Permanency Specialist

Saint Francis Ministries • Lubbock, TX

6d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Permanency Specialist coordinates and delivers appropriate services and levels of care for youth. This role involves comprehensive assessments, case planning, service coordination, and support for families and children to achieve permanency goals such as reunification or adoption. The specialist will work closely with the court system, other agencies, and support networks to ensure the well-being and successful outcomes for the youth and their families.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work or Human Service Field from an accredited college or university
• Must be 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 and any background checks deemed to be necessary.
• FBI Fingerprint Check
• Lifting requirements of 30-50 lbs.
• Must have valid driver's license, acceptable driving record and reliable transportation
• Mandated reporter
• Receives training in trauma informed practice and incorporates knowledge in 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
• Demonstrates effective written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to travel throughout the State
• Consistently exercises discretion and independent judgment in performance of duties in conformance with applicable policies, procedures, statutes, rules and regulations
• Ability to work with minimal supervision
• Handles multiple priorities
• Independent discretion/decision making within the scope and responsibility of the position
• Manages emotions and can make decisions under pressure
• Manages stress appropriately
• Works alone effectively
• Works in close proximity to others and/or in a distracting environment
• Works with others effectively/teamwork
• Ability to work with diverse populations
• Understands and practices Universal Precautions

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

• Completes initial and ongoing assessments by gathering information from children, families, and collaterals.
• Responsible for initial contact of children within 4 hours of referral and subsequent placement.
• Researches and recommends possible relative placements, giving them priority whenever viable.
• Facilitates and coordinates family meetings.
• Develops and implements case plans and permanency goals with children and families, ensuring that goals are reached within established time frames.
• Determines and recommends which services are needed for the child and family, including mental health, drug and alcohol services, respite care, and supervised or unsupervised visitations/interactions.
• Assists families to establish a support network of family, kinship, and community.
• Prepares families and/or children for moves, reunification, or other appropriate permanency goals.
• Provides intervention for children and families in crisis situations.
• Assesses ongoing case plan goals and recommends reunification, termination of parental rights, or other permanency options.
• Completes reports for court, participates in court proceedings, including testifying, and ensures court orders are followed.
• Completes and maintains written documentation in child/family's case record accurately and within established time frames.
• Supports kinship and foster families to maintain placements and help children work toward permanency.
• If child's permanency goal becomes adoption, completes necessary documents to assist in the adoption process.
• Participates in supervisory and team meetings, sharing pertinent information about children/families' progress, critical trends, barriers, and solutions to achieving outcomes; and relationships with other agencies/communities.
• Participates in monthly supervision.
• Works collaboratively and provides guidance to family support workers assigned.
• Supervises and transports children and families as needed.
• Reports critical incidents to DFPS verbally within 12 hours, written within 24 hours.
• Implements Saint Francis policies and follows directives as required.
• Follows and adheres to all pertinent Saint Francis Standard Operating Procedures (SOP's), rules, personnel policies and procedures; related accreditation and licensure standards; and federal, state and local rules, statutes, regulations, and contractual terms.
• Is knowledgeable of and follows all safety procedures.
• Reports unusual incidents through appropriate Risk Management, clinical and safety channels.
• Ensures clients' rights are protected.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level