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 position assesses needs, coordinates placements in substitute care facilities, conducts interviews, and contributes to diagnosis and treatment planning. The role supports the safety and stability of children and youth and involves work with both intact families and children in home or substitute care. The specialist develops and reviews service plans and permanency goals, assesses family progress and service effectiveness, counsels clients about available services, and coordinates support for foster parents and service providers. The role also includes court-related work, case documentation and reporting, collaboration with community and state agencies, transportation of clients, and rotating 24-hour on-call duty. The position is based at 107 Airway Dr, Marion, Illinois, with an anticipated hybrid schedule of two to five days per week in the office depending on operational needs. Work hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, with overtime and evening or weekend work possible or required.
Requirements
- Master’s degree in social work; this qualification is stated as preferred.
- Alternatively, a master’s degree in a related human service field plus one year of directly related professional casework or case-management experience in family preservation, family reunification, adoption, youth development, counseling and advocacy services, or a related field.
- Alternatively, a bachelor’s degree in social work plus one year of directly related professional casework or case-management experience in family preservation, family reunification, adoption, youth development, counseling and advocacy services, or a related field.
- Alternatively, a bachelor’s degree in a related human service field plus two years of directly related professional casework or case-management experience in 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.
- Appropriate, valid 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, as well as evenings and weekends and in a 24-hour on-call capacity.
Responsibilities
- Provide professional casework services to children and families and determine the need for, and coordinate, placements in substitute care facilities.
- Make recommendations and testify in court regarding client history and future plans; assist in 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, document progress, and coordinate comprehensive, family-centered, culturally relevant assessments of children and families.
- Assess ongoing needs and strengths; evaluate family progress toward minimum parenting standards and the effectiveness and appropriateness of services toward permanency goals; provide feedback to families.
- Serve rotating 24-hour on-call duty in addition to normal assignments.
- Work with intact families and children in home or substitute care; develop service plans within agency timeframes and review service delivery, plans, and permanency goals.
- Interview clients and professionals to support continued diagnosis and treatment planning; counsel clients on available services and provide or refer them to services.
- Implement service plans and provide support, guidance, and coordination to foster parents and service providers.
- Monitor visits between parents and children in placements and between siblings who are not placed together.
- Drive to field locations to conduct on-site interviews.
- Transport clients for protective custody, placement changes, appointments, and other client services.
- Prepare and maintain case documentation, agency forms, case notes, payment, eligibility, visitation, and court reports, and statistical and narrative reports.
- Participate in case staffings and multidisciplinary diagnostic and technical conferences; contribute to supervisory conferences and consultation for casework planning.
- Identify community and agency resources, seek specialized services for clients, and maintain working relationships with community organizations and other state agencies while explaining agency responsibilities.
- Perform other duties within the reasonable scope of the position.
Benefits
- Pension program and deferred compensation supplemental retirement plan.
- Competitive group insurance benefits, including health, life, dental, and vision insurance.
- Three paid personal business days annually.
- Twelve paid sick days annually, with unused days carrying over from year to year.
- Ten to 25 days of paid vacation annually; 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 the position.
- Twelve weeks of paid parental leave.
- Optional pre-tax medical care and dependent care assistance programs.
- Eligibility for the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
- GI Bill training or apprenticeship benefits eligibility for qualifying veterans.
- Five percent salary differential for bilingual positions.
- Commuter Savings Program for Chicago employees.
- Competitive compensation plan.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
