Case Manager Foster Care and Adoption

Basic Function The DFCA Case Manager serves in a strategic function at Buckner Children and Family Services and is responsible for the coordination and provision of services to foster children, foster families, and foster adoptive families
Primary Responsibilities

Participate as a member of the Foster Care team to meet the physical, emotional, social, educational, and spiritual needs of the foster children during the time they are placed in a Buckner foster home, as outlined in each client’s plan of service.
Provide ongoing case management for clients in Buckner foster homes.
Participate in regular supervision and support with the client and foster parents during frequent home visits, office visits, and telephone contact as required by state licensing and Buckner policy and procedures.
Provide family and/or support to foster care clients.
Complete thorough documentation for case files in a timely manner in accordance with licensing requirements and Buckner policies and procedures.
Maintain all documentation of client’s files in accordance with established minimum standards and Buckner policies and procedures. Audit client files on a regular basis to ensure that all requirements are met.
Participate in child placing decisions for children being placed in foster homes.
Timely and thoroughly complete all necessary admission and assessment paperwork; plan and complete discharge paperwork.
Develop, monitor and review with clients their Plan of Service designed to increase strengths, address needs, and reduce conflict in the home. • Provide crisis intervention.
Assess the child’s educational needs and coordinate with the child’s identified school and family on appropriate child-specific services. Provide guidance and support to the foster parents. Ensure the child’s educational portfolio is updated routinely.
Develop, monitor, review discharge summary in collaboration with the post-permanency specialist and provide ongoing aftercare services for identified children in coordination with Post Permanency Coordinator.
Work with foster parents in coordinating visits with placing agency and/or family for family visits and contact. Assist foster parents with transportation for family visits and other necessary appointments.
Collaborate with STAR Health to ensure effective communication and coordination of service.
Participate in the screening and licensing of potential foster parents. Complete home studies for potential foster parents as part of the licensing process as required.
Participate in in-service training, including SAMA, CPR/First Aid, Medications and any other clinical related training. Attend and participate in Buckner activities for foster parents and foster children.
Facilitate and lead trainings for foster parents to provide them with pre-service and continuing education.
Participate in recruiting foster homes by making presentation to the general public as required.
Communicate with DFPS and other placement agencies by telephone and encrypted email; meet with placement agency caseworkers to discuss client needs
Attend and participate in permanency conferences, family group conferences, circle of support meetings and court hearings as needed.
Prepare progress reports for placement agency caseworkers as requested.
Consult with supervisor on specific needs of clients.
Report suspected child abuse/neglect to supervisor, DFPS, and appropriate law enforcement agencies.
Work nights and weekends as required to meet business needs. Participate in 24-hour on call service on a rotating basis.
Provide personal transportation for home visits and other business related meetings and events.
Maintain professionalism in the provision of services which reflects the standards of the agency.
Work effectively with culturally diverse youth and families.
Maintain compliance with all Buckner policies, procedures, and requirements. Maintain knowledge of and compliance with all state and federal laws and regulatory requirements.
Manage program resources to ensure they are used efficiently and appropriately aligned with approved business objectives.
Responsible for supporting and representing Buckner at special events, activities, and other assigned functions.
The position can function in a hybrid work arrangement but attendance in person at the office is required when requested.
Travel domestically and internationally as needed to monitor, assess, and help develop programs.
Attend and participate in meetings and training as required; facilitate meetings regularly as define by the communication framework and training as required.
Develop emerging leadership through professional growth and development.
Work successfully as a part of a team and responsible for developing and maintaining strong working relationships with co-workers.
Perform special assignments, projects, and other duties as required

Education and Licensing Requirements• Bachelor’s degree is required to perform essential job functions.• Requires a minimum of 2 years prior related experience of documented full-time experience in a child placing agency, in a residential child-care operation, or as a conservatorship caseworker or foster adoptive home development worker for the department. The experience must be in conducting assessments, service planning, or case management duties. • Knowledge and experience must meet Texas Minimum Standards for Child Placing Agencies
Requires ability to work effectively with culturally diverse youth and families.
Requires ability to read, write, speak, and understand English sufficiently to perform the essential functions of the position, including communication with clients, volunteers, and community partners, documentation, and collaboration with staff. Spanish language proficiency preferred to support effective communication with Spanish-speaking clients and families.• Requires knowledge and understanding of the legalities involved with medical/clinical intervention.• Requires excellent counseling and problem-solving skills. • Requires excellent public speaking skills and the ability to successfully communicate in a professional manner with a multi-ethnic population base in the community; ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing.• Requires ability to observe and make accurate assessments of situations and individuals and determine appropriate action required. • Requires proficient working knowledge and understanding of the applicable regulatory standards and requirements governing programs and services. • Requires ability to speak clearly and make self clearly understood in face to face interactions; to articulate with accuracy to speak on the phone• Requires ability to relate positively, influentially, and sensitively to a broad spectrum of persons in a variety of multi-tiered relationships and settings; requires ability to work effectively with individuals in a multi-ethnic population. • Requires ability to facilitate meetings, trainings, and workshops, as required. • Requires ability to recognize differences in sounds, such as voices/noises that are loud and playful instead of angry and combative; and ability to differentiate tones and volume in conversations. • Requires ability to prioritize tasks and respond in crisis/pressure situations; requires flexibility to meet changing business needs.• Requires ability to observe and make accurate assessments of situations and take proper action.• Requires ability to perform tasks with little supervision. Most tasks are governed by standard practices; however, some are not. Innovative thinking is required. Detail-oriented, with good organizational skills required. Requires leadership ability characterized by servant leadership, integrity and honesty. Must possess the ability to lead through influence as opposed to authority.• Requires personality attuned to the requirements of meeting needs of clients and the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees and the public.• Requires proficient ability to exhibit detail-oriented skills necessary to understand and manage a wide range of information.• Report suspected child abuse/neglect to foster care leadership and appropriate law enforcement agencies.• Requires ability to travel to various geographic locations and some overnight stays. • Requires jobholder to work before and after normal business hours, some nights and weekends, as needed to meet client and business needs including promptly responding to phone calls, text messages and emails.• Requires ability to drive assigned vehicle(s) or personal vehicle, with an appropriate state license, following all laws applicable; must provide proof of liability insurance and must be eligible to be insured under Buckner’s insurance policy. Requires the ability to rent vehicles both domestically and internationally using required documentation. Must be age 21 or older to drive on behalf of Buckner.• Requires ability to maintain confidentiality.• Proficient working knowledge and ability to accurately and timely operate and perform computer related tasks with specific equipment and software applications, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, required.• Requires recognition that the organization is a faith-based organization operating with a commitment to Christian principles.
Requires ability to use up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently and/or 10 pounds continuously to move objects.• Requires ability to walk frequently; occasionally stand for prolonged periods of time; occasionally required to squat, climb stairs, kneel and twist. Required to sit for prolonged periods of time, including extensive airline travel.• Requires ability to speak clearly and make self-understood in face-to-face interactions; to articulate with extreme accuracy and precisions to give directions, speak on the phone, etc.• Requires ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.• Requires sufficient good health to properly discharge duties. Employees shall not be permitted to work who have infectious disease or skin lesion for the duration of the communicability.

Note: Buckner Children and Family Services complies with all the employment provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act