Child Welfare Specialist

Overview

Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois

Effective Date: March 1, 2024

Job Title: Child Welfare Specialist

Exempt/Non-exempt: EXEMPT

Immediate Supervisor: Program Manager

Salary Range: $52,416 - 57,416

Benefits: LCFS Full-Time Employee Benefits (details available from LCFS).

Essential Functions:

• Primarily responsible for overseeing children and families assigned to Lutheran Child and Family Services for providing child welfare services which includes monitoring the child’s well-being, the birth parents’ progress towards reunification, facilitating home visits and communicating appropriate information to foster families in their efforts to assist the child and birth parents. Transport child and parents in own vehicle. May work evenings and some weekends to complete tasks.
  
  May travel to high-risk communities. Provide on-call services as assigned.
• Exercise discretion and sound judgment in performance of duties in conformance with applicable policies, procedures, statutes, rules and regulations.
• Implementation and referral of individualized and targeted services for youth and families, such as counseling, respite, mentoring, educational support, case management, crisis intervention, and continual language to services to meet the specialized needs of children/families.
• Collaborate regularly with multi-disciplinary teams and partners for continuous quality improvement, interventions, service delivery and achievement of program outcomes.
• Actively participate in System of Care including regular participation in clinical and medical staffing and level of care.
• Actively participate in regular supervision, mediation, problem resolution, and crisis response by effectively responding to parent, child, provider and other stakeholder concerns and demonstrating the ability to effectively manage crisis and difficult case situations (including on-call support).
• Assess and maintain knowledge of child welfare and population-specific laws, policies and trends for recommending program adjustments and implementation that aides program effectiveness, children, families and communities.
• Achieve organizational performance outcomes on Key Performance Indicators metrics/dashboard towards safety, permanency, well-being and overall agency performance outcomes.
• Represent clients’ needs and Agency interests to referral sources, DCFS, the judicial system and governmental agencies.
• Continuously assess the child’s needs related to safety, education, medical and social and psychological well-being. Prepare accurate, timely written and verbal reports to the court and collateral contact information as appropriate, upholding all consents and confidentiality issues. Handle crisis situations and client complaints with sensitivity and consult with supervisory chain when appropriate to resolve the matter.
• Comply with requirements regarding utilization of the DCFS electronic record-keeping system (SACWIS). Prepare written service plans for each client as required by DCFS contract. Maintain up-to-date and accurate client files and databases as required by agency/programmatic policies and procedures, professional standards, and external requirements of all relevant regulatory, licensing, or accrediting bodies. Implement continuous quality improvement in all aspects of performance.
• Engage the child, the birth parents, and the foster parents in assessing the dynamics of the relationships and establish a therapeutic alliance. Teach effective parenting skills specific to the needs of the child and family.
• Maintain knowledge of community resources and coordinate appropriate referrals and follow up as needed. Establish collaborative relationships with agency team members (e.g., Case Aide, other child welfare specialists, service providers, and institutions).
• Provide a welcoming and receptive environment in all contacts with clients, agency staff and collateral contacts. Develop understanding and continuously develop self-awareness related to diversity, inclusion, and equity issues.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge and Abilities:

• Ability to drive one’s own vehicle and transport children, youth, and adults as needed.
• In-depth knowledge of…