LEAD FAMILY SUPPORT SPECIALIST - ULSTER

Under the direct supervision of the Program Manager or Family Support Specialist Supervisor, the Senior (Lead) Family Support Specialist is responsible for all Family Support Specialist (FSS) job duties as outlined in the FSS job description. Additional responsibilities may include but not limited to; assisting with the training and mentoring of new workers, and/or coordinating parent groups and special projects as assigned, etc.

• Provides transportation to and from visits and trainings with mileage reimbursement as per staff automobile policy; Must have full access to vehicle during work hours.
• Establishes a trusting relationship with at-risk families by initiating and maintaining regular client contact, predominantly in participants’ homes, with some evening or early morning hours when required to accommodate participant family schedules.
• Establishes a case plan with goals, objectives and activities to assist family, with Supervisor and family.
• Assists parents in making and potentially attending an appointment for doctors, social service agencies, etc. Acts as a liaison between families and other community agencies. Assures that all family members have a primary care provider.
• Familiarizes self with available community resources and knows how to access services appropriate to needs of client.
• Utilizes prenatal and child development curricula.
• Meets with Supervisor on weekly basis to review cases and evaluate client status; attends staff meetings and relevant trainings.
• Performs street and community outreach for program promotion and case finding, with some outreach events being held on the weekend.
• Provides orientation, training, and support other Family Support Specialists as needed.
• As needed, identifies training and professional development needs within the program, particularly for the enhancement of clinical and assessment techniques for ongoing work with families.
• Assist as needed with the program’s quality assurance activities according to the Quality Assurance Plan.
• Knowledge of intervention in areas such as, but not limited to: domestic violence; substance abuse; mental health; family systems; and, child abuse and neglect reporting laws and appropriate follow-up.
• Collaborates internally and externally to ensure effective outreach strategies are implemented and participants are receiving appropriate services.
• Attends HFNY meetings and other relevant meetings as requested i.e. training institute, etc.
• Initiates consistent supportive dialogue with professional counterparts.
• Works to assure ongoing implementation of activities related to community & family engagement and retention.
• When there are no supervisors available, assists with office coverage, contacts appropriate personnel during crises and assures appropriate and comprehensive follow-up, and confirms that all staff have called-in at the end of the day.
• Acts as a role model to the other staff as to the importance of working as a team, supporting supervisory decisions, and implementing policy.
• Performs other related duties as assigned or perform other duties when necessary in a timely manner.
• Willingness to engaged in building reflective practice (i.e. capacity for introspection, communicating awareness of self in relation to others, recognizing the value of supervision, etc.)

• Provides transportation to and from visits and trainings with mileage reimbursement as per staff automobile policy; Must have full access to vehicle during work hours.
• Establishes a trusting relationship with at-risk families by initiating and maintaining regular client contact, predominantly in participants’ homes, with some evening or early morning hours when required to accommodate participant family schedules.
• Establishes a case plan with goals, objectives and activities to assist family, with Supervisor and family.
• Assists parents in making and potentially attending an appointment for doctors, social service agencies, etc. Acts as a liaison between families and other community agencies. Assures that all family members have a primary care provider.
• Familiarizes self with available community resources and knows how to access services appropriate to needs of client.
• Utilizes prenatal and child development curricula.
• Meets with Supervisor on weekly basis to review cases and evaluate client status; attends staff meetings and relevant trainings.
• Performs street and community outreach for program promotion and case finding, with some outreach events being held on the weekend.
• Provides orientation, training, and support other Family Support Specialists as needed.
• As needed, identifies training and professional development needs within the program, particularly for the enhancement of clinical and assessment techniques for ongoing work with families.
• Assist as needed with the program’s quality assurance activities according to the Quality Assurance Plan.
• Knowledge of intervention in areas such as, but not limited to: domestic violence; substance abuse; mental health; family systems; and, child abuse and neglect reporting laws and appropriate follow-up.
• Collaborates internally and externally to ensure effective outreach strategies are implemented and participants are receiving appropriate services.
• Attends HFNY meetings and other relevant meetings as requested i.e. training institute, etc.
• Initiates consistent supportive dialogue with professional counterparts.
• Works to assure ongoing implementation of activities related to community & family engagement and retention.
• When there are no supervisors available, assists with office coverage, contacts appropriate personnel during crises and assures appropriate and comprehensive follow-up, and confirms that all staff have called-in at the end of the day.
• Acts as a role model to the other staff as to the importance of working as a team, supporting supervisory decisions, and implementing policy.
• Performs other related duties as assigned or perform other duties when necessary in a timely manner.
• Willingness to engaged in building reflective practice (i.e. capacity for introspection, communicating awareness of self in relation to others, recognizing the value of supervision, etc.)

