Job Details

Overview

The PLACEMENT SPECIALIST (50816) role at Children's Home Society of North Carolina works to ensure that the needs of all children in foster/adoptive placements are met. The Placement Specialist is responsible for delivery of comprehensive Permanency Services, foster care and adoption, to children and licensed/adoptive families, including therapeutic foster care. This persons responsibilities include facilitation of placements, associated visitation, case management, case documentation, and data entry. The Placement Specialist is also responsible for associated program support, public relations, outreach, and recruitment.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive foster and adoption services, pre-placement assessment updates, and pre- and post-placement services to CHS clients, or to clients of other agencies for whom CHS has contracted to provide services.
• Maintain records on all licensed homes on caseload.
• Conduct quarterly mandatory visits.
• Maintain consistent communication with foster and adoptive families as mandated by contracts.
• Collaborate with Program Supervisor and/or Senior Program Director, be prepared to select homes for children as needed, arrange for respite care, and coordinate information about children before foster or adoptive placements.
• Provide adoption services for foster parents adopting children who are receiving CHS foster care services in their homes.
• Maintain monthly visitation and case management services for children in foster care and provide them with comprehensive foster care services to include program assessments.
• Provide therapeutic foster care placements with weekly clinical supervision, maintain authorizations, participate in treatment teams and other required meetings, and keep current all required Medicaid/MCO case documentation in client database.
• Enter data and required case documentation into client database (Echo/Binti) by the last day of the month and submit by the 5th of the following month to Program Supervisor.
• Prepare for annual and follow-up audit visits from the State Department of Social Services representatives for agency re-licensing, Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) for therapeutic foster care services, and other licensing or regulatory entities.
• Participate in Continuous Quality Improvement process.
• Participate in supervision with supervisor as required.
• Collaborate with other staff in providing support services and planning social events for foster and adoptive families each year.
• Provide social work assistance to other Permanency programs when deemed necessary by the supervising staff or agency.
• Adhere to Social Work Code of Ethics or to the Code of Ethics appropriate to the applicable licensure/credentialing and comply with professional standards of the Child Welfare League.
• Participate in outreach efforts, including media contacts, speakers bureaus, working with volunteers and fundraising, advocacy, or public awareness events, and networking with other agencies regarding adoption and adoption issues.
• Perform other duties related to agency and departmental goals and projects as needed.
• Contribute to a positive, engaging work environment.
• Display sensitivity to the service populations cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.
• Demonstrate the CHS Mission, Vision, and Values in the performance of all job duties.
• Develop a strong knowledge base and stay current on job-related issues and trends.
• Participate actively in departmental meetings, training, and education, as well as the quality process.
• Comply with CHSs code of conduct, policies, procedures, and other obligations.
• Perform other duties related to department goals and projects as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in social work or related human services degree from an accredited college or university required, masters degree in social work highly preferred.
• TIPS-MAPP/Deciding Together training and State Foster Care Licensing training preferred.
• 2-5 years child welfare services experience required.

Competencies

• Knowledge of: Case Management | Child Welfare System | Adoption & Foster Care
• Skills and Proficiency in: Must operate in a professional work environment with the ability to work independently while maintaining adherence to deadlines.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with proven effective organizational and time management skills.
• Intermediate computer skills (Microsoft Applications as well as electronic data systems, time sheets, expense reports, use of virtual platforms for meetings).
• Must be physically able to use standard office equipment such as computers, telephones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.
• Ability to transport clients in own vehicle, conduct on-site visits, and lift/move up to 25 pounds while supporting needs of the clients.
• Frequent travel required.
• Availability for occasional evening and weekend hours.
• Maintain a valid North Carolina drivers license, adequate auto insurance, and have access to an operating vehicle to attend CHS business.

Schedule & Travel

This position is a salary-exempt job that will require some weekends and evening work, in addition to working a standard scheduled week. The ability to work flexible hours is required to meet business needs. If working remotely, the employee must be available by telephone and email during specified hours. Frequent travel required to conduct business-related activities.

Physical Effort & Work Environment

• Reasonable accommodations will be made for individuals with disabilities.
• Sitting: Will remain in a seated position.
• Fingering/Grasping: Repetitive tasks including keyboarding, handwriting and equipment operation.
• Standing/Walking: Will move about from one area of the workplace to another.
• Climbing/Stooping/Reaching: Will bend, twist, squat, stoop, kneel, crouch and reach at or above shoulder level.
• Lifting: Will lift and carry objects up to 25 lbs.
• Pulling/Pushing: Will transport loads of up to 40 lbs.
• Work Environment: Will work in office/care facility/home environment; with possible exposure to communicable diseases and/or uncontrolled situations.