Home Finder I

Job Summary

The Home Finder I recruits and trains, high-quality foster/kinship homes. The Home Finder I develops strong working relationships with Department of Social Services (DSS) staff in order to partner in the successful preparedness of County foster/kinship homes to be certified. 

Essential Job Functions

• Recruit and train high-quality foster/kinship homes 
• Organize, coordinate, and facilitate foster/kinship parent recruitment events and training schedules. 
• Identify the relevant curriculum and provide training, 1:1 or in groups, for potential foster parents/kinship caregivers to assist them in meeting certification requirements.
• Partner with DSS to understand the placement needs of youth in the county so that training reflects those needs. 
• Identify additional resources and/or training needed to ensure the foster/kinship parents are capable and confident in addressing the needs of youth in foster or kinship care. 
• Share ongoing assessment of the appropriateness and development of individuals in the training class with the Department of Social Services (DSS) workers. 
• While this job description covers many aspects of the role, employees may be required to perform other duties as assigned.

Education & Experience

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Minimum 1 year of experience working with youth and/or families.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Unrestricted, valid NYS driver’s license for minimum of 1 year with a clean driving record and minimum insurance coverage that meets agency standards. 

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

In addition to demonstrating the Hillside Professional Competencies of Communicates Effectively, Personal Excellence, Cultural Competence, Builds and Leverages Relationships, and Optimizes Decision Making, the following occupational competencies must be demonstrated:

• Ability to successfully understand and teach the identified curriculum to train potential foster parent/kinship caregivers 
• Ability to empathize with the experiences and emotions of children in foster care and their families, demonstrating sensitivity, understanding, and support.
• Ability to build positive, trusting relationships with children, foster families, and professionals in the foster care system.
• Knowledge of all federal, state, and local statutes, regulatory agency standards and Hillside policies.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

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.

• Must be able to work a variable scheduling including evenings and weekends
• The following daily physical demands are required:
  • Sitting (up to 6 hours)
  • Occasional standing (up to 2 hour)
  • Occasional walking (up to 2.5 hours)
  • Driving (several times a week up to 6 hours)
  • Continuous balancing (up to 8 hours)
  • Occasional balancing, bending, stooping, climbing, kneeling, pushing, pulling, reaching forward or down, reaching overhead, running, and twisting (up to 2.5 hours)
  • Weekly lifting up to 10-15 lbs. on a daily basis
  • Manual dexterity is required, including the frequent ability to grasp in both hands and continuous use of fine manipulation skills in both hands (approximately 1-2.5 hrs.)
  • Occasional exposure to dust, fumes, gases, chemicals, or smoke is apparent  
  • Ability to change positions as needed

$19.50 Minimum pay rate, $28.00 Maximum pay rate, based on experience. This pay rate may include a Regional and/or Department premium.