Specialized Services Child Welfare Specialist

Specialized Services Child Welfare Specialist JOB TITLE:

Specialized Services Child Welfare Specialist (S-CWS) REPORTS TO:

Specialized Services Program Manager STATUS:

Full Time, Exempt

Salary Range:

$51,336 - $56,336

Benefits:

LCFS Full-Time Employee Benefits

OBJECTIVES OF THE POSITION

Safety, permanency and well‑being

Successful and sustainable transitions and maintenance in the least restrictive arrangements

Intensive wraparound and case coordination services for social, emotional and physical well‑being

Natural and formal life‑long supports, connections, safety, stability and permanency

Supportive youth‑led strength building, positive development, pro‑social life skills opportunities, behavior and medical adaptability, skills and empowerment

ESSENTIAL ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Serve with a team of supervisors and direct service child welfare professionals in partnership with children, parents and community providers to assess, plan, evaluate and make linkages for safety, permanency, and well‑being outcomes

Implementation and referral of individualized and targeted services for youth and families, such as counseling, respite, mentoring, educational support, case management, crisis intervention, and continual language to services to meet the specialized needs of children/families

Collaborate with multi‑disciplinary teams and partners for continuous quality improvement, interventions, service delivery and the achievement of program outcomes

Participate in System of Care principles (i.e.: collaborative service delivery for coordinated/integrated, youth‑focused, family centered/engaged orientation) to include ensuring the provision of social/emotional/mental/behavioral/mental health specialty service provision. (This includes regular participation in clinical and medical staffing’s and level of care eligibility/maintenance reviews)

Participate in regular supervision, mediation, problem resolution, and crisis response by effectively responding to parent, child, provider and other stakeholder concerns and demonstrating the ability to effectively manage crisis and difficult case situations. (This includes on‑call support.)

Assess and maintain knowledge of child welfare and population specific laws, policies and trends for recommending program adjustments and implementation that aid program effectiveness, children, families and communities

Achieve organizational performance outcomes on Key performance indicators metrics/dashboard towards safety, permanency, well‑being and overall agency performance outcomes

Represent clients’ needs and Agency interest to referral sources, DCFS, the judicial system and governmental agencies

Exercise discretion and judgment, (under supervision) in performance of duties in conformance with applicable policies, procedures, statutes, rules and regulations

Perform other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the values, philosophy, policies, procedures, statutes and scope of the duties and enumerated above

ADDITIONAL CHILD WELFARE SPECIALIST ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Primarily responsible for overseeing children and families assigned to Lutheran Child and Family Services for providing child welfare services which includes monitoring the child’s well‑being, the birth parents progress towards reunification, facilitating home visits and communicating appropriate information to foster families in their efforts to assist the child and birth parents. Transport child and parents at times in own vehicle. May work evening and some weekends in order to complete tasks. May travel to high‑risk communities

Continuously assess the child’s needs related to safety, education, medical and social and psychological well‑being. Prepares required written, and verbal reports to the court and collateral contact information as appropriate upholding all consents and confidentiality issues. Handles all crisis situations and client complaints with sensitivity and consults with supervisory chain when appropriate to resolve the matter

Complies with all requirements regarding utilization of the DCFS electronic record‑keeping system (SACWIS). Prepares written service plans for each client as required by DCFS contract. Maintains up‑to‑date and accurate client files and databases, as required by agency/programmatic policies and procedures, professional standards, and external requirements of all relevant, regulatory, licensing, or accrediting body’s. Implements, continuous quality improvement in all aspects of performance

Maintains regular communication with supervisor regarding case issues, and properly notifies the same of all significant issues, particularly those that may impact the youth, permanency, safety and well‑being, as well as risk management and contractual compliance

Engages the child, the birth parents, and the foster parents incompetently assesses the dynamics of the relationships and establishes a therapeutic alliance. Teaches effective parenting skills specific to the needs of the family

Maintains knowledge of community resources and coordinates appropriate referrals and follow up as needed and required for child, birth, parents, and foster parents. Establishes collaborative relationships with agency team members such as Case Aide, other child, welfare, specialists, service, providers, and institutions

Correlates service plan outcomes and interventions to the integrative assessment and safety determination with specific interventions and at meeting the needs of the child and birth parents

Ensures expenditures are appropriate and according to agency policy and DCFS guidelines and reports expenditures in an accurate and timely manner

Maintains knowledge of changing regulations, policies, and rules from agency, DCFS, legal and accrediting bodies. Attends and participates in all required agency and DCFS training and timeframe required

Provides a welcoming and receptive environment. All contacts, client’s, agency, staff and collateral contacts. Develops understanding and continuously develops self‑awareness related to diversity, inclusion, and equity issues

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES

Risk and safety assessment and development of affective safety plans that reduce/mitigate future risk of child abuse, neglect, and improve child safety

Ability to write, prepare and give clear, actionable, accurate, and comprehensive feedback for reports or documents

Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, treatment methodologies, and crisis intervention for high‑risk situations

Knowledge of readiness of change, grief, human development, and the impact of trauma

Knowledge and understanding of the role of a change agent and interventions needed for a successful, helping relationship in maintenance of confidentiality

Critical thinking skills, detail oriented with highly effective verbal, facilitation and written communication skills

Training and supervision skills, including participation in organizational training and additional 15 hours of training specific to the specialized youth population served annually

Approachability and respect for diverse ethnicities, races, sexual orientations, and gender expressions (SOGIE)

Collaboration and coaching of a diverse population of staff with competence, understanding and sensitivity to workforce and service populations’ cultural and socioeconomic characteristics

Proficiency in computer software including Microsoft Office, Excel, Outlook, Teams, etc

Ability to travel and work flexible hours

QUALIFICATION – EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS Bachelor’s in a related human service field with 1 year of related experience in child and family casework services. A Child Welfare Employee License (CWEL) in IL is highly preferred. Proficiency in speaking, reading and writing in English and Spanish preferred.

PHYSICAL AND SPECIAL DEMANDS Employee is regularly required to talk or hear, frequently required to sit, occasionally required to stand, walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, or control; reach with hand and arms. Employees must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus. Must have a valid driver’s license, insurance and be able to safely operate a motor vehicle. Must be able to safely transport to agency offices and other service environments throughout Illinois.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS Compensation will be commensurate with experience and qualifications. Lutheran Child and Family services offers a benefit package to health and dental insurance, includes 10 paid holidays, a robust paid time off/vacation/sick time policy, workforce self‑care and resiliency benefits, life insurance, a 403(b) retirement program and performance based bonus potential.

EEO AND NON‑DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT LCFS is committed to creating a diverse environment, and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. Without regard to race, color, religion, gender, identity, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

#J-18808-Ljbffr