Permanency Specialist

A SECOND CHANCE INC•Pittsburgh, PA

3d•$51,605•Hybrid

About The Position

The Permanency Specialist role focuses on providing comprehensive services to children and families to ensure stable and permanent placements. This includes child preparation for permanency, child-specific recruitment to find family connections, and post-permanency support services to maintain placement stability. The role also involves significant administrative responsibilities, including documentation, reporting, and coordination with various agencies and service providers. The position requires a commitment to working with children and families to achieve positive permanency outcomes.

Requirements

Associate’s Degree in Social Work or 5 years experience in Child Welfare or related field required.
Experience working directly with children and families in the areas of foster care and adoption.
Excellent organizational, verbal and written communication, and inter-personal skills.
Demonstrate leadership tenants and the ability to work independently with children and families.
Excellent case management and client assessment skills.
Ability to work effectively and cooperatively with other professionals and service providers.
Valid Pennsylvania Driver’s License
Registered and insured vehicle
Certificate of Insurance for vehicle
Valid PA Inspection (even if vehicle is registered in another state)
Valid/Clean Motor Vehicle Record
Current Act 33, Police Clearance and FBI Clearance

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree preferred.
Knowledge of Kinship Foster Care services and adoption preferred.

Responsibilities

Maintain a Child Preparation caseload and complete Child Preparation services in accordance with SWAN Standards and agency expectations.
Conduct home visits, child interviews, caregiver meetings, and collateral contacts as required.
Develop and maintain Lifebooks and other permanency preparation activities that promote emotional readiness for permanency.
Complete all required documentation, progress reports, and service plans within established timeframes.
Monitor Child Preparation referrals to ensure timely engagement and service completion.
Provide consultation and support to Child Preparation workers as assigned.
Track Child Preparation outcomes and identify barriers to timely completion.
Maintain a CSR caseload and complete Child Specific Recruitment services in accordance with SWAN Standards.
Develop individualized recruitment strategies to identify permanent family connections for children and youth.
Facilitate Permanency Planning Meetings and participate in CUA, DHS, provider, and court-related meetings as appropriate.
Coordinate recruitment efforts with county agencies, providers, resource families, and community partners.
Monitor CSR referrals, timelines, and permanency outcomes to ensure compliance with contractual expectations.
Review completed CSR reports for quality, accuracy, and adherence to SWAN requirements prior to submission, when assigned.
Analyze recruitment trends and recommend strategies to improve permanency outcomes.
Maintain a Post-Permanency caseload providing Assessment and Case Advocacy services.
Coordinate services and supports for adoptive, kinship, and guardianship families to promote placement stability.
Facilitate family meetings and collaborate with community providers to address identified service needs.
Monitor service plans, referrals, and family progress to ensure timely delivery of services.
Maintain accurate documentation and submit all required reports within established timelines.
Track post-permanency outcomes and identify trends affecting family stabilization.
Interface with CYF/County agencies, DHS, CUA, providers, courts, schools, and community partners to coordinate service delivery.
Prepare monthly reports, progress notes, service plans, and other documentation required by CYF/County agencies, DHS, CUA, SWAN, and A Second Chance, Inc.
Maintain accurate electronic case records and ensure documentation meets agency and contractual standards.
Adhere to all agency policies, confidentiality requirements, and professional standards.
Participate in agency meetings, trainings, committees, and special projects as assigned.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Work on-call hours as directed.
Work evening and weekend hours, as needed.
Interface with all service providers for the purpose of service delivery and goal planning meetings.
Prepare monthly progress reports, service plans and other reports are required by DHS/CUA, DPW, and the agency.
Adhere to all other program and agency policies and procedures governing the objective of the agency and program.
Performs other related duties as assigned.