Permanency Specialist II (Grand Island) at Nebraska Children's Home Society in Grand Island, Nebraska

Job Description:

Job Classification (Exempt or Non-exempt): Non-Exempt

Reports To: Permanency Coordinator

Job Summary: Responsible for receiving referrals for children involved with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services' child welfare division, conducting a complete family finding process, identifying potential permanency options, support of children and relatives or kinship connections, service planning for the referred children, coordination with referring agencies and the court system.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Identifies permanent placement options for referred children through activities including family finding, and recruiting.
  
  
  • Complete thorough family finding efforts utilizing Kevin Campbell's revised eight step model;
  • Coordinate connections, utilizing calendaring techniques and assisting with background checks, between children with relatives or other supportive adults;
  • Create a thorough service plan, according to agency procedures, ensuring all of the child's needs are met;
  • Complete thorough documentation of all contacts with children according to agency procedures;
  • Provide an updated monthly summary report to the referring agency every month according to agency procedures;
  • Visit the child at least one time each month and according to agency guidelines;
  • Conduct visits and meetings between the child and relatives according to agency procedures, when necessary;
  • Attend all court hearings related to the child and the child's family;
  • Attend all meetings related to the child as requested by the referring agency and according to agency procedures;
  • Work as a collaborative member of the child's professional team.
  
  

• Provide oversight and support to children and matches including.
  
  
  • Assess ongoing potential for reaching and maintaining permanency;
  • Ongoing home visits, individual and group education, and facilitating communication between biological and permanent families, if permanent family is outside of the biological family;
  • Communicate ongoing training opportunities to families;
  • Assist families in accessing all required resources to meet the needs of children placed in the home;
  • Ensure ongoing contact between permanent homes and a child's family members;
  • Assist permanent family with transportation of children to appointments on occasion;
  • Ensure permanency options are cooperative members of the child's professional team;
  • Complete documentation on all service activities according to agency procedures.
  
  

Supplemental Duties and Responsibilities:

• Commitment to NCHS mission and strategic goals;
• Commitment to NCHS CQI initiatives;
• Maintaining a positive and cooperative relationship with all internal and external professionals;
• Participation in agency committees as assigned;
• Completion of at least 12 hours of ongoing education each year specifically related to the position;
• Ongoing compliance with all contract and grant position requirements;
• Positive representation of NCHS in all community settings;
• Adherence to confidentiality policies;
• Demonstration of respect, appreciation, and sensitivity for diversity;
• Facilitate a team atmosphere by working in partnership with agency staff and collaborating partners;
• Engage in community activities designed to raise awareness of the need for permanent homes for youth in the foster care system;
• Other duties as assigned by the Permanency Coordinator.

Qualifications and Requirements:

• Minimum education and experience:
  
  
  • Master's Degree preferred, Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, Human Services or related filed required;
  • Minimum of two (2) years of relevant experience in child welfare;
  
  

• Knowledge, skills, and abilities:
  
  
  • Knowledge of the Nebraska foster care system preferred;
  • Ability to manage a high volume caseload;
  • Capacity to interpret and abide by NCHS policies and procedures;
  • Ability to observe situations with sensitivity and objectivity;
  • Possess high quality written and verbal skills;
  • Knowledge of computer operations;
  • Ability to work independently and self manage;
  • Possession of a vehicle for travel to family homes and meetings;
  • Current driver's license with no more than 3 points assessed;
  • Vehicle insurance with minimum coverage requirements;
  
  
• Physical demands:
  
  
  • Regularly required to speak and hear, walk, climb, sit, use hands and fingers to operate, handle or feel objects and equipment;
  • Ability to lift at least 20 pounds;
  • Ability to enter family homes with different types of entrances and structures.
  
  
• Schedule demands:
  
  
  • Ability to adjust normal work schedule to accommodate the needs of clients, including evening and weekend work.
  
  
• Site factors:
  
  
  • Work is completed in an office setting and in family homes;
  • Local and out of state travel is required.
  
  

Note: The physical demands and work environment characteristics described above are representative of those that will be encountered by a person performing the essential duties and responsibilities of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should visit https://www.nchs.org/careers, locate this position, and click on "Apply Now" beneath the job description to complete the online application form. The application must be completed in full and submitted by the specified closing date for consideration.

Questions?

Please contact Tracy Speidel at 402-677-5275 or at 1800 West Pasewalk Avenue, Suite 202, Norfolk, NE 68701

Apply Now