Practitioner - FPS

POSITION TITLE:   Family Preservation Services Practitioner
REPORTS TO: Associate Director, Senior Manager, Manager of FPS
BROAD FUNCTION: Provide direct in-home services to families following the New Jersey Family Preservation model

I. CORE VALUES:

1. Demonstrates awareness of biases, internalized racial superiority, and oppression. Leads with a racial equity lens and actively uses the racial equity tool in meaningful ways.
2. Contributes valuable and positive cultural humility transformation in individuals, organizations, and social systems to actively progress across the antiracist multicultural institution continuum.
3. Demonstrates cultural humility through an awareness of and sensitivity towards Agency’s clients’ and coworkers’ cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.
4. Believes in the capacity of people to grow and change.
5. Works from a strengths-based perspective.
6. Recognizes that consumers come first and responds to consumers appropriately.
7. Knows and adheres to all FC Policies and Procedures.

II. PROFESSIONALISM:

1. Values and participates in the Team as a proactive member.
2. Respects others’ professional opinions and tolerates a range of feelings.
3. Able to give and receive constructive criticism.
4. Willing to take on extra work when needed (i.e. when there is a vacancy).
5. Performs required tasks according to the program philosophy, policies and procedures.
6. Is courteous, approachable, and cooperative towards co-workers, clients, support staff, and others and conducts self in a mature, competent, confident, and respectful manner.
7. Understands and adheres to confidentiality rights of clients, co-workers and agency, consistent with HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), and protects personal health information in written, verbal and electronic forms.

III. SUPERVISION:

1. Attends supervision consistently and comes prepared.
2. Able to receive feedback and to learn from it.
3. Has insight about self (i.e. strengths and weaknesses) and utilizes that knowledge toward growth and change.

IV. DIRECT SERVICE

• Provide short term intensive in-home services to a minimum of two families at any given time and up to 18 families yearly.
• Provides 24/7 on-call coverage in accordance with the FPS Model requirements to assigned families.
• Assist families with establishing goals and strategies for increasing self- sufficiency and provide appropriate referrals and concrete services when necessary.
• Provide ongoing assessments for safety risks and utilize interventions to mitigate safety issues.
• Case presentation and Documentation
  • Active part of Family Preservation Services team
  • Attend meetings, prepare case presentations
  • Maintain accurate and compliant case records in accordance with NJ FPS documentation standards.
  • Completes timely documentation as per agency and program guidelines.
• Manage time effectively by scheduling and completing all weekly sessions needed in a flexible manner, prioritizing family availability.
• Conduct all required services from intake through termination in accordance with the NJ Family Preservation Services (FPS) Model.
• Model self-advocacy with families by coaching and empowering them to speak for themselves, while also representing and supporting them in court, school settings, and social service agencies as needed.
• Collaborate closely with DCP&P staff and referred families to effectively achieve established goals and fulfill service planning requirements set by DCP&P.
• Work effectively as a team member as well as independently.

• Complete Family Preservation Services training and other training’s required by Family Connections and/or DCF.

• Uphold fidelity to the Family Preservation Services model
• In times of crisis is willing to help others and communicates urgent information quickly to supervisor / team.
• Maintains clear, consistent, and timely communication with supervisor, before and after sessions and as necessary.
• Is punctual for client appointments, meetings, etc.
• Meets program productivity requirements
• Acts as a Family Connections ambassador in every interaction with families, providers, community agencies etc.
• Other duties as assigned

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Education & Experience: Master’s in Social Work or equivalent master’s in human services or

Bachelor's degree in social work or related field with at least one and a half years’ experience working with families experiencing crisis.

Must possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey with safe driving record. Experience working with diverse populations.

Availability to conduct sessions on evenings, weekends and holidays.

• Knowledge: Knowledge of the child welfare system, community resources, social services, and mental health systems. Knowledge of appropriate interventions in crisis and non-crisis situations. Knowledge of infant, child and adolescent stages of growth and development. Knowledge of trauma and its effect on children and families. Knowledge of county’s local and highway roads.

• Skills and Abilities: Excellent time management skills. Organizational skills with the ability to manage families and systems of care simultaneously to promote best practices. Outstanding human relations skills and the ability to function autonomously and in a team environment. Effective oral and written communication skills. Effectively solve problems and communicate information, including the identification and communication of problems and/or issues with appropriate team and management staff. Ability to utilize approaches with children and families. Model, coach, support, and mentor parents on use of nurturing and safe parenting. Ability to deliver and score assessment tools. Excellent computer skills with proficiency and working knowledge of database and reporting tools such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint and/or electronic health record systems. Safely operate a motor vehicle abiding by all applicable traffic laws. Ensure safety of all passengers through appropriate safety measures including use of seat belts, car and booster seats and/or child safety locks.

 

• Professional Characteristics: Open, warm, empathic, attentive listener, self-aware, ethical, creative, organized, flexible, open to constructive feedback, patient, responsible, able to work independently, mature, self-motivated, dedicated, enthusiastic, willing to take on additional tasks and responsibilities, interested in seeking additional training and skills. Experience/willingness to work with culturally diverse populations.

 

• Work Environment/Physical Demands: The individual must possess the ability to perform work that requires frequent standing, bending, reaching, squatting, kneeling, moving, and lifting of up to or in excess of 50 pounds. A flexible working schedule with 5 days per week evening availability. Some working time is spent providing services in-home and in community settings.

Salary : $52,500

Vacation & Benefits:

• Vacation: As a full-time employee working generally 35 hours per week, you will be eligible to participate in the Family Connections group benefit plans. Benefits include medical, dental, life insurance, long term disability, retirement plans, and additional supplementary benefits. Yes, you can elect to not enroll into these benefits. You will also be eligible to accrue vacation, personal, and sick days in addition to 12 paid holidays, and summer wellness Fridays.

• Benefits also include professional development assistance, referral program, internal/external trainings, Capella University partnership, 403b retirement plan with employer matching (3% max) (you can enroll in your 403b without a waiting period) , employer-paid life insurance, employer paid Long-term Disability (LTD) insurance, employer paid Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, etc.

Family Connections is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer committed to excellence. Employment offers are made on the basis of qualifications and without regard to race, sex, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability, age veteran status, or sexual orientation or other protected classes under the State and Federal law.