Permanency Specialist

Job Summary:

This position provides unit of service work for resource families, perspective resource families, and children out of home placement. This position will seek to ensure trauma-informed care and the creation and maintenance of a trauma-informed environment for all youth in the program.

 

Essential Functions of the Position:

1. Provides direct supervision, unit of service work, case management, and supportive services for resource families and youth in out of home care.

2. Completes home studies for perspective resource families in accordance with regulations and policies.

3. Completes child and family profiles, child preparation, child specific recruitment, and adoption finalizations.

4. Assists in the coordination of placement services for children referred for foster care including but not limited to matching of children to resource homes and team involvement with resource parents, placing agencies, and other involved community agencies.

5. Conduct home visits and maintains contact with assigned youth and caregivers.

6. Serve as the liaison between the resource families, placing agencies, and other service providers.

7. Works with local county and state agencies toward the adoptive placement of youth.

8. Completes agency and SWAN paperwork as required for billing.

9. Actively participates in team meetings and maintains professional communication with SWAN personnel.

10. Performs on-call duties for placement of children and to provide support to agency resource families and youth after hours on a rotating basis.

 

Professional Responsibilities:

1. Understand and fulfill job duties within the scope of the mission statement.

2. Adhere to the policies and procedures of the agency.

3. Maintain a professional demeanor and ethical behavior at all times.

4. Establish and maintain professional relationships with all agency personnel and outside agencies (OCY, Family Services, schools, etc.).

5. Meet with supervisor biweekly for one-on-one supervision to discuss expectations and job duties.

6. Fulfill training requirements as outlined in the Staff Development policy.

 

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

1. Ability to multitask while maintaining a positive demeanor during periods of increased demands on time and attention from multiple sources.

2. Possess superior communication skills, both verbal and written. This includes the ability to converse with clients and families of various socioeconomic backgrounds in a professional manner.

3. Maintain an understanding of and sensitivity to cultural and ethnic differences.

4. Basic knowledge of counseling principles, theory and practice, and the N.A.S.W. Code of Ethics.

5. Knowledge of current computer software and equipment in order to type and complete reports.

6. Ability to travel utilizing personal vehicle at times.

7. Ability to work independently.

8. Flexible hours often necessary.

 

Required Education, Experience, and Clearances:

1. Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or related field.

2. Experience working in foster care or adoption preferred.

3. At least two years of paid experience in the social service field preferably working

directly with children and families.

4. FBI, Child Abuse History, PA State Police, and Driver Clearances. Other clearances may be required dependent on residency status