Supervising Therapeutic Visitation Specialist

Family Connections, Inc.•East Orange, NJ

4d•$70,000 - $75,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Supervising Therapeutic Visitation Specialist will oversee a team of clinicians and provide therapeutic visitation services. This role involves demonstrating awareness of biases, leading with a racial equity lens, and contributing to cultural humility transformation. The position requires a commitment to the value of a nurturing family, working from a strength-based perspective, and prioritizing consumers. Adherence to all agency policies and procedures, including Quality Improvement (QI) policies, is expected. Professionalism includes valuing and participating in the team, respecting others' opinions, being open to constructive criticism, and willingness to take on extra work as needed. The role also involves consistent attendance and preparation for supervision, openness to feedback, and self-awareness for growth.

Requirements

Master’s degree in social work or related field (e.g. counseling)
Valid professional license: (LPC, LCSW, LAC, LSW, CSW)
Driver's license valid in New Jersey with safe driving record
Minimum of one (1) year of work experience with children and families, particularly families involved with the child welfare system and/or affected by trauma.
Experience working with diverse populations.
Knowledge of the child welfare system, community resources, social services, and mental health systems.
Knowledge of appropriate therapeutic interventions in crisis and non-crisis situations.
Knowledge of infant, child, and adolescent stages of growth and development.
Knowledge of trauma and its effect on children and families.
Knowledge of county’s local and highway roads.
Excellent time management skills.
Organizational skills with the ability to manage numerous visiting families and systems of care simultaneously to promote best practices.
Outstanding human relations skills and the ability to function autonomously and in a team environment.
Effective oral and written communication skills.
Effectively solve problems and communicate information, including the identification and communication of problems and/or issues with appropriate team and management staff.
Ability to utilize therapeutic approaches with children and families.
Model, coach, support, and mentor parents on the use of nurturing and safe parenting.
Ability to deliver and score assessment tools.
Excellent computer skills with proficiency and working knowledge of database and reporting tools such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint and/or electronic health record systems.
Safely operate a motor vehicle abiding by all applicable traffic laws.
Ensure the safety of all passengers through appropriate safety measures including use of seat belts, car and booster seats and/or child safety locks.
Open, warm, empathic, attentive listener, self-aware, ethical, creative, organized, flexible, open to constructive feedback, patient, responsible, able to work independently, mature, self-motivated, dedicated, enthusiastic, willing to take on additional tasks and responsibilities, interested in seeking additional training and skills.
Experience/willingness to work with culturally diverse populations.
Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States and eligible for full‑time employment on a W‑2 basis.

Nice To Haves

LCSW or LPC, with clinical supervision certification is preferred.

Responsibilities

Maintains and/or develops expertise in the SVS model.
Oversees team of Therapeutic Visitation Specialists.
Facilitates and co-facilitates on-boarding and staff training for team.
Ensures all vehicle maintenance is completed for clinician-team fleet in collaboration with Coordinator in accordance with vehicle policies and procedures.
Be an active, positive stakeholder in the communication feedback loop among administration, supervising visitation specialists, and all direct service staff.
Support a positive relationship between service and administration that is balanced with accountability, positive morale, and support.
Support staff’s facilitation and/or documentation of Visit Planning Meetings when assistance is required.
Support staff’s completion of caregiver surveys, assist staff with scheduling as needed.
Ensure the team’s documentation is complete in accordance with the SVS model.
Share on- call responsibilities with leadership.
Regularly attends chosen sub-committee.
Schedules and conducts visits in the least-restrictive, most home-like location (the first preference being within the family's home) while ensuring the safety of the children.
Initiates and maintains ongoing communication with families that is culturally sensitive, utilizing family’s preferred language considering a family’s faith and culture.
Ensures the environment for parent-child contact is safe, non-traumatizing, and promotes healthy attachment.
Uses strengths-based, solutions-focused, family centered, trauma informed strategies to elicit family input.
Advocates for parents/families as necessary and supports them in advocating for themselves.
Uses a process to gather information which includes reviewing collateral information and inquiring about family's natural supports.
Completes required assessment tools including but not limited to bio-psychosocial assessments, Rose Wentz Matrix and SVS Caregiver Surveys.
Documents contacts with families in agency's progress notes and DCP&P contact sheets.
Creates a visitation plan with active familial involvement and updates the plan at regular intervals.
Facilitates visit planning meetings and participates in other relevant meetings.
Initiates and maintains ongoing communication with DCP&P, other providers, and supports.
Links the family to community resources, formal and informal supports, and coordinates with DCP&P.
Collaborates with and shares relevant information with DCP&P staff, other providers, and supports.
Provides therapeutic support and modeling around appropriate and nurturing parenting.
Uses clinical interventions and trauma informed approaches to promote behavioral change in caregivers and children through education, modeling, reinforcement, and empowerment.
Interventions may include but are not limited to: Elements of family counseling, play therapy, art therapy, and/or individual therapy; focused on improving parenting skills, attunement, and communication within the family.
Intervening in the event of a safety issue.
Incorporating trauma informed care to all facets of treatment.
Creates an environment that empowers family members, including parents, children, and caregivers to communicate their goals and needs.
Utilizes various interviewing and/or communication techniques in a culturally competent manner.
Recognizes non-verbal communication and maintains good eye contact and posture.
Enhances parental skills by goal setting, modeling, mentoring, reinforcement, feedback and reflection through a trauma-informed perspective.
Prepares for each visit with caregivers reviewing goals and expectations and encouraging them to be the lead in visit planning.
Debriefs with caregivers after each visit to allow for processing and self-reflection and discussion of strengths and challenges.
Provides in-home aftercare services in the event of reunification of families.
Provides transportation for parents and/or children to and from visitation location.
Engages in case presentations and completes timely documentation.
Prepares case presentations and engages in case discussions/consultations.
Maintains electronic health record and completes all internal and external documentation needs in accordance with program guidelines.
Perform other duties as assigned