IFP Family Worker

PURPOSE/FUNCTION OF THE PROGRAM: 

 The Intensive Family Preservation Program (IFP) is an intensive in-home program designed to prevent the placement of children who have been exposed to child abuse and/or neglect.  The program provides home-based case management, crisis-intervention, parenting education, advocacy, coordination with community providers, assistance with concrete needs and linkages to community resources.

POSITION SUMMARY:  

The IFP Worker provides case management, improves parental capacity, builds and assists in utilizing natural supports, assesses caregivers’ ability to keep children safe, and responds to crises. Staff provides concrete interventions to address safety concerns and improve family functioning to minimize risk factors that put a child at risk of removal.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Carries a caseload of 5 families providing a minimum of 2 home visits per week for the first four weeks and a minimum of 1 visit per week for the remaining weeks of service.
• Through case management, identify helping families meet their basic needs and make referrals on behalf of the families to needed resources and services in the community. Provide assistance and guidance in order to assist caregiver with their basic needs (i.e. transportation, housing and nutrition).
• Assess the family’s ability to keep the children safe and identify trauma triggers and the impact that trauma has on the family and parenting style. Refer the family to trauma informed services as needed.
• Review safety concerns and risk factors that may impact child safety. Develop safety and crisis plans and update continuously. Assess family functioning, the parent’s skills and their motivation to change. Identify family resources and formal/informal supports and assist with their integration into supporting the family.
• Create individualized service plan using the NCFAS-G and PFS within 30 days of initiating in home services that address safety concerns; child specific issues; caregivers cognitive limitations; housing, education employment and transportation issues; partner or domestic violence and behavioral or substance use issues.
• Improves parental capacity, parental skill development activities, and competence of caregivers through teaching, coaching, modeling, and supporting.
• Assist family in building and utilizing natural supports in families in order to sustain change following IFP intervention
• Prevents out of home placement of children.
• Participates in weekly supervision with the IFP Program Manager.
• Collaborates with other service providers to assure continuity of care.
• Supplies monthly notes to DCF to collaborate and report status of changes.
• Adhere to all contract, BGV and state regulations.
• Attends monthly DCF reviews in order to collaborate with DCF workers and liaison
• Works a flexible schedule, including evening and weekend hours as part of normal service hours, in order to accommodate individual family needs/schedules and to respond to crisis situations.
• Participates in a 24/7 on call rotation coverage for crisis intervention, including holidays and weekends, in order to provide information and assist the family in securing immediate clinical interventions when necessary on behalf of the family.
• Keeps the IFP Coordinator apprised of any and all situations that involve the safety of any individuals in the program or community.

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Prevent, intervene and report instances of child abuse or neglect.
• Completes all paperwork in accordance with state and federal statutes, COA standards and Boys & Girls Village, Inc. standards.
• Participates in the collection of all required data elements for DCF and the agency
• Other duties as assigned

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS: 

• Bachelors in social work or related mental health field with a minimum of three (3) years’ work experience with providing home-based services to children and families.
• Valid driver’s license and good driving record.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bi-Lingual English/Spanish.
• Masters in social work or related mental health field with a minimum of one (1) year work experience with providing home-based services to children and families

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES :

• N/A

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Must be able to climb several flights of stairs
• Must be able to work with clients in a variety of settings
• Must be able to lift 35lbs

WORKING CONDITIONS AND ENVIRONMENT

• Must be willing to drive to off –campus sites for home visits, collaborative meetings and client transportation.
• Access to reliable transportation
• Must be available to families 24/7, 365 days per year.