Foster Care Specialist
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Foster Care Specialist

PURPOSE OF POSITION:

Provide support, education and direction to foster parents in their work with special needs children ages birth to age 19.  Develop, implement and monitor a comprehensive plan of care for the child that directs therapeutic intervention. Provide home-based services to the child’s parents that include safety service, education and support in acquiring skills such as parenting and household management

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Establish and maintain contacts with referring workers, foster parents, biological   family members and ancillary professionals to direct, coordinate and facilitate treatment and services for the foster family, the children in care and the biological family.
  • Be available to families and ancillary professionals on an on-call basis. 
  • Provide case management services to develop and implement a treatment plan consistent with permanency plan for the child. To help foster children, foster parents and biological parents problem solve and focus on case plan goals.
  • Provide services in the home of the biological parents that include parent skill development, budgeting, menu planning, and developing community resources.
  • Complete necessary formal written documentation within established guidelines.
  • Prepares less formal documentation including: home visit notations, case notes, contact log and Quality Improvement worksheet, etc.
  • Conduct quarterly care plan conferences to review treatment plan and progress toward treatment goals.
  • Actively participate in team meetings and promote a positive working environment.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Conduct pre-service and ongoing training of foster parents.
  • Participate in agency on-call system.
  • Conduct support groups for children, foster parents and biological parents as directed.
  • Complete training necessary for the position.
  • Other responsibilities and obligations as assigned by the Supervisor.
  • Flexibility to work days, evenings and some weekends.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Bachelor's Degree in Human Services required, Masters' preferred.
  • Minimum of two years experience in the provision of services to children and families
  • Good verbal and written communication skills, basic counseling skills, as evidenced by course work or experience.
  • Must successfully complete CPR training.
  • Knowledge of child development, normal and abnormal psychology, human behavior and motivation, as well as an understanding of community resources and how to access them.
  • Valid drivers license, own vehicle and automobile insurance that meets Agency policy.
  • Have no more than 3 points against his/her Nebraska driver’s license or meet comparable standard in the state where he/she is licensed to drive.
  • Ability to interact with clients and children with sensitivity and responsiveness to cultural and socioeconomic characteristics in the service population.
  • Specialized knowledge, skills and experience required to help the parents improve parenting capacities, maintain ties with their children, and develop and implement a stable, permanent plan for their future.
  • Ability to involve parents in decision making, determine the needs of children and their families and assess placement resources for children in need of placement.
  • Ability to involve children’s parents in day to day decisions.
  • Ability to understand the issues of separation and loss for children in care.
  • Committed to a child’s right to belong to a family, preserving whenever possible, a child’s connection to the family of origin and reuniting a child with his/her family whenever possible.

ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND TYPICAL WORKING CONDITIONS:

  • Flexible hours and some evening work required. 
  • Able to drive during the day and evening hours.
  • Ability to physically access foster homes in various weather conditions.
  • Position can be emotionally stressful because of working with troubled children and their families and all of the systems that this entails. 
  • Position can at times be physically hazardous due to emotional state of children and biological parents; this can result in a sometimes stressful working environment.
  • Corrected hearing and vision within normal range.