Child Welfare Specialist
Company: Lawrence Hall
Location: Chicago
Posted on: May 8, 2024
Job Description:
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Reports to the assigned Foster Care Supervisor. Provides
comprehensive case management services in Relative and Traditional
Foster Care, Specialized Foster Care or mixed caseload. Must be
able to do extensive field work, frequently transport young people
in agency or personal vehicle, and provide all required
documentation and reports to Juvenile Court and the Department of
Children and Family Services. Requires knowledge of trauma
exposure, knowledge of the 5 S's of trauma: Safety,
Self-Regulation/Soothing, Supportive, Strengths, Self-Care, and an
understanding of and recognition of the signs of traumatic stress.
Child Welfare Specialist must have flexibility as this position is
required to be on-call on a rotating basis.JOB
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Provide comprehensive case management services to children in
placement, their families, and foster parents, including placement,
visitation, monitoring, service and permanency planning, and
coordination of services according to Client Service Plan
- Face-to-face in-home contact with foster caretakers as required
by contract -- to monitor the home environment and to offer
supportive services as needed
- In cooperation with the family and supervisor, write a
comprehensive Client Service Plan and present at Administrative
Case Reviews
- Attend all Court Hearings and report about status and progress
of each case on caseload
- Maintain regular contact with young people's educational,
medical and other service providers, follow up with
recommendations, and integrate all information to come to well
founded conclusions and recommendations regarding each
case
- Conduct regular diligent searches if the whereabouts of one or
both parents are unknown, try to engage parent/s if they are
located
- Document all case work activity and case information in
up-to-date case entry notes. Write and submit timely reports for
juvenile court and for administrative case reviews, including
making unusual incident and hot-line reports
- Requires knowledge of typical child and adolescent development
and an understanding of trauma exposure and traumatic stress signs
and symptoms.
- Practice will include using strategies that support healing,
recovery, and that resist re-traumatization
- Engage caregivers, parents, family members and others by
sharing strengths and challenges experienced by young
people
- Provide support to foster parents; comply with all provisions
of the Foster Parent Law Implementation Plan
- Comply with provisions of Mandated Reporter Status
- Be on-call in rotation with other employees
- Attend supervision regularly, keep supervisor informed of all
case developments, and involve supervisor in any critical decision
regarding a case
- Keep abreast of changes in D.C.F.S. and Lawrence Hall Policies,
Rules and Procedures by attending training and reading written
information provided by the Agency
- Provide all services to young people according to DCFS and
Lawrence Hall Policies, Rules, and Procedures
- Completes permanency paperwork/documentation for submission and
approval to move young people to permanency
- Uses active and reflective listening skills and affirmations to
demonstrate respect and empathy, avoiding negative and derogatory
labels that foster disrespect
- Understand that behaviors, responses, attitudes, and emotions
are a collection of survival skills often developed in response to
traumatic experiences
- Maintain confidentiality of employees, volunteers, and program
participants to provide a safe environment
- Attend at least two trainings related to being trauma informed
in a twelve month period
- Ability to work effectively with program participants and
family members, employees and vendors in a culturally diverse
environment to support healing and recovery
- Participates in the development and implementation of
continuous quality improvement activities as assigned
- Other duties as assigned
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor's Degree in the human services field, preferably in
social work
- Must have the Child Welfare Employee Licensure at hire or
attend the next scheduled Foundations Training Program for
licensure, meet the requirements for attendance and conduct, and
pass the Licensure Exam including CERAP
- Must pass the Foster Care Licensing standards (Rule 402) within
three (3) months of employment
- Knowledge of childhood trauma and prior experience working in
settings with youth and families that have been exposed to trauma
or experiencing traumatic stress preferred
- Knowledge of youth development, adolescent issues, positive
youth development/strength-based approach preferred
- Personal vehicle or access to vehicle and proof of
insurance
- Valid Illinois Driver's license
- No history of child abuse or neglect
This position meets the FLSA requirements for ExemptJob
descriptions are not intended, and should not be construed to be
all-inclusive lists of all responsibilities, skills, efforts or
working conditions associated with a job. While this job
description is intended to be an accurate reflection of the job
requirements, management reserves the right to modify, add or
remove duties from particular jobs and to assign other duties as
necessary.Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V
Keywords: Lawrence Hall, Gary , Child Welfare Specialist, Other , Chicago, Indiana
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