PRIMARY RESPONSIBILTIES:
The Foster Care Specialist shall be responsible for the ongoing treatment for children and youth placed in the Unaccompanied Refugee Minors Program who need individual and group counseling, providing support to foster families in carrying out treatment plans and ensuring that safe and nurturing permanency planning is prioritized.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES:
1. Reviews bio-data on clients referred by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to determine suitable placements.
2. Supervises foster children/homes.
3. Makes referral to other community/agency resources for clients as necessary.
4. Provides counseling to children and parents/caregivers, where applicable.
5. Provides client transportation, as needed.
6. May recruit, inspect, and grant licensure to potential residences to be used as foster homes; performs group training of foster parents.
7. May supervise, monitor, and provide support of services to clients.
8. Makes presentations to the community and participates in community awareness programs.
9. Answers telephone requests and initial personal contact with clients.
10. Assists other office personnel where applicable with placement issues.
Other Duties:
- Provide consultation, supervision and services to URM children and youth, and their foster families.
- Participate in weekly URM staff meetings with supervisor.
- Establish cooperative working relationships with other URM staff, Catholic Charities employees and staff from other agencies and keep open lines of communication about issues relating to youth, and pro-active advocacy for safe and nurturing permanency planning.
- Coordinates foster parent training, and other foster family outings as needed.
- Stimulate professional growth through participation in workshops, conferences, staff in-service training, professional organizations and coalitions.
- Maintain confidentiality of records and all treatment issues.
- Participate in crisis intervention services as needed.
- Complete all tasks by assigned deadlines. Handwritten assignments must be neatly written and legible.
- Maintain individual counseling sessions with youth and children as needed.
- Other duties as assigned, including Peer Review.
KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE:
Licensed Social Worker (LSW), Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)-preferred
SKILLS / ABILITIES:
- Ability to relate compassionately, non-judgmentally and professionally to a wide variety of people.
- Excellent time management and organizational skills.
- Ability to support and motivate foster parents without compromising the goals and mission of the program.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, especially those skills necessary to provide clear and consistent feedback to foster parents.
- Demonstrated ability to form alliances with families and providers from other agencies.
- Timeliness with paperwork.
- Ability to follow directions but also make sound independent decisions.
- Proficiency with all computer programs necessary to complete all required documentation.
LICENSES/CERTIFICATONS:
- Licensed social worker (LSW, LMSW or LCSW) with valid licensure in Mississippi-preferred
- Valid Mississippi Driver’s license and driving record that will not incur increased insurance rates.
AGENCY COMPLIANCE:
- Refer to and complies with the CCI Policy and Procedural Manuals in every part of their job.
- Attend individual supervision, staff meetings, staff trainings and other meetings required.
- Enter all client activity/services daily into the agency client database, if applicable.
- Maintain all required documents in a current and orderly manner.
- Submit all reports accurately and in a timely manner per due dates.
- Adhere to all confidentiality policies, maintaining a high-level standard of confidentiality.
- Maintain a valid driver's license, proof of required automobile insurance, and Child Protection requirements per policy.
- Represent the agency at events/functions as assigned.
- Always alert to the physical/mental condition of clients/children and report any suspicious situations to the person in authority.
- Must work within standards of the agency mission, philosophy and policies/procedures.
- Reflects Catholic Charities’ commitment to treating all people with dignity and respect.
- Performs other duties assigned and deemed necessary for the effective and efficient operation of the agency.
PHYSICAL/MENTAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Must be able to read, write and speak English.
- Must be physically and emotionally capable of performing the essential functions of the job.
- Must be emotionally stable.
- Must continue to achieve a satisfactory rating on the annual performance evaluation.
- Above average verbal and written communication skills.
- Must have access to and be able to drive a vehicle day or night.
- Bending, lifting and manual dexterity are required to perform office functions associated with the job.
- Must be able to process multiple streams of information and make reasonable and sound decisions in a timely manner.
- Must demonstrate maturity and flexibility in stressful and emotionally demanding situations.
- Must be physically alert, stable and able to work with minimal supervision.
