Foster Care Family Specialist - Thornwell

Position Summary
The Foster Care (FC) Family Specialist will provide family support and case management services to
foster families, and the foster children placed in their homes, and ensure all foster homes are
compliant with DSS regulations. The FC Family Specialist caseload will include a caseload of up to
15 children placed in foster care, in addition, the FC Family Specialist will have assigned foster
families awaiting placement and respite families. The FCFS will participate in the licensing of new
foster families as needed and assist the FCLS with the licensing process. The FC Family Specialist
will act as a liaison between the Department of Social Services and other school/medical/community
organizations and will advocate for the needs of foster families and children placed in foster
care. The FC Family Specialist will ensure the provision of quality services to foster families and
children using established Thornwell, Trust-Based Relational Interventions (TBRI), Council of
Accreditations (COA) standards, and state and federal guidelines. The FC Family Specialist will
assist with ongoing training to ensure foster family retention and high-quality care for children
placed in Thornwell foster homes.
Core Responsibilities1) Conduct monthly home visits for all foster children on the caseload to ensure the safety and
well-being of the children. Visits include conducting announced and unannounced visits.2) Provide ongoing support to foster families to ensure the needs of the foster child and the
foster family are met. (e.g. Identifying educational, medical, therapeutic resources for the foster
child, communication with DSS, childcare, etc.)3) Ensure the safety and well-being of placed foster children by being available to assist foster
families 24/7 in the event of an emergency or crisis situation. in theevent of staff absences, Family Specialists may be asked to support families assigned to otherProgram Family Specialists to ensure continuity of care.4) Coordinate the placement and discharge of the foster child (communication with DSS and the
foster family, transfer of records, etc.).5) Participate in child/case planning, appointments, Foster Care Review board, and court hearings
as needed.6) Match foster child referrals with foster families in your caseload. Review child intake
referrals and match the child with an appropriate foster family.7) Participate in weekend/holiday rotation schedule to review incoming child referrals and match
the child referrals with available open beds.8) Ensure all foster homes are compliant with DSS licensing requirements and COA standards at all
times.9) Conduct quarterly home visits with licensed foster families in your assigned caseload and as
assigned.10) Work cooperatively with the Licensing Specialist to license and re-license foster families.
Conduct orientation and safety walk-thru of the foster home, and ensuring all renewal documentation
is submitted timely to the Licensing Specialist.11) Provide thorough, accurate, and timely documentation of all visits, contacts, and communication
with a foster child or foster family, or about a foster child or foster family in the EHR
(Credible).12) Maintain foster child and foster family files with required documentation and case notes using
electronic system and hard copy files as appropriate.13) Develop and maintain professional communication with all DSS staff.14) Work cooperatively with the Foster Care Team in planning Family Fun Events, Regional
Trainings/Support Meetings.15) Assist the Recruitment Coordinator with recruitment events and activities.16) Assist in establishing quarterly and annual goals and objectives for Thornwell Foster Care
Program. Assist in providing monthly activity reports with data collection for grants and outcome
measures.17) Actively participate in Foster Care Team Meetings and all Thornwell All Staff meetings and
events.18) Assist with pre-service training and ongoing training for foster and respite families.19) Communicate regularly with the Foster Care Program Supervisor and the Foster Care Director to
ensure that any concerns regarding foster families and children are addressed promptly.20) Complete other duties as assigned.Working Conditions
The Foster Care Family Specialist Will work with assigned families primarily residing in the
Specialists designated service region. Temporary coverage of other regions may be required at times
due to program staffing and/or growth. This position is an office based at the Thornwell Foster
Care Office – Myrtle Beach, SC. The FC Family Specialist will maintain client files in Thornwell's
EHR system, participate in trainings and event/support meetings with the Foster Care Team. The
Foster Care Family Specialist will also work in the foster family's home, DSS offices, and
Court/Foster Care Review Board. The FC Family Specialist will travel daily using their own car and
will be reimbursed for mileage from the office at Thornwell's defined standard rate, and in accordance with Thornwell's
travel policy. The FC Family Specialist Will utilize a Thornwell issued cell phone device for all
work communication and will be available 24/7 to provide support to families in emergency or
after-hours situations. Extensive driving is required, and mileage is reimbursed at Thornwell's
established rate. Limited overnight travel for special events and training is required.
The FC Family Specialist will be required to use computers with the most frequent applications to
include Word Processing, Excel Spreadsheets, Power Point, Video Conferencing, and Electronic Note
taking system. The FC Family Specialist will work a flexible schedule to meet the needs of the
families and church/community organizations we serve. Most Special Events will be scheduled in the
early evening hours and on Saturdays. This position will require the following physical activity
level: sitting, standing, walking, driving, setting up/taking down meeting space/exhibit space
materials (tables, chairs, presentation equipment, screens, and banners), and game playing at
Family Fun Events and some public speaking & technical writing.Qualifications
The FC Family Specialist must be committed to supporting foster families that are devoted to
establishing a healthy home environment using the principles of Trust Based Relational Intervention
(TBRI). The FC Family Specialist must possess strong communication skills, be able to organize,
prioritize, and implement work activities independently, have strong team-building skills and
desire to grow professionally. The FC Family Specialist must have direct experience working within
the community-based case management field and direct foster care experience is preferred. The FC
Family Specialist must have a minimum of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or
university. The FC Family Specialist must have a valid driver's license in the state they reside
in.
Skills
1) The FC Family Specialist must have experience working with youth with emotional and behavioral
challenges and their families.
2) The FC Family Specialist must possess the ability to engage families in a collaborative,
strengths-based manner which promotes the development of family skills and capacities, through use
of proactive behavioral interventions.
3) Effective problem solving and creative resolution skills.
4) The FC Family Specialist must possess strong organizational strategies to maintain their
workflow and ensure responsibilities to families and casework are completed in a manner that is
timely and reflects quality work.
5) Strong capacity to build positive relationships with community stakeholders and market the
Foster Care program to appropriate sources within the state.
6) The FC Family Specialist must have the capacity to work from a team-based approach and engage in
a reflective supervision process.
Thornwell is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit religious organization affiliated with the
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and prefers to employ individuals who are Christians and who possess a
Christian commitment as well as concern, for children and families
in need.