Part Time Permanency Specialist

Saint Francis Ministries•Amarillo, TX

11d

About The Position

The Permanency Specialist coordinates the delivery of appropriate services and levels of care for youth. The position completes assessments, develops case plans and permanency goals with children and families, coordinates services and family meetings, supports placements, and helps children and families progress toward permanency. The role involves working with families, kinship and foster caregivers, courts, and other agencies, as well as maintaining accurate case records and complying with Saint Francis policies and applicable laws and standards. The position is full-time during an initial 13-week training period and transitions to part-time after training. Candidates must be available full-time throughout training and understand that the position becomes part-time afterward. The role requires a flexible schedule, including on-call availability, and travel throughout the state.

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 Check, Centralized Background Check Unit Texas Health and Human Services Eligibility check, any other required background checks, and an FBI Fingerprint Check.
Must meet lifting requirements of 30–50 lbs.
Must have a valid driver's license, acceptable driving record, and reliable transportation.
Must be a mandated reporter.
Ability to work a flexible schedule, including on-call.
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 manage multiple priorities.
Ability to manage emotions, make decisions under pressure, and manage stress appropriately.
Ability to work effectively alone and in close proximity to others and/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 be available full-time for the entire initial 13-week training period and understand the role becomes part-time after training.

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 contacts.
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 needed by children and families, including mental health, drug and alcohol services, respite care, and supervised or unsupervised visits and interactions.
Help families establish support networks of family, kinship, and community.
Prepare families and/or 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 case plan goals and recommend reunification, termination of parental rights, or other permanency options.
Complete 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 the child's permanency goal.
Participate in supervisory and team meetings, sharing relevant information about progress, trends, barriers, solutions, and relationships with other agencies and communities.
Participate in monthly supervision.
Work collaboratively 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 follow directives, SOPs, personnel policies and procedures, applicable 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.