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The Permanency Specialist is responsible for individualized permanency planning, including the delivery of Family Finding services to build a lifetime network of support for youth. They collaborate with families, community partners, and treatment teams to locate and engage resources that ensure positive permanency outcomes.
Requirements summary
Candidates must possess an Associate's or Bachelor's degree in human services or a related field with at least 2 years of relevant experience. A valid NYS driver's license with a clean driving record is required for travel between service locations.
Job Summary Hillside Institute for Family Connections™ is currently hiring for a Permanency Specialist who will be working with youth and families receiving services within Hillside’s Therapeutic Foster Care Program Central Region.
The Permanency Specialist is responsible for individualized permanency planning, which includes the delivery of Family Finding services, where family and fictive kin will be sought and gathered to support youths’ legal, emotional and relational permanency.
The person in this position will have continuous collaboration with family members, non-relative resources, County and community partners, Care Coordinators, and team members, with the purpose of urgently locating and engaging family members and other adults, in order to build a lifetime network of supportive, caring people for each youth and family.
Essential Job functions Implement the Family Finding and/or Child-focused Recruitment Model to fidelity with assigned youth.
Facilitate, scribe, and/or coordinate Permanency Roundtables for referred youth.
Engage youth, caregivers, relatives, fictive kin and/or other appropriate adults to increase connections and build a lifetime network of support for each youth and their families.
Support teams in determining the type of permanency intervention needed for youth.
Educate youth, families, providers, and strategic partners (i.e.
DSS, OCFS) about the positive impact of Family Finding and/or Wendy’s Wonderful Kids permanency services.
Participate and provide expertise in Service Plan Reviews, Treatment Conferences, and Benchmark team meetings as it relates to permanency.
Develop, maintain, and update all required documentation in a timely manner utilizing effective written and oral communication.
Assess and address the permanency needs of children/youth.
Partner with individuals who want to provide permanency for children/youth.
Increase supports for youth and families enrolled in services within the Institute for Family Connections (IFC).
For youth, this entails creating a lifetime network of support by locating and engaging family members and other significant adults to provide on-going support for the youth to achieve positive and successful permanency outcomes.
Create a strength-based permanency plan that includes home time, identifying and coordinating potential permanency resources and other natural supports, recognizing gaps and needs, assessing results and providing on-going communication with the youth’s treatment team.
Benefits
Paid holidays
Paid time off
Medical coverage
Vision coverage
Dental coverage
Flexible spending account
Employer match
Employee assistance plan
403(b) retirement savings plan
Active participation in agency Permanency Roundtables and serve as a Permanency Consultant to multidisciplinary treatment teams.
While this job description covers many aspects of the role, employees may be required to perform other duties as assigned.
Education & Experience Associate’s degree in human services or a related field with minimum 2 of years relevant experience; OR Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, or human services required; OR Bachelor’s degree in any field with minimum of 2 years of relevant experience required 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 impact the philosophy of youth permanency for colleagues and teams.
Ability to implement and facilitate Permanency Round Table and Model meetings.
Knowledge of the legal and social rights of children, youth and parents to assure that these rights are understood and protected.
Ability to use problem solving skills to positively impact decision making.
Ability to be independent and self-directed 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 SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS While Hillside is a restraint free environment, there may be times in a “life or limb” situation, that staff may be required to physically restrain clients weighing between 50 lbs. and 300 lbs. and guide them safely to the floor.
In some circumstances, restraints can last up to 15 minutes and may require repetition as necessary. $21.40 Minimum pay rate, $31.00 Maximum pay rate, based on experience.
At Hillside, we believe that healthy youth and strong families with opportunities to succeed are the foundation of any thriving community.
Guided by this belief, we provide community-based services, education, and residential treatment to positively impact lives, in partnership with youth and families who have experienced trauma.
From locations across Central & Western New York and Prince George’s County, Maryland, our programs serve nearly 10,000 youth, adults, and families each year.
Partnering with families and communities, we deliver high-quality, evidence-based services, in the appropriate settings — whether on residential campuses or in schools, homes, or the workplace.
By measuring the impact of our work, we endeavor to deliver ever better outcomes every day.
Equal Opportunity Employer: Hillside is committed to equal opportunities for all, supporting a diverse workforce, creating development opportunities for our people.
Hillside is an equal opportunity employer; individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities, Veterans, and disabled persons are encouraged to apply.
Upon request, reasonable accommodations will be provided for the disabled.
Total Rewards: We offer a competitive benefits package to include generous paid time off, paid holidays, comprehensive medical, dental and vision coverage, flexible spending account, 403(b) retirement savings plan with employer match, and Employee Assistance Plan – just to name a few of the amazing benefits at Hillside!
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