Family Preservation Specialist Level 2

DEFINITION: A community-based provider who conducts social services in the home to families referred through the contract with Oklahoma Human Services (OHS).  Family Preservation Specialists foster connections between the child and caregiver, and help navigate relationships between the caregivers, state agencies and other public and private agencies to maintain the placement and permanency for the child. The goal of the services is to keep children in their own home or to reunify families after an out-of-home placement has occurred. 

SUPERVISION: Position is supervised by Family Preservation Services Leadership

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS INCLUDE, BHUT NOT LIMITED TO:

• Ability to/and will work independently, coordinating complex cases using a multitude of evidence-based interventions including motivational interviewing, SafeCare curriculum, NorthCare’s HOPE wellness toolkit, and case management strategies.   
• Demonstrates expertise in collaborative, multi-disciplinary care.
• Provides mentorship to colleagues regarding program expectations, quality service delivery, and multi-disciplinary care. Supports teams and colleagues with intakes and case coverage as needed. 
• Promotes an organizational culture within Family Preservation Services, NorthCare and the community that values excellent services, professionalism in presentation as a representative of the program and NorthCare and is warm and engaging. 
• Conducts services that are sensitive with respect to each family’s culture, ethnic origin, race, language, gender, age, religion, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, mental and/or physical challenges. Provides services in a natural environment convenient to the family.
• Ensures families are seen a minimum of one (1) time per week, no less than an hour per family. Service intensity will increase when there are increased safety risks or needs identified in the home.
• Demonstrated the ability to teach communication and negotiation skillsProvides advocacy on behalf of families with schools and other agencies available in the community. Assists consumers in the pursuit of needed resources or services. Arranges for any follow-up services needed following the end of services.
• Coordinates services in a professional manner when collaborating with other service providers to maintain good working relationships in the community.
• Completes intake documentation within 24 hours, progress notes within 72 hours, planned discharges within 24 hours of obtaining signatures and unplanned discharges within 72 hours of directive. 
• Conducts a multi-level family assessment, develops an intervention plan and provides an array of needed services.
• Provides parent-child visitation and family reunification services to families whose children are in state custody.
• Demonstrates the ability to/ and will teach communication and negotiation skills.
• Teach and model skills from the SafeCare Models in Health, Safety, and Planned Activity Training to facilitate the parent’s development of special skills or increase knowledge in the areas of parenting, home management, behavior management, and child development.
• Performs the required number of home visits under the observation of the SafeCare Coach/Trainer to demonstrate the implementation of the SafeCare Models and maintain National SafeCare Home Visitor certification.
• Clocks in and out of PayCom daily. Works a flexible 40-hour full-time schedule being available to families according to their needs and availability. Evening and weekend hours will be required to accommodate the work schedule of each caregiver and school schedules of the children in the family when scheduling appointments.
• Utilize the outlook calendar to submit a weekly schedule which outlines scheduled appointments for the week. The schedule must include the consumer’s name and KK number, current address and telephone number. The Family Preservation Specialist must notify direct leadership of any alterations to the schedule (cancellations, new appointments, missed appointments etc.).
• Attends all agency and program required trainings with Coach/Trainer, DHS staff meetings and program staff meetings as scheduled.
• Always abides by the agency policy on confidentiality and respects the integrity and confidentiality of the family.
• Performs other related duties as required and assigned by the Program Manager, Director and/or executive management.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

Level II: Position requires a Bachelor’s degree in a  related human services field and one year of experience in a related practice setting.  

This position provides community-based services. A community setting is defined as any non-designated NorthCare Office. Community-based staff may be expected to provide services in a multitude of community settings, including but not limited to, a client’s home, in the community at a local venue or agency, outside in a confidential space, via telehealth or in the office. Staff who are considered community based may have limited access to onsite supervision and are expected to use critical thinking skills to ensure appropriate staffing of situations as they present. Staff who are community based are expected to travel to and from appointments and are required to have “business purposes” added to their auto insurance. Community based staff should have access to an internet hotspot to access technology while in the field. They are eligible for a phone and hotspot stipend. Community-based staff are considered essential workers and may be expected to work holidays/weekends/or during closures if required by their program.

This position requires a high degree of flexibility and efficiency. Must display proficiency in the MS Word processing software and intermediate general computer skills. Must demonstrate good interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively communicate verbally with English-speaking patients. Employee must have excellent written and oral communication skills. Must be able to move about facilities freely. Casual professional dress is required with adherence to dress code requirements.  

Due to nature of contract, candidates & employees must report to NorthCare any current or prior confirmed record of child abuse as an adult.  Any such confirmed record must be reviewed by the NorthCare Executive Team for hiring approval or, for current employees, continued employment with NorthCare. 

Must have access to reliable transportation. In state travel is required. Must possess and provide verification of valid driver’s license during employment with NorthCare. Must maintain and provide verification of current automobile liability insurance including uninsured motorist coverage. Must always carry a cell phone, respond to all work-related calls within 60 minutes of receiving a voice mail message, and read and respond to emails daily.

Must possess and maintain CPR, First Aid and Therapeutic Options certifications; or obtain within 30 days of employment with NorthCare. Must have and/or complete all NorthCare Training within 30 days of employment. Must have TB test within 12 months prior to employment with NorthCare or obtain within 30 days of employment with NorthCare.

Every NorthCare employee is responsibility for adhering to any and all laws, professional standards and ethical codes that apply to his/her job responsibilities.