CASE PLANNER

The Case Planner provides case management and casework services to children in foster care and their families. This role is responsible for assessing and monitoring child safety and well-being, while developing and implementing service plans to support timely permanency outcomes. The Case Planner works collaboratively with children, families, foster parents, service providers, and the courts to ensure coordinated care. Responsibilities include maintaining accurate documentation and ensuring compliance with all applicable regulatory and agency requirements.

• Maintain assigned caseload in accordance with ACS, OCFS, and agency standards, ensuring timely and effective casework practice and services.
• Conduct ongoing assessments of child safety, well-being, family functioning, and permanency needs, utilizing trauma-informed and family-centered practices.
• Develop, implement, and update Family Assessment and Service Plans (FASPs) and related service plans in accordance with ACS, OCFS, Family Court mandates, and federal permanency guidelines to support timely permanency outcomes.
• Conduct required face-to-face contacts and home visits with children, foster parents, and families to monitor safety, well-being, and placement stability.
• Establish, review, and adjust permanency goals in collaboration with Family Court, ACS, families, foster parents, and service providers, promoting reunification or other permanency outcomes when appropriate.
• Engage children, parents, and foster parents through strength-based, culturally responsive, and evidence-informed casework practices to support family functioning and permanency planning.
• Facilitate and monitor family visitation and parent-child contact in accordance with court orders, case plans, and safety considerations.
• Coordinate and monitor referrals to community-based, clinical, educational, and supportive services, ensuring timely engagement and progress toward case plan goals.
• Collaborate with foster parents, biological families, service providers, legal representatives, and agency staff to ensure coordinated service delivery and effective information sharing.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and complete documentation in CONNECTIONS and other required systems, including FASPs, progress notes, court reports, and related records, in accordance with regulatory timelines and agency standards.
• Prepare for and actively participate in Family Team Conferences (FTCs), case planning meetings, and permanency reviews to ensure collaborative decision-making and coordinated service planning.
• Prepare for and attend Family Court hearings, providing accurate case updates.
• Participate in required supervision, training, and professional development activities, maintaining competency in child welfare regulations and best practices.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by Supervisor or designee
• Must be able to work in diverse community settings, including homes and neighborhoods throughout the service area.
• Require flexible scheduling, including occasional late evenings, early mornings and weekend days, to accommodate family visitation, court appearances and meetings.

• Bachelor’s degree with at least one (1) year of relevant child welfare experience required; OR
• Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW) or related Human Services field preferred
• Valid NYS Driver’s License preferred; ability to travel independently as required.

While performing the duties for this job, the employee is regularly required to communicate clearly and effectively. The employee is occasionally required to sit and stoop, kneel, crouch or climb stairs. Must be able to travel unassisted and to use a computer.