Child Welfare Specialist - Foster Care

Kaleidoscope Inc, a charitable organization, located in Chicago near the United Center, and is seeking to fill the position of Child Welfare Specialist .

In addition to our competitive compensation, benefit package and small caseload size, we are also offering a $5,000 signing bonus!

We seek individuals who want to be a part of a small team and make a big impact. We strive to ensure each child has an opportunity to enjoy safe and healthy lives nurtured by supportive adults and engaged communities.

We work within complex systems and advocate for change. You will carry a small caseload of youth who reside in foster care.

At Kaleidoscope we value our employees and seek to provide them with opportunities for professional growth. We offer our employees on-going attachment and trauma-informed clinical training, flexible work schedules, competitive pay and excellent benefits package.

Kaleidoscope's competitive benefits package includes :

• $5,000 Signing Bonus!
• Average of over 80% paid for employee coverage in our medical plans through Blue Shield and Blue Shield.
• PPO Dental Plan
• FREE Short Term Disability, Life Insurance, AD&D, Vision and TelaDoc (an On-demand medical care service)
• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO). Starting at 26 days per year!
• 11 paid Holidays
• Paid Birthday holiday
• 403b Plan
• Employee Assistance Program
• Monthly cell phone reimbursement
• Staff luncheons and fun staff development outings and activities

Job Summary

The Child Welfare Specialist is responsible for providing a variety of community and home-based case management services to assigned children, youth and their biological and foster parents with the goal of promoting safety, wellbeing and permanency.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Position-Specific

• Demonstrates agency clinical philosophy in all aspects of program activities.
• Promptly responds to new foster care referrals by actively participating in pre-placement and placement activities.
• Develops and documents thorough initial and ongoing assessments of each assigned child / youth.
• Provides support, information and referrals for services to biological parents with the goal of addressing the conditions that led to child welfare involvement.
• Collaborates with the Child and Family team to develop, review and modify Service and Treatment Plans that address assessment needs related to safety, wellbeing and permanency.
• Prepares for and attends Administrative Case Reviews (ACR's), CIPP meetings, school staffings and court hearings for all children / youth.
• In consultation with supervisor, makes recommendations to DCFS and court personnel on services, placement, visitation, and permanency.
• Monitors the safety and wellbeing of assigned children / youth through face-to-face visits in the home and community, as required.
• Monitors the adherence to licensing standards of each foster home and promptly reports concerns to agency licensing staff.
• Promotes family connections through the implementation of approved family visiting plans.
• Consults regularly with professional and family members of the child / youth's team to ensure quality service coordination and communication.
• Provides support and information to foster parents in the safe, nurturing and therapeutic care of children with the goal of providing a stable home which meets the child / youth's needs.
• Monitors the safety and appropriateness of the biological family home environment through a minimum of one in-home visit per month for all cases with return home goals and / or children living in the home.
• Ensures that client case files are complete through completing and / or obtaining required, consents for release of information or authorization for treatment and current documentation regarding medical, developmental, school, therapeutic and other services.
• Documents all admission, ongoing and closing activities in a timely manner using approved forms.
• Maintains an awareness of community resources appropriate to child, youth and family needs, and makes proper use of these resources through referral and follow-up.
• Demonstrates a working knowledge of FC Program Plan requirements, COA accreditation standards and related DCFS and policy and procedures.
• Provides on-call crisis response as scheduled.
• Completes other duties as assigned by the FC Team Supervisor

Educational Requirements / General Qualifications

Minimum Degree Required : Bachelor's degree in social work or social service related degree

Minimum Years of Experience : Bachelor's degree requires at least 2 years of experience in social services; Master's degree requires at least 1 year of experience.

Licensure : LCSW or LCPC licensure preferred

Other Requirements : Must possess or pass CWEL, CANS, CERAP and other state of Illinois certifications, as required. Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication and time management skills.

Full time use of minimally insured operating automobile and valid driver's license.

EEO Statement

Kaleidoscope Inc. is an Equal Opportunity / Inclusive / Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status, military discharge status, age, marital status, parental status, or source of income.

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