Family Services Specialist- CPS (Danville)

Provide services to families and/or child/children who reside in the City of Danville, by assessing the needs of the families; making referrals to the community partners; monitoring the compliance with services within the home and the community; attending meetings, hearings, assisting clients with home placements as needed as well as Child Care needs; providing crisis assistance; attending court proceedings to testify and complete court ordered documents; providing transportation to appointments in town and out of town; monitoring home through announced and unannounced visits; making referrals as needed; maintaining case documentation. Other duties include facilitating family engagement meetings with families; emergency management and on-call duties. The Child Care worker is also responsible for training of vendors for CPR/First Aid.

The essential functions of the job are not limited to those listed in the job description. The City retains the discretion to add to or change the duties of the position at any time.

• Investigates and assesses child abuse and neglect cases by conducting home and school visits; conducting criminal background checks on family members; scheduling mental health appointments; interacting with hospital for medical and forensic information; conducting drug screens; and actively participating in all proceedings at the local or state level courts.
• Documents all client interactions and interactions with other professionals by preparing affidavits to be turned into court; creating safety and case plans; completing documents for child and adult referrals; and obtaining release of information forms.
• Provides other functions such as home studies, training to raise awareness and educate community about abuse.
• Participates in 24 hour on-call services.
• Conducts CPS and Service intake by searching database for previous CPS or criminal history of family members; assessing calls pertaining to child(ren); and completing paperwork for rental assistance, food vouchers and other services.
• Provides ongoing services by monitoring families at risk for further child abuse/neglect; making referrals for mental health support and placement; transporting children to residential placements; and offering recommendations to caretakers regarding parenting.
• Ensures protection of child(ren) by interacting with attorneys and court officials; gathering information to build a case of abuse/neglect; and making suggestions to the court that pertain to child safety.

• Schedules and conducts interviews, by reviewing additional history, completing narrative, evaluating information of clients resources, determining current and future needs, identifying needs of client, completing forms, involving client in service planning process, preparing client to utilize service plan, and setting appropriate goals. Conducts case redetermination. Instructs client how to properly use the child care card, authorizes purchase orders/payment, provides service to clients with unusual circumstances, contacts employers, and contact community partners (Head Start, community Action, Health Dept. and other State Agencies).
• Organizes, case records, monitors incoming cases on Common Help, maintains case records to ensure documentation of chronological history and completes necessary reporting and record keeping requirements. Regularly monitors and updates Virginia Child Care Management System, EPPIC, SPIDER, ADAPT, Common Help, and other systems as needed. Maintains regular contact with clients within a quarter, redetermination of eligibility completed yearly, updates Service Plans, completes authorizations for payment, and prepares records for State review and audits.
• Regularly maintains person to person contact with vendors. Trains vendors (CPR/First Aid), provides skills training for providers in age appropriate groups and special needs areas, and makes referrals to other agencies for required training when needed. Counsels vendors. Makes referral to State agencies for approval and updates, maintains close contact with Virginia Child Care Licensing, Child Care Aware of Virginia. Monitors Electronic Payment Processing and Information Control System in order to review child attendance, child care payments, card history. Reissues child care cards. Troubleshoots and mediates disputes between vendors and clients.
• Participates in mandated trainings, community collaborations, State and Local committees and boards, Court and appeal hearings. Gathers information for investigation of fraud cases. Maintains ongoing waiting list when money is not available for child care program and dispute resolutions.

• Assesses families and child(ren)s strengths and needs and develops a service plan to address the needs of the child & family; making home visits announced or unannounced; attending Court Proceedings and providing sworn testimony to the court; making referrals for counseling; serving as an advocate for families and children; attending IEP Meetings; providing crisis intervention; provide supportive services to families with at-risk child/children.
• Provides administrative duties by having client sign service application; documenting all information; completing referral for FAPT funding of services; completing any letter or correspondence for court; completing referrals for services; and closing files when services are completed; enters case information into state tracking system of OASIS.
• Provides complete court ordered home studies by contacting all clients and scheduling time to meet to begin home study process; gathering information for report; researching criminal background; completing home study and submitting it to the court; and contacting the court date to find out the outcome.
• Provides transportation by transporting clients to appointment; and transporting guardian and clients to out of town placements to residential facilities.

• Assesses report and provides case management to individuals concerning custody disputes of child/children, which may ultimately affect parent-child relationship through a written comprehensive social study. The case management service to families and child/children is delivered in accordance with State and Local rules and regulations evaluating and focusing on the best interests of child or children and to complete an impartial and comprehensive evaluation for the benefit of providing recommendations to the court regarding custody. The report is submitted to the court of jurisdiction for disposition of the case. Interviews with all parties, involving child/children involved in the custody/visitation dispute must be interviewed and assessed as to their ability to provide safety and stability to the child/children, while focusing on the child/childrens best interest.
• Assists clients in referrals to community resources including counseling, psychological evaluations, school meetings, and other community sites. Obtain school records, medical reports, references in regards to parent and child/children.
• Performs administrative duties by documenting all contacts with clients or referral sources; preparing Case Action forms for payment of services and crisis intervention items; typing correspondence to court personnel, clients, and referral sources; monthly time sheets and activity reports.
• Performs on-call duty at least two times per year.

• Provides case management, support and services by developing service plans to meet the needs of specific families; making regular home visits; attending court and providing testimony or information as requested; making referrals for counseling, intensive in-home services, job readiness programs, independent living programs, etc.; advocating for child/children in school and in the community; attending various related meetings; assisting parents and guardians in placing child/children in residential facilities as needed; monitoring home environments, school achievement, discipline and attendance; assisting families with crisis when needed; performing drug tests; and supervising visitation between family members and child/children.
• Prepares home studies for the court by contacting and visiting all parties listed on court order; gathering information from home visits for the study; gaining and contacting references given by families; researching criminal histories; contacting schools to gain attendance, grade, and discipline records; and delivering and distributing completed study to Clerk of Courts office.
• Assists clients in transportation by transporting clients to medical appointments, counseling, psychological evaluations, school meetings, and community worksites, among others; providing alternative transportation to child/children if they miss their ride to school; and facilitating familys presence at court hearings, counseling sessions, or out-of-town residential facilities.
• Performs administrative duties by documenting all contacts with clients or referral sources; preparing Case Action forms for payment of services and crisis intervention items; typing correspondence to court personnel, clients, and referral sources; and preparing funding requests for FAPT Team as well as monthly tim]]>