Family Support Worker

General Description of Position:

Under the supervision of the Site Supervisor, is responsible for providing supervised visitation, in home family preservation and prevention services to: 1) reduce the risk of child abuse and neglect, 2) to decrease future risk when abuse or neglect has occurred and 3) to assist the family when children are reunified after out of home placement has occurred by optimizing the home environment. Assists in strengthening the parent-child relationship through improving parenting skills and meeting support needs of parents. Works with individual clients and groups. Provides transportation, advocacy and supervised visitation at Child and Family Services request.

Essential Job Functions:

• Establishes a trusting relationship with at-risk families by initiating and maintaining regular client contact
• Establishes a case plan with goals, objectives and activities for each family with the Director of Human Services. Is able to satisfactorily implement case plan
• Coaches parents in supportive manner, teaching and modeling positive parenting skills.
• At request of Child and Family Services: assists parents in making and attending appointments for doctors, social service agencies, etc. Acts as a liaison and advocate for families with other community agencies. Encourages families to take advantage of existing positive family or community support networks
• Checks voicemail twice daily or more often as requested by supervisor, and will respond to clients as needed throughout the 24 hour day as requested. Is able to identify and differentiate between those situations requiring immediate attention and those that can be scheduled during “regular” working hours
• Attends regular staff meetings, meetings with supervisor, case conferences, in-service training and other staff meetings as required
• Conducts supervised visitation services at the request of Child and Family Services
• Records pertinent information regarding clients, in language that describes observations and actions, including worker interventions in a complete and concise manner.
• Consistently follows all policies and procedures, including confidentiality
• Assists in training and orientation of new Family Support Workers
• Recognizes need for professional intervention and makes appropriate referrals to                                                                          
• community resources
• Performs other duties as assigned in a timely manner

Attendance Requirements:

Family Support Workers will be expected to have flexible hours that meet participant scheduling needs. The scheduling of staff meetings and training meetings may necessitate variations in schedules. Scheduling is the responsibility of the employer and will be based on the needs of the people served by the agency.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Two (2) year degree in human services from an accredited institution or 2-3 years experience providing direct services to families 
• Maturity and experience in successfully working with infants and young children (able to serve as positive role model).
• Empathy and good communication to establish trusting relationships with clients 
• Able to provide transportation for clients as required by the job. Must provide own transportation to job sites.
• Positive teamwork skills
• Knowledge of cultural differences and issues impacting low-income families
• Knowledge of community services.
• Knowledge of nurturing parenting techniques, child development and stress management skills
• Excellent communication skills both verbally and in writing
• Ability to model a positive self-concept.
• Computer skills sufficient to enter required information concerning clients and statistical data 
• Working knowledge of parent-child interaction, child development materials and the dynamics of child abuse and neglect.
• Montana Driver’s License, pass a Criminal and CPS background check