Practitioner - FPS

Family Connections, Inc.•Irvington, NJ

4d•$52,500 - $52,500•Hybrid

About The Position

Provide direct in-home services to families following the New Jersey Family Preservation model. This role involves providing short-term intensive in-home services to a minimum of two families at any given time and up to 18 families yearly. The practitioner will also provide 24/7 on-call coverage in accordance with the FPS Model requirements, assist families with establishing goals and strategies for increasing self-sufficiency, and provide appropriate referrals and concrete services when necessary. Ongoing assessments for safety risks and interventions to mitigate safety issues are also key responsibilities. The role requires active participation in the Family Preservation Services team, including attending meetings, preparing case presentations, and maintaining accurate and compliant case records in accordance with NJ FPS documentation standards. Effective time management is crucial for scheduling and completing weekly sessions in a flexible manner, prioritizing family availability. All required services from intake through termination must be conducted in accordance with the NJ Family Preservation Services (FPS) Model. The practitioner will model self-advocacy with families, coach and empower them to speak for themselves, and represent and support them in court, school settings, and social service agencies as needed. Close collaboration with DCP&P staff and referred families is essential to effectively achieve established goals and fulfill service planning requirements. The role requires the ability to work effectively as a team member as well as independently. Completion of Family Preservation Services training and other trainings required by Family Connections and/or DCF is mandatory. Upholding fidelity to the Family Preservation Services model is paramount. In times of crisis, the practitioner must be willing to help others and communicate urgent information quickly to their supervisor or team. Clear, consistent, and timely communication with the supervisor is expected before and after sessions and as necessary. Punctuality for client appointments and meetings is required, as is meeting program productivity requirements. The practitioner will act as a Family Connections ambassador in every interaction with families, providers, and community agencies.

Requirements

Master’s in Social Work or equivalent master’s in human services or Bachelor's degree in social work or related field with at least one and a half years’ experience working with families experiencing crisis.
Must possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey with safe driving record.
Experience working with diverse populations.
Availability to conduct sessions on evenings, weekends and holidays.
Knowledge of the child welfare system, community resources, social services, and mental health systems.
Knowledge of appropriate interventions in crisis and non-crisis situations.
Knowledge of infant, child and adolescent stages of growth and development.
Knowledge of trauma and its effect on children and families.
Knowledge of county’s local and highway roads.
Excellent time management skills.
Organizational skills with the ability to manage families and systems of care simultaneously to promote best practices.
Outstanding human relations skills and the ability to function autonomously and in a team environment.
Effective oral and written communication skills.
Effectively solve problems and communicate information, including the identification and communication of problems and/or issues with appropriate team and management staff.
Ability to utilize approaches with children and families.
Model, coach, support, and mentor parents on use of nurturing and safe parenting.
Ability to deliver and score assessment tools.
Excellent computer skills with proficiency and working knowledge of database and reporting tools such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint and/or electronic health record systems.
Safely operate a motor vehicle abiding by all applicable traffic laws.
Ensure safety of all passengers through appropriate safety measures including use of seat belts, car and booster seats and/or child safety locks.
Open, warm, empathic, attentive listener, self-aware, ethical, creative, organized, flexible, open to constructive feedback, patient, responsible, able to work independently, mature, self-motivated, dedicated, enthusiastic, willing to take on additional tasks and responsibilities, interested in seeking additional training and skills.
Experience/willingness to work with culturally diverse populations.
Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States and eligible for full‑time employment on a W‑2 basis.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrates awareness of biases, internalized racial superiority, and oppression.
Leads with a racial equity lens and actively uses the racial equity tool in meaningful ways.
Contributes valuable and positive cultural humility transformation in individuals, organizations, and social systems to actively progress across the antiracist multicultural institution continuum.
Demonstrates cultural humility through an awareness of and sensitivity towards Agency’s clients’ and coworkers’ cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.
Believes in the capacity of people to grow and change.
Works from a strengths-based perspective.
Recognizes that consumers come first and responds to consumers appropriately.
Knows and adheres to all FC Policies and Procedures.
Values and participates in the Team as a proactive member.
Respects others’ professional opinions and tolerates a range of feelings.
Able to give and receive constructive criticism.
Willing to take on extra work when needed (i.e. when there is a vacancy).
Performs required tasks according to the program philosophy, policies and procedures.
Is courteous, approachable, and cooperative towards co-workers, clients, support staff, and others and conducts self in a mature, competent, confident, and respectful manner.
Understands and adheres to confidentiality rights of clients, co-workers and agency, consistent with HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), and protects personal health information in written, verbal and electronic forms.
Attends supervision consistently and comes prepared.
Able to receive feedback and to learn from it.
Has insight about self (i.e. strengths and weaknesses) and utilizes that knowledge toward growth and change.

Responsibilities

Provide short term intensive in-home services to a minimum of two families at any given time and up to 18 families yearly.
Provides 24/7 on-call coverage in accordance with the FPS Model requirements to assigned families.
Assist families with establishing goals and strategies for increasing self-sufficiency and provide appropriate referrals and concrete services when necessary.
Provide ongoing assessments for safety risks and utilize interventions to mitigate safety issues.
Case presentation and Documentation
Active part of Family Preservation Services team
Attend meetings, prepare case presentations
Maintain accurate and compliant case records in accordance with NJ FPS documentation standards.
Completes timely documentation as per agency and program guidelines.
Manage time effectively by scheduling and completing all weekly sessions needed in a flexible manner, prioritizing family availability.
Conduct all required services from intake through termination in accordance with the NJ Family Preservation Services (FPS) Model.
Model self-advocacy with families by coaching and empowering them to speak for themselves, while also representing and supporting them in court, school settings, and social service agencies as needed.
Collaborate closely with DCP&P staff and referred families to effectively achieve established goals and fulfill service planning requirements set by DCP&P.
Work effectively as a team member as well as independently.
Complete Family Preservation Services training and other training’s required by Family Connections and/or DCF.
Uphold fidelity to the Family Preservation Services model
In times of crisis is willing to help others and communicates urgent information quickly to supervisor / team.
Maintains clear, consistent, and timely communication with supervisor, before and after sessions and as necessary.
Is punctual for client appointments, meetings, etc.
Meets program productivity requirements
Acts as a Family Connections ambassador in every interaction with families, providers, community agencies etc.
Other duties as assigned