Child Welfare Specialist

LCFS•Springfield, MO

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois is seeking a Child Welfare Specialist to oversee children and families assigned to their services. This role involves monitoring child well-being, supporting birth parents' progress towards reunification, facilitating home visits, and communicating with foster families. The specialist will also provide on-call services, travel to high-risk communities, and implement targeted services such as counseling, respite, mentoring, and crisis intervention. Collaboration with multi-disciplinary teams and participation in System of Care activities are key components of this position. The role requires assessing and maintaining knowledge of child welfare laws and policies, achieving organizational performance outcomes, and representing clients' needs to various agencies. Continuous assessment of the child's needs in safety, education, medical, and social/psychological well-being is essential. The specialist will prepare accurate reports for the court, handle crisis situations with sensitivity, and maintain client files and databases in compliance with agency and regulatory requirements. Engaging children, birth parents, and foster parents, teaching parenting skills, and coordinating community resources are also core responsibilities. The role emphasizes developing an understanding of diversity, inclusion, and equity issues.

Requirements

Ability to drive one’s own vehicle and transport children, youth, and adults as needed.
In-depth knowledge of child welfare systems, regulations, and best practices.
Strong case management skills, including assessments, service planning, and progress monitoring.
Ability to advocate for children's rights and best interests within the child welfare system.
Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
Ability to provide crisis intervention and support to children and families facing challenging circumstances.
Employment is contingent upon successful completion of all required background checks, including criminal background checks and CANTS checks.
Must possess a reliable vehicle and have a valid driver’s license.
Must not have had a suspended or revoked driver’s license within the past three years.
Bachelors in a related human service field.
1 year of related experience in child welfare, case management, or a related role.
Demonstrated track record of expertise in specialized child and family services.
A Child Welfare Employee License (CWEL) in IL is required.
Regularly required to talk or hear.
Frequently required to sit.
Occasionally required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, or controls; reach with hands and arms.
Capable of operating standard office equipment, including a computer and keyboard, calculator, typical business machines such as a fax machine and copier.
Occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision and the ability to adjust focus.
Required to have valid driver’s license and auto insurance.
Must be able to safely operate a motor vehicle.
Follows all ethics policies and procedures.
Maintain confidentiality of client, staff, and agency information.
Reports any known or suspected breaches of confidentiality in accordance with policy.
Reports possible misconduct or relevant errors/oversight in a timely manner.
Consistently conveys clear, accurate, timely, and respectful communication.
Informs appropriate management staff when incident occurs or a crisis situation.
Maintains professional boundaries with clients/residents, staff, interns, volunteers, and vendors.
Able to successfully share skills and concepts with others.
Works effectively with others under time and environmental pressures.
Demonstrates sound judgment and foresight in safety awareness and in daily work.
Notifies, in a timely manner, the supervisory chain of any incidents or circumstances that need attention.
Report all suspicions or allegations of abuse immediately to their supervisor.
Ensures appropriate utilization of materials and resources and minimizes waste.

Nice To Haves

Proficiency in speaking, reading and writing in English and Spanish preferred.

Responsibilities

Overseeing children and families assigned to Lutheran Child and Family Services for child welfare services.
Monitoring the child’s well-being and the birth parents’ progress towards reunification.
Facilitating home visits and communicating appropriate information to foster families.
Transporting children and parents in own vehicle.
Providing on-call services as assigned.
Traveling to high-risk communities.
Implementing and referring individualized and targeted services for youth and families, such as counseling, respite, mentoring, educational support, case management, crisis intervention.
Collaborating regularly with multi-disciplinary teams and partners for continuous quality improvement, interventions, service delivery, and achievement of program outcomes.
Actively participating in System of Care, including clinical and medical staffing’s and level of care.
Actively participating in regular supervision, mediation, problem resolution, and crisis response.
Assessing and maintaining knowledge of child welfare and population-specific laws, policies, and trends.
Achieving organizational performance outcomes on Key Performance Indicators metrics/dashboard towards safety, permanency, well-being, and overall agency performance outcomes.
Representing clients’ needs and Agency interest to referral sources, DCFS, the judicial system, and governmental agencies.
Continuously assessing the child’s needs related to safety, education, medical, and social and psychological well-being.
Preparing accurate, timely required written, and verbal reports to the court and collateral contact information.
Handling all crisis situations and client complaints with sensitivity and consulting with supervisory chain when appropriate.
Complying with all requirements regarding utilization of the DCFS electronic record-keeping system (SACWIS).
Preparing written service plans for each client as required by DCFS contract.
Maintaining up-to-date and accurate client files and databases.
Implementing continuous quality improvement in all aspects of performance.
Engaging the child, the birth parents, and the foster parents in competently assessing the dynamics of the relationships and establishing a therapeutic alliance.
Teaching effective parenting skills specific to the needs of the child and family.
Maintaining knowledge of community resources and coordinating appropriate referrals and follow-up.
Establishing collaborative relationships with agency team members and service providers.
Providing a welcoming and receptive environment in all contacts with clients, agency staff, and collateral contacts.
Developing understanding and continuously developing self-awareness related to diversity, inclusion, and equity issues.
Performing other duties as assigned.