Intensive Family Preservation Social Worker

LOCATION/SCHEDULE: Winston-Salem/Triad Region, NC

The Homebuilders® practitioner provides HOMEBUILDERS® services as delineated in the HOMEBUILDERS® Standards, including crisis intervention, counseling, skill building, concrete services, and advocacy. This position must live within the assigned Region and be available 24/7 to clients with their supervisor providing backup on-call support. The majority of work completed by this position is done in clients’ homes and within the community.

HIRING RANGE: $43,500 to $51,000 annually

Pre-Hire Requirements

• Must successfully complete extensive background checks, interviews, and pre-hire drug screen

Benefits

• Defined Contribution Benefits Plan including options for:
• Health/Dental/Vision Insurance
• Life, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability plans
• Critical Illness and Accident coverage options
• Flexible Spending Plan
• 401k with employer match (up to 6%)
• Ongoing Training
• 20 Days PTO, 11 Paid Holidays
• In-house Clinical Supervision
• Financial Support for CEU's and License Renewal Fees provided

Job Information

STATUS: Full Time / Exempt

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience

• Meets requirements for HOMEBUILDERS® standards which are one of the following:
• Graduate degree in human services or related field.
• Graduate student in the final year of their program, and at least one year of relevant clinical experience working with children and families.
• Bachelor degree in human services or related field, and at least two years of relevant clinical experience working with children and families.

Skills/Competencies

• Commitment to the HOMEBUILDERS® model. Working knowledge of the state child welfare and mental health systems strongly preferred.
• Ability to establish and maintain positive and effective working relationships with members of caseload and their families, coworkers, and community collaborators.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise discretion and maintain client confidentiality.
• Ability to work adaptively and demonstrate flexibility in a variety of settings.
• Demonstrated ability to operate well in crisis situations and knowledge of cultural issues that can affect care.
• Must be flexible and willing to work with children and families of all ages, races, nationalities, sexual orientations, gender identities, disabilities, and backgrounds.
• Professional interpersonal, communication and organizational skills. Must be able to balance and prioritize multiple tasks and/or projects.
• Demonstrated passion for serving youth and families, and the youth-serving workforce.
• Demonstrated proficiency in the use of email and a variety of computer software programs. Proficiency with Microsoft and Google products preferred.
• Sense of humor, creativity and a willingness to make and learn from mistakes.
• Displays enthusiasm and confidence in taking on tasks and challenges.
• Must have a Valid Driver’s License, a vehicle in good working condition, and must be willing to travel to various job related locations.
• Automobile liability insurance that meets minimum agency requirements.
• Must live in the designated service area and be at least 21 years of age.

JOB DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Adhere to all practitioner components in the HOMEBUILDERS® Standards.
• Serve families whose children are at imminent risk of placement or who are in placement and cannot be reunified without intensive in-home services.
• Provide services primarily in client homes. Travel to client homes and other community locations.
• Schedule sessions at times that are convenient for families, and when problems are likely to occur, including evenings, weekends and holidays. Maintain a flexible workweek.
• When referral agency allows, accept referrals 24 hours a day, 7 days per week.
• Schedule and complete client intake sessions within 24 hours of referral.
• Be available to client families 24 hours a day, 7 days per week with backup from supervisor or other practitioners. Obtain coverage by supervisor or supervisor’s designee if unavailable for an extended period of time (e.g., 12 hours or longer).
• Provide back-up for other practitioners as needed.
• Typically serve 18 to 20 families per year, working with 2 to 3 families at a time.
• Provide 38 or more hours of face-to-face contact per family, over a 4-6 week period and provide booster sessions over .
• Participate in weekly team consultation meeting.
• Consult with the supervisor about every family at least once per week.
• Follow guidelines regarding consulting with supervisor.
• Assess safety, structure the environment and use clinical strategies designed to promote safety.
• Provide a range of clinical, concrete and advocacy services to family members that are consistent with the HOMEBUILDERS® model and the family’s values, learning styles, lifestyle, circumstances and culture.
• Develop and maintain a positive, collegial working relationship with family members.
• Assume responsibility for motivating families and employ motivation enhancement strategies.
• Conduct comprehensive, strength-focused assessment process.
• Collaborate with family members and referents in developing intervention goals and service plans.
• Utilize research-based cognitive/behavioral strategies to facilitate behavior change.
• Utilize a variety of teaching methods.
• Advocate for and provide concrete goods and services (including transportation) that are directly related to the family’s goals, while teaching family members to meet these needs on their own.
• Collaborate and advocate with formal and informal community resources and systems, while teaching family members to advocate for themselves.
• Assess goal progress and families’ ongoing needs.
• Participate in all required practitioner training and QUEST activities.
• Review performance data to identify needed areas for improvement.
• Work with Supervisor to complete professional development plans and performance reviews.
• Work with supervisor and QUEST consultant on quality plans.
• Comply with all IFPS contract requirements.
• Complete and submit all clinical documentation and program paperwork in a timely and accurate manner.
• Use of an online data management system for all clinical documentation.
• Establish and maintain positive working relationships with referring agency staff and other community professionals.
• Represent the agency in community meetings and on interagency teams as directed.
• Other duties as assigned.

TYPICAL WORKING CONDITIONS

• Requires working flexible hours, including evenings, weekends and holidays.
• Work is performed primarily in client homes.
• Requires extensive travel to client homes and throughout the community.
• Involves exposure to tobacco smoke, domestic animals, household pests, and other conditions common to domestic environments.
• Frequent contact with staff and non-staff (e.g., client families, referring agencies, community professionals, community agencies / programs).

PHYSICAL DEMANDS - Light

Position may require lifting to 20 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 10 pounds. Frequent walking, standing, and sitting. Frequent reaching and/or grasping using hands and/or arms. May be required to ascend/descend stairs. Frequent use of hands requiring dexterity in using the telephone, computer keyboard, or other objects. Visual ability including distance, peripheral and depth perception. Ability to drive. Regularly required to talk and hear.

The above list is not all-inclusive. Other responsibilities may become necessary in the course of working routines and therefore be required.