Therapeutic Case Manager

The Therapeutic Case Manager plays a pivotal role in supporting youth in both Therapeutic and Regular Foster Care, providing essential case management and coordination services. They work closely with youth, families, social workers, and legal advocates to develop personalized behavior support plans and support the youths' cultural needs. Additionally, they assist the Department of Children, Youth and Families in stability and permanency planning and placement within therapeutic foster homes. Their responsibilities include linking children to various services and ensuring their well-being while striving for successful transitions towards permanency and their communities.

SCHEDULE: Monday through Friday 9:00AM to 5:30PM

REPORTS TO: Manager of Foster Care Services

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

A. Monitoring  

• Maintain children and youth caseloads for youth 0-18 years of age. A standard caseload consists of 8 to 12 clients. Caseloads may increase if regular-level foster children are assigned. 
• Screen referrals for admission by reviewing records and facilitate pre-placement interviews between referrals and foster parents. 

• Minimize program vacancies by timely placement of appropriately screened clients. 
• Meet one hour per week for individual supervision with the Manager of Foster Care Services to elevate questions, discuss cases, and discuss treatment progress.
• Assist in the rotation of the emergency crisis phone and respond as needed
• Collaborate and facilitate quarterly treatment service plans, goals, modalities, and individualized approaches for each youth on their caseload.
• Complete timely assessments for DCYF as contracted. 
• Contact and develop community resources to support youth's treatment plans, goals, and discharge planning. 
• Establish aftercare treatment plans for all youth on caseload. Monitor and implement these aftercare plans. 

D. Administration 

• Participate a minimum of one hour per week in group supervision with other foster care employee members.
• Complete, in a timely manner, forms and required reports. 
• Provide information about the agency to individuals, groups, and organizations when requested. 
• Attend agency and professional group seminars and conferences to enhance professional knowledge and skills. 
• Familiarize themselves with requirements of funding and referring agencies. Contact significant individuals in these agencies to maintain a functional working relationship (for casework and funding purposes). 
• Follow all Washington Administrative Codes (WACs), DCYF policy and procedures, and Council on Accreditation (COA) guidelines. 
• Ensure all client files are organized and up-to-date weekly, including intake/discharge, legal, medical, dental, and treatment documentation.
• Support the onboarding of new employees, by providing assistance and guidance as needed to ensure smooth transitions within the program.

C. Client Services

• Maintain weekly contact with each assigned client, and have at least two documented home visits with client to assess health and safety and discuss progress toward treatment goals.
• Assist in selecting, screening, licensing, and training prospective foster parents. 
• Be available to foster parents to work through therapeutic or case management emergencies. 
• Assist in and attend, foster family monthly support meetings and other activities that may be scheduled. 
• Disseminate and implement agency policies. 
• Design treatment methods that incorporate agency goals, policies, and procedures. 
• Conduct individual, group, and family counseling sessions, on both a scheduled and spontaneous basis to assist in supporting youth and the foster parents. 
• Assist foster parents in their role as primary life skills educators.
• Facilitate monthly Child Family Team meetings with the youth and the youth’s treatment team.
• Ensure completion of timely assessments and quarterly reports as contracted.
• Assist foster parents in providing transportation of youth to appointments, community resources, and meetings.
• Provide support to and collaborate with foster care team to carry out services to youth in the program.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

A. Education and Experience 

1.Master’s Degree in social services or a closely related field, with one-year professional experience in mental health/social work field, preferred or a Bachelor’s Degree in social services or a closely related field with at least three years’ experience working with children or youth in the social services field.

2. Case management experience is strongly preferred.

B. Additional Requirements

1. Must be 21 years of age or older. 
2. Must satisfactorily pass criminal history check  
3. Must satisfactorily pass tuberculosis (TB) test. 
4. Complete a de-escalation and restraint training within the first 45 days of employment to be eligible to be involved in the restraint of a youth if necessary.   
5. Must have reliable transportation and a valid Washington State driver's license (or be able to obtain one by date of employment).  
6. Employees and volunteers who operate their own or Friends of Youth vehicles on Friends of Youth business, must have a safe driving record as defined by Friends of Youth.  
7. Employees and volunteers who operate their own vehicle(s) on Friends of Youth business must carry auto liability insurance that complies with the requirements of Friends of Youth.  
8. Must successfully complete the following health certification requirements within 30 days of employment: CPR, First Aid and Bloodborne Pathogens.  
9. Proof of the following vaccinations is required: First two doses of COVID-19, influenza (during flu season), Varicella (two doses or titers indicating immunity), MMR (two doses or titers indicating immunity). Tdap (one dose).

C. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. Able to engage with diverse populations in a culturally responsive manner.
2. Demonstrate a commitment to the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion by honoring and celebrating diverse characteristics and expressions of personal identity.
3. Strong commitment to Friends of Youth’s mission, vision, and values.
4. Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
5. Strong organizational ability. 
6. Excellent verbal and written communication skills.  
7. Working knowledge of the principles of trauma informed care, positive youth development, and harm reduction within culturally appropriate frameworks. 
8. Knowledge of Council on Accreditation (COA) and Washington Administrative Code (WAC) for Foster Homes preferred. 
9. Able to adapt and respond to change effectively; proactively seek opportunities supportive of change. 
10. Able to identify challenges and formulate and implement solutions, utilizing the expertise and input of others. 
11. Ability to be flexible and responsive to the needs of youth in care and employees.  
12. When on-call, must be able to respond in person, as needed, and address emergent and safety concerns within a reasonable amount of time 24 hours a day.  
13. High integrity when dealing with restricted, and/or confidential information. 
14. Ability to accurately maintain and produce files, records, logs, and reports. 
15. Ability to maintain professional boundaries with clients while building trust and respect. 
16. Cultivate an atmosphere of inclusivity and respect for everyone.  
17. Ability to develop and maintain community resources.  
18. Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends required. 

We offer:

• Generous time off including 15 vacation days per year, paid sick leave, 11 paid holidays, 2 social justice leave days per year for full-time employees
• Health insurance package including medical, dental, vision, 24/7 access to telehealth, long term disability and life insurance
• Retirement plan with match
• Transgender Health Benefits