Child and Family Specialist

Presbyterian Childrens Homes and Services • Austin, TX

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services (PCHAS) is a faith-based Christian organization dedicated to empowering children, young adults, and families by nurturing their strengths, resilience, and faith. Guided by Christ’s love, PCHAS serves clients by meeting them where they are, treating them with respect, focusing on their strengths, and encouraging them to focus on their future. PCHAS operates 14 programs and services across 28 locations in Texas, Missouri, and Louisiana, aiming to provide children with permanent homes and adults with increased self-sufficiency through "The PCHAS Way" – a strength-focused, family-centered, and goal-driven approach.

This position will provide strength-based services to children and their families. The role reports to a Child & Family Supervisor and involves individual services such as in-home case management, attachment-based parenting curriculum and support, and counseling services in certain locations.

Requirements

• This position is most often housed in a Presbyterian church with normal office equipment (laptop computer, copier, office furniture).
• Much of the work other than scheduling and case documentation is spent outside the office doing home visits, face to face contact with clients, and resource networking with other community providers.
• This position must have reliable transportation and an acceptable driving record in order to provide in-home services to families.
• BSW or equivalent with two-year experience of working with children and families.
• Must have competence in conducting assessments, service planning and providing case management and parenting psychoeducation delivery to families.
• The ability to work with a variety of human problems and competence in managing crisis intervention is required.
• Social work skills to promote empathy and positive professional/client relationships are required.
• Strong organizational skills, time management and flexibility in work hours are required.
• An ability to utilize computer skills and be efficient with documentation within a client-based computer system is essential.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to be efficient in recording case documentation are essential.
• Must hold a valid driver’s license, have and maintain a risk-free driving record.
• Must be willing to undergo initial and periodic child abuse/neglect, criminal history, sexual offender, and child care/elder care disqualification list screenings.
• As requested, must submit fingerprints for review by the state of your employment and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
• Must undergo a pre-employment drug screen and a pre-employment physical with the results showing no evidence of communicable disease.

Nice To Haves

• A Master Degree and Licensure is Strongly Preferred
• Clinical Licensure is encouraged

Responsibilities

• To be knowledgeable of local needs and available services for children and families.
• To publicize PCHAS presence as a professional liaison with the social service community and speak at churches and community groups when requested.
• To make home visits to conduct need assessments, develop plans of service and provide holistic case management services to meet individualized needs of the family.
• To provide psychoeducational parent training to equip families in becoming competent in demonstrating these skills with their children.
• To assist and encourage families to advocate for and coordinate all needed services toward the goal of achieving self-sufficiency.
• To maintain all documentation in the CSWIS data system in an ethical and timely manner.
• To communicate, collaborate and organize with community partners to provide the best possible community resources for children and their families.

Benefits

• flex work schedules
• paid time off
• medical, dental and vision insurance options
• voluntary life insurance options
• paid holidays
• a very generous retirement plan (after one year of service and working 1,000 hours the agency matches an employee’s contribution)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level