Encompass Foster Care Specialist

Eliot Community Human Services • Danvers, MA

6d

About The Position

The Encompass Foster Care Specialist works with foster parents through a Department of Children and Families (DCF) referral-based service. The program uses peer-to-peer mentoring to support, educate, and stabilize foster families navigating increased needs or crises, and to provide training and support that deepen caregivers’ understanding of trauma’s impact. The specialist draws on personal experience as a foster parent to help new or existing foster parents address challenges and access needed support.

This is a flexible Monday–Friday position with a stated schedule of 9 a.m.–5 p.m. and a total of 20 hours per week. The hourly rate is $21. Bilingual candidates fluent in a needed language, specifically Spanish or Haitian Creole, may be eligible for a 6% salary increase.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• At least three years of experience as a foster, kinship, or adoptive parent for the Department of Children and Families.
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation to and from work and for providing community-based services.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Fluency in a needed language, specifically Spanish or Haitian Creole, may qualify for a 6% salary increase.

Responsibilities

• Engage foster parents in peer support services and activities according to the program model, including in-person visits, collateral contacts, case conferences, and virtual group services.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries when sharing personal foster-parent experiences, including best practices, lessons learned, and effective interventions, to build relationships and deliver identified services.
• Conduct Protective Factors assessments and develop individualized treatment plans with foster parents based on identified family needs and DCF service-request information; reevaluate plans at least every three months.
• Help foster parents address barriers to accessing services for ongoing behavioral health needs and community resources for children placed in their homes.
• Help foster parents build skills to meet the behavioral health needs of children placed in their homes through education, support, coaching, modeling, and guidance.

Benefits

• Paid vacation, sick time, and holidays for benefit-eligible positions.
• Medical, dental, and vision plans for benefit-eligible positions.
• 401(k) with employer match for benefit-eligible positions.
• Discounted fitness services and access to childcare resources for benefit-eligible positions.
• Company-paid life and accidental death insurance for benefit-eligible positions.
• Ongoing training, career advancement programs, tuition reimbursement, and leadership development for benefit-eligible positions.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Education Level: High school or GED