In Home Family Services Specialist

In-Home Family Services Worker

Provides in-home intervention to children and their families utilizing a skill based, solution focused model to help families adopt positive solutions to problems through the teaching of skills and behavioral techniques accessing community resources and support.

Major Responsibilities & Duties

Provides safe and effective services

• Adheres to policies related to safety and boundaries with service recipients.
• Attends safety and abuse risk management training as assigned.
• Adheres to procedures related to managing high-risk activities and supervising service recipients.
• Reports suspicious or inappropriate behaviors and policy violations.
• Follows mandated abuse reporting requirements.

Provides intervention services for IHFS

• Develops and maintains effective working relationships with families and with community service resources, including medical professionals, public welfare personnel, lawyers, therapists, law enforcement staff, school officials, neighbors, and religious and youth organization representatives utilizing referral sources as necessary.
• Provides screening and assessment to determine program eligibility and identifies areas to address in the service plan if applicable.
• Provides training and support in the development and utilization of functional skills to families with problems and individuals associated with the families.
• Assesses problems and provides care to youth and families; monitors individual and family progress in the attainment of predetermined goals providing regular review and update of service plans.
• May provide outreach and prevention services to include increasing community awareness, and offering informational and educational service programs to youth and families as required.
• Maintains appropriate level of direct contact with families per program requirements, and remains available to families 24/7, for crisis intervention as needed.
• Provides consumers, including school personnel and others working with children served by the program, training in the management of difficult behaviors.
• Promotes family self-determination by assisting family in identifying and accessing community services and resources.
• Educates families on the needs of good physical health, quality medical attention and preventive health care.
• Assists families in building on their spiritual and religious beliefs or practices as a source of strength to reach their goals.
• Promotes culture of professionalism through role modeling and respect.
• Meets with families and children at various locations; utilizes own vehicle to travel to work destinations and to transport youth as authorized.

Completes administrative functions for IHFS

• Prepares and submits reports and recommendations concerning case load status, budget requests, changes in service plans, and any unusual incidents that occur in the operation of the program.
• Reports any critical incidents involving family members or staff according to standard reporting guidelines.
• Prepares proper documentation and service plans in a timely manner as defined by the program.
• Implements feedback from supervisor.
• Ensures compliance with all contractual, regulatory, program, and accrediting body standards.
• Notifies supervisor of change in professional status or standing that may affect job status or program compliance including driving record, driver's license suspension, vehicle insurance cancellation, and missed mandatory training.
• May be trained to become a certified Common Sense Parenting Instructor and as a certified instructor may be asked to conduct Common Sense Parenting (CSP) Courses at designated locations as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Solid understanding of the philosophy and function of public assistance and social services systems. Knowledge of recognized interventions such as risk assessment and crisis intervention in order to address identified service needs.
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements pertaining to youth care and the ability to learn, apply, and explain complex regulations and policies governing child welfare processes and services.
• Ability to function independently and have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with youth, staff, and support agencies.
• Knowledge of community resources and service providers available in the geographical area; knowledge of the functions and services of the community organizations and related human services.
• Ability to communicate with individuals at all levels in the organization and with external business contacts in an articulate, professional manner while maintaining necessary degree of confidentiality.
• Computer skills in Microsoft Office.
• Knowledge of Boys Town model and fidelity of care.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Services or related field OR in Iowa: Associate of Arts degree in Human Services or related field plus 4 years of experience working with children and families can be substituted (rural counties in Iowa may require fewer years of experience; 2 years) OR in Nebraska: A Bachelor's degree is preferred, but candidate meeting the requirements identified in the contract may be considered. Louisiana: Additional education or experience may be required due to state or contractual requirements.
• Minimum 1 year of experience including working with children and families required.
• Possess a valid driver's license with a good driving record required.
• Pass an annual Motor Vehicle Registration (MVR) check required.
• Ability to provide own transportation (mileage reimbursed) to complete travel requirements of the job required.
• Meet auto insurance requirements established by Boys Town policy and/or State and Local laws required.
• Available rotationally to provide crisis response and must be available to work non-traditional business hours including early mornings, nights, weekends, and holidays required.
• Based on business need, some areas may require bilingual skills required.
• May be trained to become a State Approved Family Team Decision Meeting and/or Youth Transition Decision Making Facilitator and may be asked to conduct facilitated meetings at designated locations as assigned.
• Certification or licensure may be required based on Affiliate Site location, Local contracts, or Federal/State contract requirements required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with children and families in community-based programs or Boys Town Programs preferred.

Physical Requirements, Equipment Usage, Work Environment

• Reasonably expected to have and maintain sufficient strength, agility, and endurance to perform during stressful (physical, mental and emotional) situations encountered on the job without compromising their health and well-being or that of their fellow employees, youth, or families. Duties are performed in a variety of environments ranging from highly stressful and potentially aggressive (physical interventions, escorts, etc.) to casual and leisurely, in both indoor and outdoor settings. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is subject to outside weather conditions and maybe required to visit homes with substandard living conditions and domestic pets.