JOB SUMMARY
The TFFC Case Planner is responsible for the delivery of social work services to foster families, natural families and children participating in TFFC programming. The Case Planner provides direct therapeutic services to the child and natural family to assist them in coping with whatever issues led to the child’s placement in the program. This includes providing direct counseling to the children and their families, forming and maintaining positive working relationships with foster parents, monitoring of positive time and the ABC charts, coordination of community and school activities and services, coordination and provision of services to natural families, completing and monitoring of all LDSS/ACS paperwork within established time frames, working closely with contracted LDSS/ACS staff, and participating as a member of the TFFC team.
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES
- Responsible for meeting with each child assigned on a regular basis to provide professional counseling and treatment services.
- Responsible for the coordination and monitoring of all community services to the child.
- Responsible for assisting in the placement of the child in school. This includes representing the child and the agency at CSE meetings.
- Responsible for working closely with the child’s school and keeping current on the child’s educational performance.
- Responsible for meeting with the natural family on a regular basis to provide professional counseling and treatment services.
- Responsible for coordinating and supervising family visits both in the natural family’s home, and at the agency, to assess the family’s ability to have the child return to their care. It is the Case Planner’s responsibility to model and reinforce appropriate parenting techniques.
- Responsible for linking and assisting the natural family with community services that will assist them in having the child return to their home.
- Responsible for the coordination of discharges and/or transfers and the coordination of all services to the child and family around this activity.
- The Case Planner must complete diligent efforts to work with the natural family towards the return of the child to the natural family. These efforts must be documented in the case record and available for any Court or LDSS/ACS inspection.
- Responsible for meeting with the foster parents on a regular basis to discuss the child’s progress in the foster home, monitoring the foster parents’ completion of behavioral and positive time charts and assist in the resolution of crisis situations.
- Responsible for providing the foster parents with notice of training and support groups. The Case Planner is also responsible for attending and participating in the foster parent support group and must complete the Parent Skills Training Program.
- Responsible for assisting the foster parent in coordinating all medical, school and therapy appointments and providing transportation if the foster parent is unable to do so
- Responsible for developing and maintaining a positive working relationship with the contracted LDSS workers. The Case panner is responsible for informing the Supervisor of any issues that may arise regarding their cases.
- Responsible for maintaining an up-to-date case record for each child on its caseload. This case record must be available at all times for review and audit.
- Responsible for the completion of all DSS mandated paperwork within established times frames.
- Responsible for coordinating and attending all Family Team Conferences (FTC)/ Service Plan Reviews (SPR) and court functions with LDSS/ACS liaisons. The Case Planner is responsible for following up all agreements with LDSS/ACS with a letter confirming all agreements made.
- Responsible for attending all court dates. The Case Planner should be prepared to present the information in the case record at all court sessions.
- Assists in the re-certification of all foster homes
- Responsible to work closely with the TFFC-Socio-Therapist to coordinate all TFFC services to the child, their natural family, and their foster family.
- Responsible to participate in weekly supervision with the Supervisor. The worker should be prepared to update the Supervisor on all the cases that are assigned to the worker’s caseload. responsible to attend TFFC team meetings. The worker should be ready to discuss all cases assigned to their caseload.
- Responsible to attend all in-service training as assigned by the Supervisor.
- Any other related duties as required.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
- The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. An employee in this position is regularly required to stand; walk, use hands and fingers, handle, or feel objects; reach with hands and arms; talk and listen, and taste or smell. The employee frequently is required to walk. The employee is occasionally required to keep balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
- Computer – The Case Planner must be able to use a computer and able to learn software programs
- Office Equipment- The Case Planner is required to operate a fax, copier, scan, and other office equipment.
- Communication - The Case Planner needs to be able to speak, read and write fluently in the English language
- Writing - The Case Planner must be able to write in the English language using correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc.
- Driving - The Case Planner must have a valid Driver’s License and a clean driving record.
- Lifting - The Case Planner may frequently lift 0-25 lbs., occasionally lift 25-50 lbs., and rarely lift over 50 lbs.
- Push/Pull - The Case Planner may frequently push/pull 0-25 lbs. of force, occasionally push/pull 26-45 lbs. force, and rarely push/pull over 45 lbs.
- Sitting, Standing and Walking – The Case Planner will be required to sit, stand and walk throughout the work day.
- Stooping -The Case Planner may occasionally stoop. This is defined as bending body downward by bending spine at the waist.
- Kneeling -The Case Planner may occasionally kneel. This is defined as bending legs at knees to come to rest on knee(s).
- Crouching - The Case Planner may occasionally crouch. This is defined as bending body downward and forward by bending spine and legs.
- Work environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently works in an office environment. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate due to talk and movement of the program participants and other co- workers. The noise level can increase on occasion due to yelling or screaming by the participants of the programs.
Qualifications
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's Degree required and/or Master's Degree preferred in Social Work or related field
- A minimum of 3 years child welfare experience
- Valid driver's license required
- Excellent counseling, communication, interpersonal and writing skills
- Knowledge of community service providers (agencies)
HOURS AND TIME OF WORK
Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm traditionally but may include evening and weekends to accommodate the families schedule, must be available for on-call emergencies and support.