Family Support Specialist (Remote in Maine)
Requisition #: req14172
Location: Auburn, Maine (Franklin, Oxford, and Androscoggin County)
Hours: Full-time (40 hours/week)
This position includes a one-time $1,500 Sign On Bonus! Note: Internal candidates do not qualify for sign-on bonuses.
Potential candidates are required to reside within the vicinity of Franklin, Oxford, and Androscoggin County, Maine.
Bethany is changing the world through family. We began our work by serving one child more than 75 years ago. Today, Bethany is an international Christian nonprofit partnering with communities in more than 30 states and in several countries around the world. We strengthen and preserve families, support displaced people fleeing danger, and find safe, loving families for children who need them. Bethany is at the forefront of creating and implementing solutions to meet the growing needs of vulnerable children and families in the U.S. and around the world.
The HOMEBUILDERS program is an evidence-based model which has been rated as a Well Supported family preservation program by the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse. Emphasis is on child safety and keeping the family together.
The HOMEBUILDERS Specialist is primarily responsible for providing intensive family preservation services using the HOMEBUILDERS model, to include crisis intervention, counseling, skill building, concrete services, and advocacy. In this role, you will simultaneously serve two to three families whose children are at imminent risk of out-of-home placement, or who are in placement and cannot be reunified without intensive in-home services. Services will primarily be rendered in client homes.
ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Conduct clinical interventions that are consistent with HOMEBUILDERS standards, while using a range of clinical, concrete, and advocacy services to family members.
- Conduct data collection and reporting in a thorough and timely manner.
- Provide client-interactive, comprehensive, strength and behavior-focused assessments.
- Work collaboratively with family members and referents in developing intervention goals and service plans directly related to the risk of out-of-home placement, while monitoring the progress, analyzing barriers to goal achievement, and helping families revise goals or plans as needed.
- Serve as a client and family advocate, while also providing concrete goods and services such as transportation as it relates to the family’s goals and teach them how to meet these needs on their own.
- Serve as a back-up and support other practitioners, as needed.
- Comply with service definition and guidelines outlined in the HOMEBUILDERS standards for services.
- Assess the safety and structure of the home environment and use clinical strategies that promote safety.
- Maintain clear and concise documentation of treatment efforts.
- Available to clients 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, while also arranging the appropriate coverage, when needed.
- Keep up-to-date and accurate client progress notes for all clinical and counseling related activities and submit weekly production reports to supervisor in a timely manner in accordance with contract requirement, agency expectations, and program policy.
- Effectively utilize appropriate systems for data gathering, submission, and tracking client services rendered in accordance with time-bound expectations based on contract requirements, agency expectations, and program policy.
- Conduct weekly sessions with families as outlined in the HOMEBUILDERS standards.
- Work collaboratively with direct supervisor to implement quality enhancement or quality improvement plans.
- Establish and maintain referral and community resources.
- Facilitate flexible appointment times outside of regular business hours, and work nontraditional hours in the community, as needed.
- Attend weekly meetings with supervisor to review case plan and direction, and to evaluate client participation and progress.
- Attend weekly group consultation with HOMEBUILDERS team to consult on cases.
- Keep abreast of community resources and refer families for support, as needed.
- Stay abreast of all agency, federal, and state regulatory requirements related to social services.
- Stay up-to-date on treatment modalities and complete trainings as required by funding sources, by attending conferences, seminars, and journal reading.
- Complete other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Social Sciences, Human Services, or related field of study from an accredited college with at least two (2) years of experience working with children and families or a Master’s degree in Social Work, Human Services, or related field of study from an accredited college with experience working with children and families.
- Demonstrated experience working with children and families from diverse cultures with sensitivity to cultural differences and norms.
- Demonstrated ability with providing excellent clinical and crisis intervention skills.
- Knowledge of state, community, and agency resources.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Capacity to engage, respect, and serve a wide range of clients with a nonjudgmental attitude, while empowering the clients served.
- Must have an ability to provide excellent and compassionate customer service.
- Ability to work independently and exercise a high level of confidentiality.
- Computer skills sufficient to perform essential functions including knowledge of Microsoft Office suite.
- Must be willing and able to work outside of normal business hours to include some evenings, weekends, and holidays to address client issues as they arise.
- Candidate must reside within sixty minutes of proximity to families being served.
- Must be 21 years old with a valid driver’s license with at least 3 years driving experience in the U.S. to operate a vehicle on behalf of Bethany. Must also pass a Motor Vehicle Records (MVR) check and maintain a reliable vehicle with proof of adequate insurance coverage.
- Pass a criminal history screen, including state and local child protection agency registries.
- Subscription to and integration of the agency Statement of Faith and Mission Statement.
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