Specialized Care Unit Specialist

City of New York • New York City, NY

22h

About The Position

THESE POSITIONS ARE ONLY OPEN TO CANDIDATES WHO ARE PERMAMENT (NOT PROVISIONAL) IN THE CHILD WELFARE SPECIALIST CIVIL SERVICE TITLE THE SELECTED CANDIDATE WILL BE OFFERED A SALARY OF $60,428.00 The Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) protects and promotes the safety and well-being of children and families through child welfare and juvenile justice services and community supports. ACS manages community-based supports and foster care services and provides subsidized childcare vouchers. ACS child protection staff respond to allegations of child maltreatment. In juvenile justice, ACS oversees detention, placement, and programs for youth in the community. The Division of Family Permanency Services (FPS) ensures that high quality services are provided to children in foster care by supporting provider agency staff with technical assistance and other services for children in foster care. FPS staff offer guidance to provider agencies on child welfare policies and procedures to improve service delivery and achieve safety, permanency, and well-being for children in foster care. The Special Care Unit is part of the Office of Provider Agency Collaboration & Engagement (PACE). PACE is committed to promoting better, more informed case decision-making and service delivery outcomes for children, youth and family involved in our child welfare system. PACE works closely with provider agencies to improve their practice and improve permanency for children. The Special Care Unit Specialist is responsible for direct case planning and management for special needs children in foster care who are in highly specialized settings, usually residential treatment facilities and private non-contracted providers. These youth often reside in long term or permanent clinical treatment settings, including facilities operated by the Office of Persons with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), Office of Mental Health (OMH), Skilled Nursing Facilities and Specialized Schools, some are located upstate or in other states. The Special Care Unit Specialist is responsible for the range of case planning and management activities, such as conducting school, agency and home visits, attend case and family team conferences, plan and coordinate services, attend family court permanency hearings and providing reports to court, explore and develop family and resources supporting permanency, and providing timely and relevant documentation in Connections (CNNX).

Requirements

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college.
• Candidates must pass a test to demonstrate English language proficiency.
• Upon satisfactory completion of six months of training and experience at Assignment Level I, an employee shall be assigned to Assignment Level II.
• Upon completion of one year of satisfactory experience at Assignment Level II of Child Welfare Specialist and satisfactory completion of the probationary period an employee shall receive no less than the minimum salary after 18 months in title.
• To be appointed directly to Assignment Level II, a candidate must have, in addition to meeting the minimum qualification requirements set forth above, one year of satisfactory child welfare casework experience.

Responsibilities

• Assess case for child/youth Special Service needs and Permanency Planning
• Complete all required and appropriate casework contacts
• Establish and perform ongoing assessment of permanency goal’s appropriateness
• Conduct all activities supporting progress towards achievement of permanency goal
• Complete all case specific documentation
• Attend all permanency and other family court hearings
• Consult with FCLS attorneys on case/permanency progress
• Collaborate with Interagency and Interagency to support placement and permanency planning
• Coordinate discharge planning from child welfare including, but not limited to OPWDD applications, waiver and other wraparound services, applications for supportive housing and adult residential care, benefits (SSI, PA, etc.), and vital documents

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level