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 Benefits:

Click Here to view LCFS Full-Time Employee Benefits. Salary Range:

$51,336 – $56,336 Office Location:

Based on the office nearest to the candidate’s residency; opportunities in Chicago, Oakbrook, Joliet, and Kankakee.

What We Do Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois improves the well‑being of people across the state by protecting children, strengthening families, and building futures for those who have experienced trauma. LCFS is a welcoming organization serving children, individuals, families and communities of all faiths, races, ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientations, gender expressions and identities.

Who We Are

Champions in supporting children, youth and families throughout Illinois so they are able to reach their full potential

Dynamic and innovative leaders who believe in collaboration with their team of professionals and are revolutionizing the impact on services to families

A community which embraces and is committed to being WIDE (welcoming, inclusive, diverse and equitable)

Addressing institutional racism and implicit bias to increase positive outcomes for children and families of color through the child welfare community

Creators of a culture focused on supporting families and ensuring all children find safe, loving permanent homes, particularly by reuniting them with their families

Objectives of the Position

Safety, permanency and well‑being

Successful and sustainable transitions and maintenance in 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 to assess, plan, evaluate and make linkages for safety, permanency, and well‑being outcomes

Implement and refer individualized and targeted services for youth and families, such as counseling, respite, mentoring, educational support, case management, crisis intervention, and continuous 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 program outcomes

Participate in System of Care principles, including ensuring provision of social, emotional, mental, behavioral and mental health specialty services; participate in clinical and medical staffing and level of care reviews

Participate in regular supervision, mediation, problem resolution, and crisis response, including on‑call support

Assess and maintain knowledge of child welfare and population‑specific laws, policies and trends to recommend program adjustments and implementations that aid program effectiveness

Achieve organizational performance outcomes on key performance indicators toward safety, permanency, well‑being and overall agency performance

Represent clients’ needs and agency interests to referral sources, DCFS, the judicial system, and governmental agencies

Exercise discretion and judgment, under supervision, in performing duties in accordance with applicable policies, procedures, statutes, rules and regulations

Perform other duties as required or assigned within the scope of the role and agency policies

Additional Child Welfare Specialist Essential Functions

Oversee children and families assigned to LCFS, monitor child well‑being, birth parents’ progress toward reunification, facilitate home visits, and communicate appropriately with foster families

Continuously assess child safety, education, medical and social needs; prepare written and verbal reports to court and collateral contacts per confidentiality and consent requirements

Comply with DCFS electronic record‑keeping (SACWIS) and prepare required Service Plans; maintain accurate client files and databases

Maintain regular communication with supervisor regarding case issues and notify significant issues that may impact youth, permanency, safety, risk management or contractual compliance

Engage child, birth parents, and foster parents; assess relationship dynamics and establish a therapeutic alliance; teach effective parenting skills specific to family needs

Maintain knowledge of community resources and coordinate referrals and follow‑up as needed for children, birth parents, and foster parents; collaborate with agency team members

Correlate service plan outcomes and interventions to the integrated assessment and safety determination, ensuring interventions meet child and birth parents’ needs

Ensure expenditures are appropriate, report them accurately and timely, and comply with agency policy and DCFS guidelines

Maintain knowledge of changing regulations, policies and rules; attend required agency and DCFS training and required timeframes

Provide a welcoming and receptive environment for all clients, staff and contacts; continuously develop self‑awareness related to diversity, inclusion and equity issues

Knowledge and Abilities

Knowledge of risk and safety assessment and development of effective safety plans to 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 diagnosis, 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, maintaining confidentiality

Ability to demonstrate critical thinking skills, be detail‑oriented with highly effective verbal, facilitation and written communication skills

Ability to develop skills and the skills of others via training, application and supervision (participation in organizational training and an additional 15 hours of training specific to the specialized youth population served annually)

Knowledge and ability to be open and accepting of others’ ethnicities, race, sexual orientation, gender expression and identification (SOGIE)

Ability to collaborate and coach a diverse population of staff with competence, understanding and sensitivity to workforce and service populations’ cultural and socioeconomic characteristics

Proficiency in usage of computer software; ability to use Microsoft Office, Excel, Outlook, Teams, etc.

Ability to travel and work flexible hours

Qualification-education & Experience Requirements Bachelor’s degree 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 English and Spanish preferred.

Physical and Special Demands Employee regularly required to talk or hear; sits, stands, walks, uses hands; may occasionally lift up to 15 pounds; specific vision required. Must have valid driver’s license, insurance and be able to operate a motor vehicle. 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, regardless of race, color, religion, gender or gender identity, expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age or veteran status.

Compensation and Benefits Compensation commensurate with experience and qualifications. LCFS offers a benefit package including health and dental insurance, 10 paid holidays, 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.

Equal Opportunity Employer LCFS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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