Part Time Permanency Specialist

Saint Francis Ministries•Amarillo, TX

About The Position

The Permanency Specialist coordinates and delivers appropriate services and levels of care for youth. The role includes assessing children and families, coordinating placements and services, developing case plans and permanency goals, supporting families through reunification or other permanency outcomes, and ensuring accurate documentation and compliance with court orders and applicable policies. The position is full-time during the initial 13-week training period and transitions to part-time after training. Candidates must be available full-time throughout training. The role requires flexible scheduling, including on-call availability, and travel throughout the state. The specialist may supervise and transport children and families as needed and collaborates with family support workers, other agencies, and communities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in social work or a human service field from an accredited college or university.
Must be at least 21 years of age.
Must pass a drug screen, MVR, criminal history and DFPS history checks, Centralized Background Check Unit Texas Health and Human Services eligibility checks, and any other required background checks.
Must pass an FBI fingerprint check.
Ability to meet lifting requirements of 30–50 pounds.
Valid driver's license, acceptable driving record, and reliable transportation.
Must be a mandated reporter.
Receive training in trauma-informed practice and incorporate that knowledge into day-to-day practice.
Understanding of family-centered practice, genograms, ecomaps, and social histories.
Understanding of the child welfare and state system.
Ability to engage families in working relationships.
Understanding of child and adolescent development.
Effective written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to travel throughout the state.
Ability to exercise discretion and independent judgment in accordance with applicable policies, procedures, statutes, rules, and regulations.
Ability to work with minimal supervision and handle multiple priorities.
Ability to make independent decisions within the scope and responsibility of the position.
Ability to manage emotions, make decisions under pressure, and manage stress appropriately.
Ability to work alone effectively and in close proximity to others or in a distracting environment.
Ability to work effectively with others and as part of a team.
Ability to work with diverse populations.
Understanding and practice of Universal Precautions.
Must commit to full-time availability for the entire 13-week training period and understand the role becomes part-time afterward.
Ability to work a flexible schedule, including on-call.

Nice To Haves

Prefer a minimum of 40 hours of in-service education per year.

Responsibilities

Complete initial and ongoing assessments by gathering information from children, families, and collateral sources.
Make initial contact with children within four hours of referral and subsequent placement.
Research and recommend possible relative placements, prioritizing them whenever viable.
Facilitate and coordinate family meetings.
Develop and implement case plans and permanency goals with children and families, ensuring goals are reached within established time frames.
Determine and recommend services for children and families, including mental health, drug and alcohol services, respite care, and supervised or unsupervised visitations and interactions.
Help families establish support networks among family, kinship, and community members.
Prepare families and children for moves, reunification, or other appropriate permanency goals.
Provide intervention for children and families in crisis situations.
Work with the court system and follow court protocols, including appropriate business attire.
Assess ongoing case-plan goals and recommend reunification, termination of parental rights, or other permanency options.
Prepare court reports, participate in court proceedings including testifying, and ensure court orders are followed.
Complete and maintain accurate written documentation in child and family case records within established time frames.
Support kinship and foster families in maintaining placements and helping children work toward permanency.
Complete necessary documents to assist with adoption when adoption becomes a child's permanency goal.
Participate in supervisory and team meetings, sharing information about progress, trends, barriers, solutions, and agency or community relationships.
Participate in monthly supervision.
Collaborate with and provide guidance to assigned family support workers.
Supervise and transport children and families as needed.
Report critical incidents to DFPS verbally within 12 hours and in writing within 24 hours.
Implement Saint Francis policies and directives and comply with applicable operating procedures, personnel policies, accreditation and licensure standards, and federal, state, and local requirements and contractual terms.
Follow safety procedures and report unusual incidents through appropriate risk management, clinical, and safety channels.
Ensure clients' rights are protected.
Perform other duties as assigned.