COMMUNITY HEALTH AND COUNSELING SERVICES
Service Area: Mental Health DATE: July 2017
POSITION TITLE: Resource Parent Care Team (RPCT) Liaison
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: (includes position purpose and objectives)
This position is the core point of contact for foster family engagement in the Resource Parent Care Team program. The Foster Family Support Liaison provides support to foster families to ensure stable placement of youth in foster care. The Resource Parent Care Team Liaison will be responsible for providing initial outreach to foster families in partnership with the assigned Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS) caseworker. The Resource Parent Care Team Liaison will provide exceptional customer service by responding to phone calls or emails from foster families, answering their questions as able, and triaging needs related to a foster youth’s case planning. The Resource Parent Care Team Liaison position will allow for enhanced communication among foster families, Agency staff, OCFS staff, and community providers and partners. The Liaison’s primary location will be within the DHHS regional office.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED:
Provided by Resource Parent Care Team Clinical Supervisor or designee.
COLLABORATES WITH:
Resource Parent Care Team members, foster families, DHHS workers, and other community service providers and partners.
PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS: (includes essential job functions)
1. Makes initial contact with foster family within three business days to gather information and assess needs.
2. Assists foster families with navigating the Resource Parent Care Team, DHHS supports, and community resources through intensive phone support and assistance.
3. Facilitates effective and efficient communication among foster families, DHHS staff, and all providers involved with the foster family.
4. Assists, when needed, in the process of determining an appropriate foster home for youth in foster care.
5. Ensures that foster family providers have necessary services to help maintain stable placement for youth placed in their home.
6. Responds to phone and email contact from foster families the same day they are received.
7. Ensures that foster parents are aware of supports and services available to them.
8. Assists foster families in identifying formal and informal supports and facilitates connection to those supports.
9. Provides consultation, as needed, to the providers regarding overall performance issues and facilitates needed discussions with foster families.
10. Facilitates communication and problem solving between foster families and DHHS staff.
11. Develops and monitors necessary systems and resources to provide support services to foster parents.
12. Represents the Agency to the community in a professional manner.
13. Carries out duties as assigned based on established competencies.
14. Ensures that the rights of clients and staff members are protected in accordance with Agency policy, State and Federal regulations.
15. Documents all contacts with foster families within the DHHS electronic data system.
16. Complies with Agency and mandated safety procedures and regulations for the good of employees and clients.
ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES AND SKILLS:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Education and/or Experience: Bachelor’s degree in a human service field or related field, LSW or conditional LSW licensure. This position requires a minimum of 2 years of professional experience working with children and families. Past experience in or knowledge of the foster care system is required.
Certifications, Licenses, Registrations:
· Must hold or be able to earn certification in CPR and First Aid as required.
· Must have licensure as an LSW or conditional LSW.
· Must possess a valid Maine driver’s license and a reliable means of transportation with a minimum of $100,000/$300,000 auto liability insurance.
Other Skills and Abilities:
· Ability to synthesize multiple viewpoints into a common purpose.
· Ability to mediate myriad perspectives in sometimes emotionally-charged situations.
· Ability to work flexible hours, as a team member and also independently with clients.
· Ability to understand and appreciate the dynamics of working with children and families who are faced with emotional and/or behavioral challenges.
· Ability to write routine reports and correspondence accurately and timely.
· Ability to ensure that team decisions are carried out.
· Ability to take the initiative to enhance quality interactions with the foster families. .
· Ability to understand the needs of foster care providers.
· Ability to work flexibly and independently. Must demonstrate effective verbal and written communication skills.
· Understand and appreciate the dynamics of working with foster children and foster families.
· Ability to communicate with outside agencies.
· Ability to accept and utilize the supervisory process to develop professionally.
· Proficient in keyboarding skills for data entry into electronic medical record.
Physical and Environmental Conditions and Requirements:
The conditions and requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.
KEY: OCCASIONALLY FREQUENTLY CONTINUOUSLY
(1-3 hours/day) (3-5 hours/day) (6-8 hours/day)
Workplace Environment:
The employee may:
· Occasionally, work in wet or humid conditions; be exposed to environmental pollutants (e.g., pet dander, smoke) and outdoor weather conditions in extreme heat or cold.
· Occasionally, be exposed to noise levels varying from moderate to loud conditions.
· Continuously, work with others in office conditions that may be crowded with little privacy.
· The employee must be able to work full-time, 40 hours a week. Occasionally, the employee will need to evenings, weekends, overtime and/or an unpredictable schedule.
Physical Requirements:
The employee must be physically able to:
· Continuously, sit and work at a computer or laptop for more than 4 hours a day.
· Continuously, use hands to finger, handle, or feel.
· Frequently, sit and ride in a car to transport self and/or clients safely to another office or service area that could be some distance from the office.
· Frequently, drive safely in varying weather conditions on rural roads.
· Frequently, prepare written and/or electronic documents and outcomes of visits and meetings in a timely manner.
· Occasionally, stand or walk.
· Occasionally, climb stairs or balance.
· Occasionally, smell, stoop, kneel, crouch, carry or grasp.
· Occasionally, lift weights or exert force up to 25 pounds.
· Occasionally, reach waist high, shoulder high or overhead.
· Occasionally, bend or twist at waist or walk on uneven ground.
Communication Requirements:
The employee must be able to:
· Continuously, talk on the phone or face-to-face with individuals and small or large groups.
· Continuously, hear, read and write.
· Continuously, use close, distance and peripheral vision along with depth perception and the ability to adjust visual focus.
Mental Requirements:
The employee must be able to:
· Interact successfully with others in a collaborative and collegial manner.
· Respond to varying situations with tact and diplomacy.
· Deal with stressful, hostile or irrational persons or events, whether due to physical or mental disability, drugs, socio-economic differences, or other factors.
· React calmly and effectively in unexpected and changing situations, including emergencies.
JOB PERFORMANCE EVALUATION:
Employee must have an initial evaluation after the first 90 days and must satisfactorily complete an initial six (6) month probationary period. At that time, the employee may be granted regular status or may be continued on an extended probationary basis up to but not exceeding an additional six (6) months. The initial probationary period occurs but once for each employee, during the first six months of employment. Subsequent job performance evaluations will occur on an annual basis on or before the anniversary of the employee’s original date of hire.
Link to Annual Performance Evaluation
APPROVED BY:
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Rose St. Louis, COO Date