Practitioner - FPS

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

• 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.
• Contributes valuable and positive cultural humility transformation in individuals, organizations, and social systems to actively progress across the antiracist multicultural institution continuum.
• Demonstrates cultural humility through an awareness of and sensitivity towards Agency's clients' and coworkers' cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.
• Believes in the capacity of people to grow and change.
• Works from a strengths-based perspective.
• Recognizes that consumers come first and responds to consumers appropriately.
• Knows and adheres to all FC Policies and Procedures.

• Values and participates in the Team as a proactive member.
• Respects others' professional opinions and tolerates a range of feelings.
• Able to give and receive constructive criticism.
• Willing to take on extra work when needed (i.e. when there is a vacancy).
• Performs required tasks according to the program philosophy, policies and procedures.
• Is courteous, approachable, and cooperative towards co-workers, clients, support staff, and others and conducts self in a mature, competent, confident, and respectful manner.
• 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.

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

• 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

• 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…