Guardianship Jobs in Nebraska (NOW HIRING)

Nebraska Children’s Home Society

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Family Permanency Specialist

Job Classification (Exempt or Non-exempt): Non-Exempt

 Reports To: Families Forever Supervisor

 Job Summary: To collaborate with eligible adoptive or guardianship families to identify desired outcomes, needs to reach those outcomes and strategies to meet the needs or reduce or remove the barriers. The intent is to help preserve families by addressing the needs most often expressed by families. Provide intervention services, such as meeting one on one with parents and children; providing connections to community resources as identified by the family; facilitate support groups for parents and/or children; connect parents and children to mentoring services offered through the program and in the community; as well as connections to respite care as needed, in person, virtually or through other identified online means. This position may also meet with families as they begin to consider becoming parents through adoption or guardianship to provide education and support to prepare families for this transition.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Provide one on one intervention services, to include addressing behavior or other issues, to eligible children and families in the Post Adoption and Guardianship as defined by the program model.
2. Receive training on and implement the Family Check Up, Everyday Parenting and Mobility Mentoring models to fidelity with parents and children. 
3. Utilize assessments identified by the program model to assist in forming a service plan for families to meet their identified needs.
4. Respond to correspondence, telephone calls and other inquiries from families formed through adoption or guardianship in a prompt, caring and understanding manner.
5. Availability and ability to respond to family needs.
6. Meet with the family according to tiered program guidelines and maintain in-person contact on an ongoing basis.
7. Maintain timely, legible records of services provided per established program and Agency, and COA standards.
8. Work with families and children to develop and implement a service plan, organize and facilitate participant reviews with all interested parties, providing input on provision and coordination of services.
9. Reinforce and support adoptive/guardianship parents’ efforts and abilities to carry out the service plan and intervention strategies for themselves and their children.
10. Advocate for children and families to assist in meeting their identified needs with school personnel, physicians, psychiatrists/psychologists, therapists, and other providers, to include participating in family team meetings as requested.
11. Collaborate with other community professionals working with families formed through adoption or guardianship.
12. Provide education and support to families or designated support persons to provide respite care in a reciprocal, cooperative arrangement.
13. In conjunction with the Families Forever Supervisor and Family and Community Engagement Coordinator, develop and facilitate monthly support groups for families formed through adoption or guardianship.
14. In conjunction with the Family and Community Engagement Coordinator will attend any family events as identified.
15. Adherence to NCHS Policies and Procedures, Program Procedures and COA Accreditation Standards.
16. Help plan and host the bi-annual Full Circle Conference.
17. Communicate with families via phone pre-adoption and following discharge from services.
18. Enroll families on a regular basis in order to maintain a 15-17 participant caseload.
19. Participates in the promotion of the Families Forever program.

Supplemental Duties and Responsibilities:  

1. Commitment to NCHS mission, vision, values, CQI initiatives, and strategic plan goals. 
2. Maintain a positive and cooperative relationship with internal and external professionals.
3. Participation in agency committees as assigned.
4. Positive representation of NCHS in all community settings.
5. Ability to interpret and abide by NCHS policies and procedures.
6. Embracing and championing NCHS’s mission, values and culture.
7. Other duties as assigned by the supervisor and/or director.
8. Bilingual (preferred)

Qualifications and Requirements:

1. Minimum education and experience:
   1. Bachelor’s degree in human service or related field required.
   2. 2 years of child welfare experience with at least 1 year of experience in working with families formed through adoption or guardianship.
   3. Valid Nebraska driver’s license, proof of liability insurance and ability to drive for Agency business.

1. Knowledge, skills, and abilities:
   1. Knowledge of community resources.
   2. Belief in a nurturing family as the ideal environment for a child and that people have the capacity to grow and change.
   3. Proficiency in Microsoft 365 Office Suite and using technology and software applications.
   4. Excellent writing and verbal communication.
   5. Ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple projects simultaneously to meet deadlines.
   6. Ability to establish positive working relationships and communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing to all employees and community partners.
   7. Ability to maintain confidentiality relative to sensitive information.
   8. Ability to work independently and as part of a team, with strong collaboration skills.

1. Physical Demand:

1. The ability to frequently communicate with NCHS team members and community partnerships.
2. Able to inspect written communication and respond to directions and hazards.
3. Able to move equipment weighing up to 35 pounds.
4. Occasionally ascends/descends stairs in the building and home structures.
5. Able to operate a computer and other office equipment.
6. Able to remain in a stationary position and move about different work environments.
7. This position requires access to reliable and safe transportation. A copy of insurance and registration will be required upon hiring.

1.  Schedule demands:

a.  Must be able to adjust work schedule to accommodate the needs of families, including possible evenings and weekends.

1.  Site factors (work location, environment, travel, etc.): 
   1. Work in office setting and/or remotely.
   2. Travel required with state-wide travel on occasion for meetings.

 Note: The physical demands and work environment characteristics described above are representative of those that will be encountered by a person performing the essential duties and responsibilities of this job.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.