Foster Care Specialist

 FOSTER CARE SPECIALIST

I. GENERAL STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES: 

 Under general direction the social worker provides intensive family-centered casework services to birth and foster/adoptive parents and children upon case assignment; works a non-traditional, flexible workweek including evenings and weekends when necessary, transports family members using own vehicle when necessary, carries a pager for access twenty-four/seven days a week, responds to family crisis in efforts of maintaining family member’s safety and reinstating family stability, coordinates the provision of collateral services as required by the State of Michigan laws, Services Manual Items, Child Welfare licensing requirements and
applicable Service Standards. 

II. QUALIFICATIONS:
 

A. Education: Possession of a Bachelor’s degree one of the following human services areas: social work, sociology, psychology, forensic psychology, interdisciplinary studies in social science, education, community development, law enforcement, behavioral science, gerontology,special education, education of the emotionally disturbed, education of the gifted, family ecology, community services, family studies, family and/or child development, counseling psychology, criminal justice, human services or in a human services-related counseling major.  

B. Experience: One-year experience working with families and assessment skills preferred. 

C. Skills: interpersonal skills, time management skills, conflict resolution skills, computer skills, and documentation skills  

D. Knowledge: strength based family work, solution focused treatment, wrap around process, child development, child welfare laws, foster care policies/process
and procedures 

E. Transportation: Reliable and ongoing as required to make home visits and provide transportation to youth and families, valid unrestricted driver’s license, good driving record, proof of automobile insurance. 

F. Other: State of Michigan Licensing Requirements: Satisfactory Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Central Registry Clearance and State Police Record Check, negative TB Test, satisfactory physical exam.  

III. GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Monitors and insures the safety and well-being of all assigned clients, provides all necessary service referrals and/or direct treatment services to any/all family
members to meet any or/all individual, family or program goals, documents all progress for clients, works cooperatively with any/all service providers, participates as applicable in all required court hearing. 

IV. SPECIFIC DUTIES:  

Case Management  

• Provides social work services to families for support/assistance in the process of family reunification or other appropriate permanent placement, including any referrals for services as needed, documents all referrals and follow-up. 
• Available to team and assigned families via cell phone 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Participate in a system of 24-hour availability to birth and foster families in crisis. 
• Advocate by attending/facilitating meetings with other service providers (court, school, hospital, and any others) as needed in order to expedite and coordinate services for the family. 
• Works cooperatively with the Clinical Support, Family Reunification, Licensing and Foster Care/Adoption staff, obtaining consultation and therapeutic services as required for achieving treatment goals. 
• Work with families to develop treatment plans directed toward alleviating the conditions that led to the removal of the child/children. Assist the family with safety plans and provide crisis intervention as needed. 
• Educate, teach and model skills in parenting, childcare, communication, household management and other needed areas in order to strengthen the overall family functioning. 
• Work a flexible schedule, which meets the needs of assigned families. 
• Provides relative or birth parent home assessment (and documentation) for possible child placement. 
• Keeps track of the placement of siblings of foster youth, coordinating service delivery on cases involving split family work responsibilities. 
• Reports foster home non-compliance to licensing staff. 

· Provides direct service as needed to insure continuous agency supervision and service provision to birth parents and their children in accordance with services plans and as required by licensing and funding bodies.  

• Keeps supervisor fully informed of case progress and case status orally and in writing as required: meets with supervisor individually and in meetings as may be required. 
• Produces written reports and letters that are organized in thought, display correct grammar and spelling, and employ professional language, meeting Service Standard requirements for content. 
• Identifies and shares community resources information, assists in the maintenance of the foster care resource manual and resource center. 
• Travels to various locations (homes, schools, places of employment, community resources) and transports youth and families as needed to facilitate the success of the treatment plan. 

Work with Court  

• Prepares and educates birth families and youth on the Court process, encouraging their participation at hearings. 
• Attends and represents the agency (consistent with all agency policies), at all required court hearings, giving testimony, making recommendations as approved by the immediate supervisor, and complying with Court and SDI protocol. 
• In cooperation with an appropriate Supervisor, makes referrals to Protective Services according to the Child Welfare Laws, assuring that the agency fulfills its responsibilities as specified by current policies and procedures of both the State of Michigan and Spectrum Human Services. 
• Protects confidentiality, appropriately sharing information for the benefit of the client, and obtaining releases of information as necessary. 
• Displays professional courtesy by being on time for all visits/appointments and meetings, canceling or rescheduling appointments if necessary (ahead of time when possible), and arranging for coverage during absences. 

Training:  

• Attends and participates all mandatory training, team meetings, individual supervision, conferences and staff meetings as scheduled in order to facilitate peer interaction and skill building to help insure that quality services are delivered. 
• Reads and stays familiar with all Service Standards applicable to Foster Care Programs, i.e., Department of Health and Human Services Foster Care Manual items, Child Welfare Laws, Licensing Manual, Program Manual, Foster Parent Manual, and Foster Care Master Contracts. Applies these requirements to day-to-day and ongoing provision of services. 

Computer  

• Assists in the maintenance of the Client Information System by entering or submitting data as required 
• Complete any/all computer generated tasks within specific time frames 

General 

· Completes any/all tasks and duties as assigned by Spectrum Administrative staff.  

• Complies with all Spectrum Personnel Policies and procedures. 
• Professionally represents the agency’s programs and services in the community through interagency committees and organizations, and public speaking. 
• Maintains assigned case files consistent with agency protocol. 
• Uses keys, identification cards, office equipment and supplies: and all other assigned property appropriately: informs supervisor immediately if assigned property is lost, stolen or broken: returns all assigned property in good repair upon termination of employment. 
• Works on assigned committees, completing special projects, and participating in Agency decision-making as needed. 

V. STANDARDS 

· Court reports are due to the supervisor 10 calendar days prior to court 

· Court reports are due to court 7 calendar days prior to court 

· Service plans are due on the due date 

· Service plans must be signed by the specialist and supervisor and uploaded into MiSACWIS by the 14th calendar day after the report due date 

· Children are required to be seen monthly 

· Parents are required to be seen monthly 

· Parents are required to be seen in their home quarterly 

· Siblings are required to visit with each other (outside of parenting time) at least one time per month. 

· Parents shall have visitation according to the age of the child, up to 3 hours a week 

· FTMS are to be completed within 30 days prior to the service plan due date. The specialist is expected to know the other trigger dates for an FTM, as well 

· Children taking psychotropic medication are required to have an updated psychotropic consent form annually or any time a medication changes 

· Children are required to receive a Child Bill of Rights annually 

· Children are required to have periodic medical evaluations based on their age 

· Children are required to have at least annual dental evaluations 

· Medical Passports are required to be complete quarterly and signed by the primary care physical, therapist, psychiatrists, specialists, and providers for OT, PT, and
speech therapists 

· Placement Except Requests for sibling splits and residential placements are to be
completed quarterly.