KEY KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES:
• Ability to be non-judgmental, compassionate, empathetic and insightful; able to establish trusting relationships;
• Good problem-solving skills; Demonstrates experiences working with youth and families.
• Shows respect and sensitivity for the needs and rights of others, including those with differing cultural, racial, sexual, and ethnic identifies.
• Good listening skills; be able to identify family strengths, and be able to foster self-sufficiency and independence in families.
• Demonstrates leadership skills, experience in working as part of a team, and maturity in interpersonal staff relationships.
• Demonstrates experience and comfort level with working cooperatively within health and human service community. Demonstrates organizational skills in independently managing workload and related responsibilities.
• Ability to design and implement in-services as well as make presentation for the purpose of program outreach.
• Ability to generate, interpret, and analyze data from multiple sources.
• A solid understanding of or experience in supervising diverse staff with Humility, as well as providing support to staff in stressful work environments
• Knowledge of Infant and Child Development and Parent Child attachment.
• Experience with Family Services, which embrace the concepts of family-centered, and strengths-based service provision.
• Knowledge of Parent-Infant Health and dynamics of child abuse and neglect
• Experience in Supporting Culturally diverse communities/families
• Experience in home visiting with a strong background in early childhood prevention services

EDUCATION Required Preferred
• High school diploma or equivalent X
• Master’s Degree in Human Services or fields related to working with children and families
OR
• Bachelor’s degree in human services or fields related to working with children and families with 3 years of relevant experience.
OR
• Less than a Bachelor’s degree with commensurate HFA experience
*There may be circumstances when the most appropriate and best suited candidate for a supervisor role does not possess the required educational background identified in the HFA standard. HFA encourages hiring the individual who is the best fit for role. X

WORK EXPERIENCE Required Preferred
• 3 years of relevant experience X

LICENSURE/CERTIFICATION Required Preferred
• Valid Driver’s License
• Infant Mental Health Endorsement X
X

COMPUTER PROFICIENCY Required Preferred
• Basic computer and internet navigational skills X
• Computer literacy with Windows-based operating systems and MS Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) X
• Familiarity with electronic health records (EHR) technology X

LINGUISTIC SKILLS Required
• Bi-lingual (Spanish/English) - Preferred

PHYSICAL/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
Physical/Hazardous/Work Environment – The work environment and physical demands described here are representative of those required by an employee to perform essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodations.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is frequently required to climb or balance and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

• Establishes a trusting relationship with at-risk families by initiating and maintaining regular client contact, predominantly in participants’ homes, with some evening or early morning hours when required to accommodate participant family schedules.
• Provides transportation to and from visits and trainings with mileage reimbursement as per staff automobile policy; Must have full access to vehicle during work hours.
• Establishes a case plan with goals, objectives and activities to assist family, with Supervisor and family.
• Assists parents in making and potentially attending an appointment for doctors, social service agencies, etc. Acts as a liaison between families and other community agencies. Assures that all family members have a primary care provider.
• Familiarizes self with available community resources and knows how to access services appropriate to needs of client.
• Utilizes prenatal and child development curricula.
• Meets with Supervisor on weekly basis to review cases and evaluate client status; attends staff meetings and relevant trainings.
• Performs street and community outreach for program promotion and case finding.
• May conduct assessments as needed.
• Performs other related duties as assigned in a timely manner.

KEY KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES:

• Ability to be non-judgmental, compassionate, empathetic, and insightful.
• Able to establish trusting relationships; have good problem-solving skills; demonstrated experience working with youth and families.
• Show respect and sensitivity for others' needs and rights, including those with differing cultural, racial, sexual, or ethnic identities.
• Have knowledge of community resources, good listening skills.
• Identify family strengths, foster self-sufficiency and independence in families, and be satisfied with on-going projects where positive outcomes are often not immediately apparent.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Bachelor’s degree in human services or fields relating to working with children and families preferred.
• Experience in working with or providing services to children and families preferred.
• Valid Driver's License required.
• Basic computer and internet navigational skills required.
• Computer literacy with Windows-based operating systems and MS Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) required.
• Familiarity with electronic health records (EHR) technology preferred.
• Bilingual Spanish/English preferred.

Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action:

The Institute for Family Health is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. This job summary is intended to be brief and may not list all the duties and functions required, however, it does highlight the essential requirements. Nothing outlined in this job summary is to be construed as an express or implied contract of employee

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