Family Finding Specialist (Grant-Funded Family Services Specialist)

City of Charlottesville•Charlottesville (22902), VA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

This is a 1-to-5 year grant-funded position contingent upon the continued availability of funding and compliance with the applicable grant requirements (Collaborative Grant through the Virginia Department of Social Services). This Family Services Specialist performs responsible professional work in the support and assistance of children and families through ongoing case management services, including assessment, service planning, referrals, and monitoring. As part of the grant, this position will collaborate with partner agencies to identify and connect children in foster care with extended family members or other supportive adults, with a goal of building a lifelong support network that promotes permanency, belonging, and improved outcomes. Functioning as an investigator, negotiator, and relationship builder, the work is accomplished through intensive family-finding strategies and by building trust with relatives and other potential supports to establish meaningful relationships or kinship placements. Work is performed under supervision and reports to a Human Services Program Supervisor.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a Human Services field, such as Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, Counseling, or similar area.
OR Bachelor's degree in any field AND 2 years of appropriate and related experience in a Human Services related field; as mandated in Section 22VAC40-670-20 of the Administrative Code of Virginia and implemented by the Virginia Board of Social Services may be substituted as equivalent.
Must obtain and maintain a valid Virginia Driver’s license and acceptable driving record according to city criteria.
Required to successfully pass a pre-employment background check and pre-employment drug screen.
Thorough knowledge and complete comprehension of eligibility requirements for public assistance, principles and practices of child welfare, substance abuse, employment services, family services and/or protective service work and state and federal procedures and legal terminology to solve common and unusual problems, advise on technical matters, and serve as a resource for others.
Knowledge of counseling and social work principles and practices.
Knowledge of community services and facilities available for clients served.
Knowledge of crisis intervention and behavior changes techniques.
Knowledge of human behavior and of current social, economic, and health problems of the community served.
Ability to read and understand complex written materials, such as policies, regulations, and professional articles/journals.
Ability to organize data, maintain case records, and write clear and concise reports and prepare explanations and summaries with proper format, punctuation, spelling, and grammar, using all parts of speech.
Ability to work with, understand, and apply simple formulas to process financial documentation related to client services, reimbursements, and prepare statistical reports.
Establish and maintain effectively working relationships with clients, families, co-worker’s city staff, other agencies, and the public.
Provide and receive standard to more complex information.
May include interactions that involve stressful, negative situations requiring significant tact and the ability to diffuse aggressive behavior and reach consensus.
Requires recognizing different points of view to ensure understanding and appropriate response.
Elements of persuasion may be necessary to gain cooperation and understanding.
Requires Limited Direction: Normally completes work according to their own judgment, requesting supervisory assistance occasionally.
Case management is completed with little oversight and may be reviewed periodically.
Skilled: comprehensive knowledge of techniques for interviewing, counseling and investigating problems.
Uses analytical judgment to develop comprehensive courses of action for families.
Applies understanding of individual and group behavior and social, economic and health problems.
Skill in the use of Microsoft Office applications and department software.
Organization and time management skills, sometimes under strict time constraints.
Constant interruptions and requests for service.
Performs multiple tasks simultaneously.
Requires dealing with angry, frustrated and/or upset individuals.
Works effectively with sensitive and confidential issues and information.
May be required to be on-call and respond within certain timeframes.
May be required to work additional hours outside of normal schedule, which may include weekends, mornings, afternoons, and/or evenings.
Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force frequently and constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects
Must be able to frequently remain in a stationary position.
Must occasionally move about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc.
Must constantly position self to maintain files in file cabinet.
Must be able to communicate information and ideas so others will understand.
Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
Ability to observe at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Nice To Haves

Masters in Social Work, Human Services, or a related field.
Directly related experience (case management services) in Virginia within the past 2 years.
Ability to communicate in a second language.
May occasionally assist in the training of other staff, volunteers and student interns and serves as a peer advisor.

Responsibilities

Completes Mutual Family Assessments to determine eligibility to become a foster family.
Transporting program participants.
May be responsible for support functions such as equipment maintenance, stocking inventory supplies, and/or oversight of vehicle maintenance.
May work in a community-based setting primarily with adolescents and their families.
May develop and/or facilitate various group meetings and/or recreational or educational activities.
Assesses the needs of clients and families to develop a service plan.
Investigates referral and interviews clients as needed.
Takes applications for services and determines service eligibility.
Assesses/monitors situations and progress of clients by conducting field visits.
Provides clinical and/or non-clinical services to families by listening to concerns and monitoring progress.
Completes associated casework within associated timelines; prepares and submits court-related documentation within established deadlines.
May testify in court proceedings and makes recommendations to legal authorities.
Develops contacts and collaborates with community partners and service providers to makes referrals for services to appropriate community resources and maintain relationships and continued referrals to programs.
Conducts group information/education sessions for clients.
Assists in the evaluation of programs and services.
Provides trauma-supportive and appropriately responsive service.
Conducts monthly home visits and may coordinate progress with the treatment team as necessary.
May be responsible as an on-call staff on a rotating basis.
Required to respond upon activation from the City Manager of the Continuity of Operations Plan and/or Emergency Operations Plan.
Must have the ability to be contacted and respond based on Department guidelines.
Responsible for appropriate use and maintenance of City equipment, tools and other resources, including work time.
Regular and reliable attendance.
Performs additional duties to support operational requirements as apparent or assigned.