Child Welfare Specialist – Joliet

This job was posted by https://illinoisjoblink.illinois.gov : For more
information, please see:
https://illinoisjoblink.illinois.gov/jobs/12248033

PURPOSE:

To initiate, facilitate, and perform a variety of casework-related
functions pertaining to foster care and adoption within the child
welfare system in Illinois. To perform all casework ensuring the safety,
well-being and permanency of the children assigned to their caseload.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelors Degree from an accredited school and shall be under the
supervision of a qualified child welfare supervisor. 1 year of relevant
experience working with children with developmental, behavioral, and/or
emotional challenges preferred. Must be licensed as a Child Welfare
Employee (CWEL) in the state of Illinois or eligible to receive
licensure within the first 90-days of employment. Must have excellent
verbal and written communication skills. Must be proficient in the use
of a computer to complete all documentation, and proficient with
entering case-related documentation into a centralized database. Child
Welfare Specialists (CWS) must possess their own vehicle and have valid
auto insurance in order to perform the duties necessary as outlined
herein.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The list of essential duties and responsibilities, as outlined herein,
is intended to be representative of the task to be performed. The
omission of an essential function does not preclude management from
assigning duties not listed herein is such duties are a logical
assignment to the position of Child Welfare Specialist (CWS).

1. Child Welfare Specialists (CWS) are responsible for a blended,
weighted caseload of approximately 10 clients (with an agency caseload
ratio of being 15:1 or less, and total number of visits being
approximately 25 or less a month). Clients served by Little City as
youth in the care of Illinois Department of Children and Family Services
(DCFS) and have been determined to be abused, neglected or dependent by
the State of IL, and reside in foster homes.

2. Foster care is intended to be short-term until the youth(s) may
reunify with their families. Youth served by Little City Foster Care &
Adoption Program are from diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural
backgrounds; may identify as male, female, non-binary, or LGBTQIAP, be
between the ages of 0-21, and most youth have a diagnosed intellectual
or developmental disability or autism, or a behavioral and emotional
disorder. CWS work with the assigned youths and his/her/their immediate
family members including siblings, parents, and the likes, to assess the
ongoing safety and well-being of the individuals, with the goal of
reunifying the youth with their biological immediate or extended family,
fictive kin, or a non-relative placement option if placement with family
is not an option.

3. Assesses the on-going safety and well-being of the child in
his/her/their foster home through 3x/month in-person contacts with the
youth, with two of the visits being within the home each month. Clients
served by Little Citys Foster Care & Adoption Program clients reside
within a 45-mile radius in all directions of the administrative office
in Chicago. Home Visitation often occurs during the after-school and
evening hours during week-days. Ongoing monitoring of safety and
well-being also occurs through in-person visits and/or collateral
contacts with community-based providers including the youths school,
medical providers, day cares, Court, and more. On-going assessment
includes clinical support, upholding policies and licensing standards,
addressing issues regarding care of the youth in their home and
monitoring and aiding in obtaining services.

4. Engages in assessment and treatment planning including CANS
assessments, Service Plans and comprehensive case review documents
required by Federally-mandated Administrative Case Reviews (ACR) updated
2x/year completing Vineland, Ansell-Casey and other assessments as
applicable; Social History/Integrated Assessment upon case opening; and
other assessments and documentation as applicable.

5. Maintains regular, ongoing contacts with and provides counsel and
training for biological parents of children in the foster care program
in order to facilitate a successful reunification when applicable to the
case per the Court-set goal. Provides assessment and services as
outlined on the service plan, including a minimum of weekly parent-child
visitation (visitation often occurs in the after-school, after-work and
evening-hours.) CWS is oftentimes responsible for providing
transportation for the parent(s) and/or children to/from visits. DCFS
policy requires a minimum of 1x/month home visits to the parents
residence as clinically appropriate.

6. As required and detailed in DCFS Procedure Aristotle P, CWS will
ensure siblings visit 2x/month, and/or 1x/ a month for a minimum of four
hours as clinically appropriate in order to maintain a relationship
between the child and his/her/their biological siblings. CWS may be
responsible for providing transportation for the children to/from
visits. Visits typically occur after-school and in the early to evening
hours, with occasional weekends on an exceptiona