Title: Permanency Worker

Reports To: Case Work Supervisor

Location: 2190 University Avenue Bronx,NY 10453

Hours: 35 hours, Non-exempt

Salary: 45K-50K Annually based on relevant post graduate experience & education

Job Summary: In the context of Child-Centered, Family-focused practice to promote Permanency, Safety and Well-being, and to reduce length of stay in foster care, the Permanency caseworker promotes permanent caring connections, including reunification, family living in the community, Foster Boarding Home placement, adoption and Alternative Permanency Planning Living Arrangements. To ensure continuity of care and aftercare, the caseworker provides aftercare services to youth and family/significant other and develops community linkages and supports to support the transition, re-entry and re-integration into the community.

Permanency worker ensures effective and efficient case management and clinical services delivery to adolescents and parents/caregivers consistent with philosophy of Good Shepherd Services and in compliance with City and State mandates.

Major Duties:

• Promote permanent connections, including reunification, foster Boarding home placement, adoption and alternative permanency living arrangements.
• Participate in treatment planning with team to provide comprehensive assessment, treatment and discharge planning.
• Meet with all youth and families/significant others at intake to begin the process of identifying permanent connections and formulating the discharge plan.
• Educate youth and family (via individual and group formats) about the importance of permanency and reunification
• Conduct home visits as needed through to final discharge.
• Facilitate and run groups using models such as Parenting Journey and Sanctuary Psycho-education group models.
• Serve as housing specialist to youth, family and staff.
• Collaborate with ACS and other stakeholders from admission to final discharge.
• Develop community resources, including linkages with CPIs, to support and sustain participants’ permanency plan. .
• Participate in creating a therapeutic program milieu by integrating youth development, IOC, PYA, case management, health services, substance abuse, workforce development, and Sanctuary model.
• Maintain administration, documentation and compliance of the Permanency Unit including Connections.
• Partner with Program Evaluation and Planning Dept. in fulfillment of the program evaluation processes
• Plan events to support the permanency mission: recreation, dinners, cultural events and Family Retreats.
• Effectively use and practice the Sanctuary Model tools: safety plans, community meetings, psycho-educational groups, team meetings, red flag reviews, treatment planning conferences (or similar) and self-care in the department/program to create a nonviolent and trauma-sensitive culture.
• Promote and model the seven Sanctuary Model commitments to create a non-violent and trauma-sensitive

culture.

• Integrate the Sanctuary Model SELF (Safety, Emotional Management, Loss and Future) framework into daily practice to ensure quality care and an affective work environment.
• Support the implementation of the Missouri Approach in the program.
• Perform other duties as required.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree required
• Minimum of 2 years of experience working with families and adolescents in the child welfare system required.
• Current driver’s license required.
• Bilingual Spanish-English strongly preferred.
• Must be able to work flexible hours, including some evenings and weekends.
• Must have a commitment to work from a strength-based and youth and family development perspective.
• Must have a commitment to the GSS approach of youth and family development and trauma informed practice and ACS Principles to promote safety, permanency and well-being.
• Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills to maintain required documentation.
• Must be able to utilize the program’s chosen behavior management and de-escalation method.
• Must be able to use public transportation systems, including subways and busses to attend various meetings and to make home visits.
• Must be physically able to observe staff in their relationship with residents, be able to climb stairs when an elevator is not available.

Good Shepherd Services is a leading multi-service agency with more than 85 programs that serve over 30,000 youth and families each year – and builds on their strengths to help them gain skills for success. At Good Shepherd we respect the dignity and worth of every person and reject intolerance, inequity and injustice in whatever form it may take. Voted one of the top 100 places to work in NYC by Crain’s New York, Good Shepherd Services offers a fantastic work environment, a collaborative team dedicated to fulfilling our mission, and an amazing array of benefits. Join our team and help make a difference!

General Requirements: All staff are expected to be committed to the mission, vision, and values of Good Shepherd Services, which includes involvement in quality improvement activities and a willingness and ability to work within a culturally diverse environment.

Good Shepherd Services is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, participants, volunteers, subcontractors, and vendors. We do not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services.

Good Shepherd Services is an equal opportunity employer that is proudly committed to becoming an anti-racist and multicultural organization that stands up for justice and equity. We welcome prospective employees from diverse backgrounds, for administrative support and direct service and leadership roles, who will join us on that journey, uphold our values and approach, and believe in our mission. Additionally, we aim to have a racially representative leadership and workforce that is reflective of the communities we work in partnership with.

Good Shepherd Services is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, participants, volunteers, subcontractors, and vendors. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of our activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and termination of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services.

We are committed to providing a workplace that is accessible and accommodating to employees with disabilities. As part of our commitment to providing a barrier-free recruitment and selection process, we will provide reasonable accommodations upon request for candidates with disabilities. If you require any accommodations to participate in the hiring process, please inform us of your needs in advance. We value diversity and inclusivity in our workplace and encourage applicants of all abilities to apply.