PERMANENCY SPECIALIST - MARION
About The Position
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is seeking a Permanency Specialist to provide professional child welfare casework services to children and families under general supervision. The role determines the need for and coordinates placement of children in substitute care, conducts interviews to support ongoing problem assessment and treatment planning, and helps promote children’s safety and stability. The specialist works with children and intact families in their homes and in substitute care. The position develops and evaluates service plans, coordinates assessments and services, monitors family progress and parent-child and sibling visits, and supports foster parents and service providers. Duties also include preparing court-related materials and testimony, maintaining case documentation and reports, participating in case reviews and multidisciplinary conferences, building relationships with community and state agencies, and transporting clients as needed. The position includes rotating 24-hour on-call duty and may require overtime, evening, and weekend work. The position is headquartered at 107 Airway Dr, Marion, Illinois. A hybrid schedule may be available, with 2 to 5 days per week in the office depending on operational needs. Travel, including overnight stays when appropriate, is required.
Requirements
- One of the following education and experience combinations is required: a master's degree in social work; a master's degree in a related human service field plus one year of directly related professional casework or case management experience; a bachelor's degree in social work plus one year of directly related professional casework or case management experience; or a bachelor's degree in a related human service field plus two years of directly related professional casework or case management experience.
- Related experience must concern family preservation, family reunification, adoption, youth development, counseling and advocacy services, or a related field.
- Ability to travel for work, including overnight stays as appropriate.
- Valid and appropriate driver's license, daily access to an automobile, and proof of vehicle insurance.
- Completion of a background check and self-disclosure of criminal history.
- Ability to work overtime, including scheduled, unscheduled, or last-minute overtime, evenings, weekends, and 24-hour on-call duty.
Nice To Haves
- Strong organizational skills.
- Strong communication skills.
- Passion for children and interest in supporting the safety and stability of children and youth.
Responsibilities
- Provide professional casework services to children and families and determine the need for and coordinate placements in substitute care.
- Make recommendations and testify in court regarding client history and future plans; assist with preparing witnesses and prepare court-ordered studies.
- Participate in administrative case reviews, inform clients of appeal rights and procedures, and assist with initiating appeals.
- Establish goals for children and parents, prepare progress reports, coordinate comprehensive family-centered and culturally relevant assessments, and maintain ongoing assessments of needs and strengths.
- Evaluate progress toward minimum parenting standards and assess whether services are effective and appropriate for family preservation, reunification, or another permanency outcome; provide feedback to families.
- Work with intact families and children in homes and substitute care; develop service plans, evaluate service delivery, and revise plans and permanency goals as needed.
- Interview clients and professionals to support ongoing diagnosis and treatment planning; counsel clients on available services, provide services directly or make referrals, and implement service plans.
- Provide support, guidance, and coordination to foster parents and service providers, and monitor parent-child and sibling visits.
- Drive to field locations to conduct on-site interviews.
- Transport clients for protective custody, placement changes, appointments, and other service-related needs.
- Prepare and maintain case documentation, agency forms, case notes, payment, eligibility, visitation, and court reports, as well as statistical and narrative reports.
- Participate in case transfer staffings and multidisciplinary diagnostic and technical conferences; contribute to supervisory conferences and casework planning.
- Identify community and agency resources, seek specialized services, and develop and maintain working relationships with community organizations and other state agencies.
- Serve on a rotating 24-hour on-call basis and perform other duties within the scope of the position.
Benefits
- Pension program.
- Competitive group insurance benefits, including health, life, dental, and vision insurance.
- Three paid personal business days annually.
- Twelve paid sick days annually, with unused sick days carrying over from year to year.
- Ten to 25 days of paid vacation annually, with 10 days in the first year of employment.
- Thirteen paid holidays annually, and 14 in even-numbered years.
- Flexible work schedules when available and dependent on position.
- Twelve weeks of paid parental leave.
- Deferred compensation supplemental retirement plan.
- Optional pre-tax Medical Care Assistance Plan and Dependent Care Assistance Plan.
- Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program eligibility.
- GI Bill training and apprenticeship benefits eligibility for qualifying veterans.
- Five percent salary differential for bilingual positions.
- Commuter Savings Program for Chicago employees.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
