Family Support Worker

JOB SUMMARY: Works under the family support worker supervisor. Provides support and assistance to optimize the home environment for the physical, emotional and social well being of the parent/child family units assigned.  Participates in the organization’s performance and quality improvement efforts.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Initiates and maintains regular home visits with families as determined by contract requirements, caseload limits and supervisor. 
• Assists families in completing a Family Support Plan (FSP) within established guidelines of 90 days of intake.  Completion rate required set by current contract requirements..
• Assists each family in updating their FSP within 180 days of each FSP.  Completion rate required set by current contract requirements.
• Monitors immunization schedule and well-baby check-ups; observes that 85% of these requirements due in the quarter are up-to date.
• Administers ASQ (Ages & Stages Questionnaire) at established intervals.   Completion rate required set by current contract requirements.
• Administers a baseline Parenting Stress Index within 51 days of the parents’ date of entry into the program, and then at 12 months from baseline.  Completion rate required set by current contract requirements.
• Assists in strengthening parent-child interaction through teaching of improved parenting skills and modeling, provides in-home parent education.
• Uses FSP goals that are measurable and achievable within a 6 month time period, and are used as a guide for service.
• Assists families in accessing needed community resources and social services.
• Provides follow up to identified concerns and monitors family progress.
• Attends and is prepared for weekly supervision.
• Sits on committees/provides representation in community groups, at the FSC and/or CHN.
• Maintains an accurate and thorough record of each family and completes all documentation in the specified time frame.
• Submits all required data in the specified timeframe as determined by the program supervisor.
• Bills for and submits paper work on all families who qualify for Targeted Case Management.
• Works within the philosophy of function of the Children’s Home Network.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

***THESE ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS ARE NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS A COMPLETE STATEMENT OF ALL DUTIES PERFORMED.  EMPLOYEES WILL BE REQUIRED TO PERFORM OTHER JOB RELATED MARGINAL DUTIES AS REQUIRED***

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Education & Experience:

• Minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Experience in working with or providing services to children and families.
• An ability to establish trusting relationships.
• Acceptance of individual differences.
• Experience and willingness to work with the culturally diverse populations that are present among the site's target population.
• Knowledge of infant and child development.
• Open to reflective practice (i.e. has capacity for introspection, communicates awareness of self in relation to others, recognizes value of supervision, etc.).
• Infant mental health endorsement level I or II preferred.

Licenses & Certifications:

• Must possess and maintain a valid Florida driver’s license with no record of criminal driving offense of license suspension. 
• Must possess means of providing job related transportation and show proof of required insurance.  Must be insurable under CHN’s current auto insurance policy.
• Must be able to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends. 
• Must successfully complete  and maintain FDLE clearance, Federal background and state criminal background check and sexual predator screening.

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COMPETENCIES & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:

Annual Training Requirements: The following training topics are required annually: Sexual Harassment, Blood-born Pathogens, Workplace Accident Prevention and Reporting, Confidentiality and Privacy Practices, Diversity/Cultural Competency, Child Abuse and Neglect Mandated Reporter Statutes and Methods, Prevention of Violence in the Workplace, OSHA–related training, Crisis Prevention, and Program Goals.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge and understanding of basic childcare practices. 
• Knowledge of community based resources.  Ability to follow written and verbal instructions.  Ability to develop problem-solving skills. 
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working and verbal relationships with others.
• Ability to develop good listening skills.  Ability to establish a trusting relationship with families. 
• Ability to be non-judgmental.
• Ability to foster self-sufficiency and independence in families. 
• Ability to provide quality documentation as required by agency standards, rules and regulations.

ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL SKILLS:

Visual: Ability to safely operate a motor vehicle, read printed materials, and to make observations of physical facilities as regards to safety.

Hearing: ability to understand and comprehend spoken dialogue in individual and group settings (with or without hearing device).

Ability to communicate clearly and effectively.

Reasonable accommodation will be made for otherwise qualified individuals with a disability.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

Works indoors in an office environment and travels to home settings for the performance of home-visits. high level of case management, which may include emotional discussions, requiring self-awareness and understanding of boundaries.