Permanency Specialist - Seguin/Gonzales

SJRC Texas•Seguin, TX

12d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Permanency Specialist promotes the well-being of children in the Permanency Program and manages a caseload of children placed outside their homes after removal and placement in CPS conservatorship. The role assesses placement needs, safety, family strengths and needs, and placement resources; plans and facilitates permanency; and supports caregivers in providing safe, nurturing environments. The candidate must reside in Guadalupe County or surrounding areas. Although classified as hybrid, the position requires travel up to 95% of the work week, including visits and appointments that may occur after 5 p.m. The Specialist provides 24-hour on-call support on a rotating basis and may work irregular hours. The position coordinates with agency staff, public and private agencies, courts, care management, foster care and adoption staff, resource exchange contractors, and other partners. Work includes case planning, assessments, documentation, adoption and permanency planning, recruitment of adoptive resources, preparation for independent living, crisis intervention, and support for children and families after permanency is achieved. The role requires cultural sensitivity, regular attendance, and other related duties as assigned. The position requires an associate’s degree in Child Welfare or a related field plus two years of relevant experience, 60 accredited college credit hours plus two years of relevant experience, or 90 accredited college credit hours plus one year of relevant experience. Experience may be substituted for education. A bachelor’s or master’s degree in Child Welfare or a related field is preferred. A valid Texas driver’s license, safe driving record, own transportation, and current automobile insurance are required. The employee must meet agency underwriting standards when driving agency vehicles or transporting clients. The work may involve long days and long-distance driving, home visits in isolated or high-crime areas, and exposure to substandard or unsanitary living conditions. The environment can be fast-paced and emotionally demanding, involving children with moderate to severe emotional and psychological needs. Physical demands include stooping, kneeling, bending, reaching, walking or brisk walking, and lifting up to 60 pounds. Work may take place in home-like settings with moderate to high background noise.

Requirements

Associate’s degree from an accredited college or university in Child Welfare or a related field plus two years of relevant work experience; or 60 accredited college credit hours plus two years of relevant work experience; or 90 accredited college credit hours plus one year of relevant work experience. Experience may be substituted for education.
Valid Texas driver’s license, safe driving record, ability to provide own transportation, and proof of current automobile insurance.
Meet agency insurance underwriting standards when driving agency vehicles and/or transporting clients.
Ability to safely operate a motor vehicle and drive personal or agency vehicles while transporting children or conducting agency business.
Knowledge of child development and family dynamics.
Effective verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and use problem-solving techniques.
Ability to operate a personal computer.
Ability to travel and attend child and family visits, appointments, and meetings, including after 5 p.m.
Ability to be on call on a rotating basis and work irregular hours when necessary.
Ability to work in emotionally demanding settings, including home visits in isolated or high-crime areas and possible exposure to substandard or unsanitary living conditions.
Ability to understand and assist with role changes in foster and kinship care and counsel on separation and loss affecting children, families, and caregivers.
Commitment to children’s right to belong to a family, preserving connections with families of origin when possible, and reunifying children with their biological families.
Knowledge and ability to assess placement and safety needs, family strengths and needs, and placement resources, and to facilitate permanency and support caregivers.
Skills related to separation and loss, family systems, conflict resolution and mediation, loyalty issues, reunification, and adoption.
Ability to remain calm and adapt in fast-paced, emotional environments.
Physical ability to stoop, kneel, bend, reach, walk and walk briskly, drive long distances, work long days, and lift up to 60 pounds.
Must reside within Guadalupe County or surrounding areas.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Child Welfare or a related field.
Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in Child Welfare or a related field.
Training, licensure, or certifications as required by SJRC Texas/Belong.

Responsibilities

Manage a caseload of Permanency placements referred after children are removed from their homes and placed in CPS conservatorship and out-of-home care.
Assess placement needs, child safety, family strengths and needs, and resources available to children and caregivers.
Plan and facilitate permanency and support care providers, kinship caregivers, and adoptive resource families in providing safe, nurturing homes.
Maintain working relationships with public and private agencies involved in Permanency and Adoption services and coordinate services for children and families.
Conduct and coordinate assessments and ensure child and family case records are accurate, complete, and current.
Conduct case planning conferences at required intervals.
Prepare children, youth, and families for permanency through training, mentoring, assessments, consultations, and home visits.
Coordinate cases where adoption is the primary plan or a Permanency Round Table has occurred, including facilitating related requirements with agencies and the court system.
Coordinate with Care Management and Foster Care and Adoption staff on placements in identified adoptive homes.
Work with the Adoption Accelerator to facilitate Permanency Round Table requirements and prepare children for special-needs adoption as required.
Coordinate with the resource exchange contractor to identify potential adoptive resources when no resource has been identified and forward information to the appropriate person.
Work with the Independent Living Coordinator to prepare children for independent living and support youth in independent living placements.
Develop targeted recruitment plans for children without adoptive resources.
Provide 24-hour on-call support and crisis intervention when required.
Meet the needs of children in kinship care and help caregivers provide stable, loving homes for relative children.
Coordinate with Care Management staff to ensure children are placed appropriately and within required timelines.
Coordinate adoption planning and dissolutions, and support the Post Adoption Case Manager in ensuring follow-on services after permanency.
Compile monthly statistical data and reports and submit them to appropriate agencies.
Complete documentation and submit descriptive, analytical, and evaluative reports.
Provide training as required on the process, skills, and practices involved in preparing children and families for adoption.
Advocate for and practice cultural sensitivity and responsiveness, and demonstrate respect for cultural diversity.
Attend work regularly in accordance with agency leave policy and perform other related duties as assigned.