Core Values:

• CULTURAL PROFICIENCY: Articulates and applies historical context of racism and understands the current reality of consumers and communities of color in order to support racial equity. Actively demonstrates a commitment to supporting equity and inclusion, and serves as an advocate with colleagues, partners, and communities to meet the Agency's goal of becoming an Antiracist Culturally Inclusive Organization.
• RACIAL EQUITY ADVOCATE: Recognizes, supports, and engages in dismantling institutional racism. Partners with, and is accountable to stakeholders, including children, families, and communities of color.
• RACIAL EQUITY MINDSET: Demonstrates awareness of biases, internalized racial superiority and oppression. Leads with a racial equity lens and actively uses the racial equity tool in meaningful ways.
• TRANSFORMATIONAL VALUES: Contributes to valuable and positive, antiracist transformation in individuals, organizations, and social systems in an effort to actively progress across the antiracist multicultural institution continuum. Is able to foster a sense of community and shared purpose via collaboration and cooperation with others inside and outside Family Connections. Embodies the principles and practices that form the Agency's culture. Operates from an abundance mentality that recognizes opportunities and is optimistic and realistic about the future.
• Demonstrates cultural competence through an awareness of and sensitivity towards Agency's clients' and coworkers' cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.
• Committed to the value of a nurturing family as the ideal environment for a child and believes in the capacity of people to grow and change.
• Works from a strengths-based perspective.
• Recognizes that consumers come first and responds to consumers appropriately.
• Knows and adheres to all FC Policies and Procedures. 

Professionalism:

• Values and participates in the Team as a proactive member.
• Respects others' professional opinions and tolerates a range of feelings. 
• Able to give and receive constructive criticism.

Supervision:

• Attends supervision consistently and comes prepared.
• Able to receive feedback and to learn from it.
• Has insight about self (i.e., strengths and weaknesses) and utilizes that knowledge toward growth and change.

Essex County, NJ

Job Responsibilities:

HomeSafe Therapist/Clinician will be responsible for maintaining a caseload of DCPP involved families that face stressors including history of homelessness, substance abuse, mental health concerns, and separation of children due to these stressors. 

Programmatic and Service Model Requirements: Completes service components according to program and model requirements, included but not limited to in-home/in-community supportive housing and supportive visitation.

1. Initial Encounter/Intake/Assessment

· Responds to requests for phone screens and/or intake assignments with timely and appropriate outreach to clients.

· Accurately assesses client's presentation, needs and strengths.

· Completes intake assessment in a timely fashion.

2. Engagement, Treatment Planning, Visitation Planning, and Contracting

· Develops a plan of care (treatment or visitation plan) which is completed jointly with the client, incorporating the needs and priorities identified by the client during intake and assessment.

· Contracts with client in prioritizing time-limited goals, regularly reevaluates progress, and re-contracts in areas for growth.

· Follows up on missed or canceled services

· Re-negotiates planning at a minimal 3-month interval for first year, then every six months thereafter, after reassessing client's needs/life circumstances, and progress on previous goals.

3. Clinical and Therapeutic Intervention

· Demonstrates the ability to utilize appropriate interventions in both non-crisis and crisis situations.

· Tolerates a range of feelings, affect, and personal presentation without judgement and acts in the best interest of the client.

· Uses a range of approaches according to client need (e.g. individual, family therapy, visitation, group, couples, in-home, crisis intervention) and is creative when needed.

· Consults with psychiatrist as needed and is knowledgeable about client's medication regimen and side effects, and monitors medication appointments.

· Provides case management services as indicated

· Advocates, coordinates, and maintains on-going contact with other providers involved in clients' care.

· Incorporates Trauma Informed models of care

4. Discharge / Termination

· Identifies when therapeutic goals have been reached and/or benefits maximized and works toward appropriate discharge.

· Discusses progress with client and prepares client for termination, with appropriate and timely discharge planning.

· When appropriate, facilities transfers/referrals for further services.

· Consults with clinical and program supervisor regarding termination prior to discharge.

· Completes termination paperwork and appropriate discharge planning in a timely fashion.

5. Documentation , Meetings, and Productivity

· Completes documentation as per agency and program guidelines.

· Facilitates meetings and collaborates with referral source according to need and service type (Visitation Planning Meetings, DCP&P case conferencing meetings, etc)

· Attends internal meetings for the purpose of teaming, case presentations.

· Maintains or exceeds program productivity requirements

Transportation Responsibilities:

While utilizing agency vehicle for supportive housing or supportive visitation:

· Maintain a professional and safe environment in vehicles. Ensure the safety of children and adults by providing appropriate safety measures such as seat belts, car seats, and child safety locks.

· Responsible for monitoring of vehicle maintenance and documentation of such maintenance, including regular service appointments and weekly cleaning. Inform manager or identified liaison of any problems with the vehicle in a timely manner.

· Responsible for keeping the Transportation Signature Log if transporting children, and notifying Supervisor of any problems during pick-ups or drop offs of consumers.

· Responsible for maintaining all required vehicle logs, utilizing Fleet Management, and for keeping records of any receipts.

· Prepare for pick-up and drop-off of clients for program services. As indicated, confirm transportation schedule with necessary adults at designated pick-up/drop-off.

· Communicate with parents and/or caregivers and children on driving route, by engaging in appropriate dialogue addressing questions, concerns, or feelings.

Qualifications:

*Must have valid New Jersey state driver's license in good standing.

Education/Certification: Master's in Social Work or equivalent. LSW, LPC, LMFT or state licensure specific to degree.

Experience: Two years' experience working with children and families. Experience with the dynamics facing a family involved in child welfare. Experience working with children and families impacted by trauma and/or child welfare involved. Group facilitation experience. Experience with diverse populations in an urban setting.

Knowledge: Knowledge of mental health and various modalities, including group, family and individual treatment. Knowledge of community resources, social service and mental health systems. Knowledge of appropriate interventions in a crisis and non-crisis situation. Knowledge of appropriate interventions for families experiencing abuse or trauma.

Skills and Abilities: Ability to conduct bio-psychosocial assessments and make appropriate planning based on assessment, as well as recommendations for a visitation plan. Solid organizational and time management skills, ability to work well independently and in a team environment. Ability to support client in navigating multiple systems of care.

Professional Characteristics: Open, warm, empathic, attentive listener, self-aware, ethical, creative, organized, flexible, open to criticism, patient, responsible, able to work independently, mature, self-motivated, dedicated, enthusiastic, willing to take on additional tasks and responsibilities, and interested in seeking additional training and skills.

Work Environment/Physical Demands: The individual must possess the ability to perform work that requires frequent standing, bending, reaching, squatting, kneeling, moving, and lifting of up to or in excess of 50 pounds.

*The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job or that an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Generous Benefits:

Clinical Supervision

Paid time off/12 paid holidays

403b Retirement plan with employer matching

Employer-paid Life insurance/LTD/AD&D

Health/Dental/Vision Insurance

35-hour work week

Monday – Friday schedule

Trainings

Referral Program

Professional development assistance