships with others; manage difficult or dangerous cases; interpret the program to other agencies and the public, and participates actively in numerous committees both within the agency and the community

• As part of the Services Unit Leadership Team, the selected candidate will work closely with other supervisory staff ensuring seamless operations of the Services unit and problem solve unexpected situations

• The role involves identifying problems and referring families to outside services to address the needs and issues that are of risk to the safety of families and children in their own homes

• It also includes maintaining case records, preparing written reports of services, and testifying in court hearings when required

• The work involves facilitating services that address mental health, substance abuse disorders, and skill-based services for parents within their homes to prevent placement of children outside the home

• The position is also responsible for creating prevention strategies, developing prevention service plans, and accessing federal funding in order to keep families together

• Collaboration with agencies such as the courts, schools, and other community partners is essential

• Interviews clients to assess the nature and extent of needs

• Identifies problems, counsels with clients and confers with supervisor in preparing social histories in the formulation and delivery of service plans

• Maintains records through the course of client's service relationships with agency

• Identify families that will benefit from agency support in order to maintain children in their own homes or with relative/kin in their own communities

• Ensure staff are identifying safety and risk concerns and reducing the reoccurrence of child maltreatment

• Meet regularly with staff to review case progress and service implementation

• Close cases timely ensuring Family Service Specialists have followed all mandated and best practice guidance to ensure child safety

• As needed, perform casework functions for high profile cases or conflict of interest cases from other localities as requested by the agency director

• Review monthly and quarterly reports

• Review data and determine needs of the unit based on outcomes

• Monitor and evaluate progress completing monthly coaching notes and hands-on learning as needed

• Monitor staff training and recommend additional trainings based on individual development of the employee

• Attend regularly scheduled meetings as well as participate in, and act as supervisor, Family Partnership Meetings

• Provide training and education to community partners regarding child welfare services

• Apply appropriate human resource practices in the supervision of staff

• Establish and maintain working relationships with various community partners such as law enforcement, Court personnel, school staff, etc

• Provide sound judgement to staff during high stress cases to ensure proper policy and procedures are followed according to agency and state policy

• Makes referrals for service to agencies, such as clinics, employment services, vocational rehabilitation services, etc

• Performs work with agencies such as juvenile and domestic relations courts, circuit courts, etc

• Provides protection and care to abandoned, abused and neglected children and adults on a regular and emergency basis in potentially dangerous situations

• Works with abusive or neglecting parents and families to help effect changes in family situation, usually in a family home setting

• Makes decisions to remove children from dangerous situations and recommendations regarding institutionalization of adults and children

• Assesses risk, safety, and protective capacity and appropriateness of parents, guardians, and relatives utilizing the Permanency Assessment Tool and other assessments

• Maintains case records, prepares written reports of services, findings and actions

• Serves as agency representative on a variety of multi-disciplinary teams

• Shares a 24-hour on-call rotation

• When activated by the City Manager or Agency Director, assume the role of manager in a local shelter during times of community emergencies or disasters

• Serves as the unit lead worker and as supervisor in the absence of the Family Services Supervisor

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to outside weather conditions

ADDITIONAL DUTIES

• 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.

• Assists in the evaluation of programs and services rendered to clients;

• Makes referrals to clinics, employment services, vocational rehabilitation services, and other appropriate resources;

• Processes financial documentation related to client services;

• Interprets agency programs to other agencies, community groups and associations;

• Researches and develops community resources, gives presentations;

• Performs emergency shelter duty as appropriate.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

May serve as supervisor in absence of unit supervisor, or supervise interns, volunteers or other staff

Minimum Education and Experience Required

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 Bachelor's degree from four-year college or university in a human services field and a minimum of two years of appropriate and related experience in a human services related area.

Applicants must have Child Protective Services Investigator experience.

Applicants who are bilingual in Spanish, French, etc., and English are strongly encouraged to apply

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

Ability to exhibit solid interpersonal skills, including conflict resolution skills, required for work with citizens, community professionals, supervises and other employees.

Additional Requirements

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.

Must satisfactorily complete criminal background check, drug and alcohol screen and Child Protective Services Registry check.