Permanency Specialist II Youth - Institute for Family Connections

Hillside•City of Rochester, NY

2h•$23 - $31•Onsite

About The Position

The Institute for Family Connections is hiring a Permanency Specialist to work with youth and families participating in Hillside’s Residential Treatment Services on the Monroe Avenue Campus. The role provides individualized permanency planning, including Family Finding services to locate and engage extended relatives and fictive kin who can support each youth’s legal, emotional, and relational permanency. The specialist collaborates continuously with County and community partners, clinicians, and treatment team members to urgently engage family members and other significant adults and build a lifetime network of support for each youth and family. The specialist assesses and addresses the permanency needs of children and youth and partners with families seeking to provide permanency. The role develops strength-based permanency plans that include home time, identifies and coordinates potential permanency resources and natural supports, recognizes gaps and needs, assesses results, and communicates with the youth’s treatment team. The specialist also participates in agency Permanency Roundtables and serves as a permanency consultant to multidisciplinary treatment teams. This is a full-time, 40-hour-per-week position. Hours are primarily Monday through Friday on day shift, with a flexible schedule based on client needs; some evening and weekend availability may be required. The stated pay range is $22.50–$31.00 per hour, based on experience, and may include a regional or department premium.

Requirements

Associate’s degree in human services or a related field and at least 2 years of relevant experience; or a bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, or human services; or a bachelor’s degree in any field and at least 2 years of relevant experience.
Unrestricted, valid New York State driver’s license held for at least 1 year, a clean driving record, and minimum insurance coverage that meets agency standards.
Ability to influence colleagues’ and teams’ philosophy regarding youth permanency.
Ability to implement and facilitate Permanency Round Tables and Model meetings.
Knowledge of the legal and social rights of children, youth, and parents, and ability to ensure these rights are understood and protected.
Problem-solving skills that positively impact decision-making.
Ability to work independently and be self-directed.
Ability to work a variable schedule, including evenings and weekends.
Ability to meet the stated physical demands, including sitting, standing, walking, driving, balancing, occasional bending and other movements, lifting 10–15 pounds, and manual dexterity.
In some life-or-limb situations, ability to physically restrain clients weighing 50–300 pounds and guide them safely to the floor; restraints may last up to 15 minutes and may need to be repeated.
Demonstrate Hillside Professional Competencies: Communicates Effectively, Personal Excellence, Cultural Competence, Builds and Leverages Relationships, and Optimizes Decision Making.

Responsibilities

Implement the Family Finding and/or Child-focused Recruitment Model with assigned youth according to the model’s fidelity requirements.
Facilitate, scribe, and/or coordinate Permanency Roundtables for referred youth.
Engage youth, caregivers, relatives, fictive kin, and other appropriate adults to increase connections and build a lifetime support network for youth and their families.
Support teams in determining the type of permanency intervention needed for youth.
Educate youth, families, providers, and strategic partners, including DSS and OCFS, about the positive impact of Family Finding and/or Wendy’s Wonderful Kids permanency services.
Participate in and provide permanency expertise at Service Plan Reviews, Treatment Conferences, and Benchmark team meetings.
Develop, maintain, and update required documentation promptly, using effective written and oral communication.
Assess and address the permanency needs of children and youth, and partner with families who want to provide permanency.
Increase supports for youth and families enrolled in Institute for Family Connections services by locating and engaging family members and other significant adults.
Create strength-based permanency plans that include home time; identify and coordinate potential permanency resources and natural supports; recognize gaps and needs; assess results; and communicate on an ongoing basis with the youth’s treatment team.
Participate in agency Permanency Roundtables and serve as a Permanency Consultant to multidisciplinary treatment teams.
Perform other duties as assigned.