Case Planner (EFFC)

Good Shepherd Services•Bronx, NY

1d•$50,000 - $55,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Case Planner works toward timely permanency planning for children and youth in foster care. The role assesses and monitors safety and risk; engages children, parents, foster parents, and collateral contacts; coordinates visits and services; and collaborates with agency teams on permanency plans. The Case Planner supports and counsels foster parents, monitors children’s adjustment and performance, facilitates parent and foster-parent groups, and maintains timely case documentation and required agency and ACS reports. The position also includes court appearances, participation in family team conferences and other meetings, and use of the KEEP, PTC, YDSC, Sanctuary Model, and Solution Based Casework practices. The role requires in-office work and field visits. Hybrid schedules depend on program needs and leadership discretion.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
Ability to establish working relationships with clients in need of counseling and supportive services.
Ability to effectively engage parents.
Ability to apply theory of change.
Willingness to facilitate groups with parents and foster parents.
Ability to work cooperatively with agency supervisors, KEEP, PTC, and YDSC consultants, ACS, and other team members.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Commitment to working from a strength-based and/or youth development perspective.

Nice To Haves

MSW or at least one year of related experience.
Bilingual English/Spanish.
Some evening availability may be required.

Responsibilities

Assess and monitor safety and risk.
Establish immediate contact with families of children placed in the agency’s care and with foster families.
Conduct required casework contacts with children, parents, foster parents, and collateral contacts, including schools, service providers, medical personnel, mental health practitioners, and substance abuse counselors.
Make assessment-based referrals to meet the needs of children and/or parents.
Visit families and children as mandated or necessary to gather social history and assess family strengths, concerns, and problems related to placement.
Coordinate and supervise family-child visits and separate sibling visits.
Share responsibility with the agency team for each child’s permanency planning.
Locate resources and make referrals that may aid families and children.
Evaluate children’s adjustment in foster homes and monitor their educational and behavioral performance at home and at school.
Monitor foster parents’ ability to meet children’s needs and make recommendations about future use of foster homes in conjunction with the Home Finding Department.
Adhere to the KEEP, PTC, and YDSC manuals and deliver interventions within fidelity guidelines while adapting delivery to individual parents’ and youths’ needs.
Support and counsel foster parents and include them in developing goals and tasks.
Maintain current case records and complete required ACS and agency documentation, including FASPs, progress notes, permanency hearing reports, and other reports.
Submit progress notes preferably within one day of an event and no later than the end of that week; submit FASPs and permanency hearing reports by the agency compliance department’s internal review dates.
Make court appearances and provide testimony, including at permanency hearings.
Participate in Family Team Conferences, including placement preservation, reunification/discharge, goal changes, and permanency planning conferences.
Attend meetings, functions, workshops, and other activities required by the agency.
Collaborate closely with team members.
Facilitate KEEP and PTC groups with parents and foster parents and encourage communication, skill development, and social networking among group members.
Review KEEP/PTC feedback and practice strategies with families.
Collaborate with Youth Skill Trainers and monitor their interactions with youth.
Document each interaction and visit according to the developer’s standards.
Use Sanctuary Model tools, including safety plans, community meetings, psycho-educational groups, team meetings, red flag reviews, treatment planning conferences or similar processes, and self-care when applicable.
Promote the Sanctuary Model’s seven commitments and integrate the SELF framework into daily practice.
Use and implement Solution Based Casework, including assessment, family- and individual-level outcomes, action plans, documentation, and celebration.
Participate in case consultation, continued Solution Based Casework training, and the certification process.
Perform other duties as assigned.