Case Planner

Child and Family Services of Erie County, Inc.; Buffalo (NY); Hybrid; USD 48,000 - 51,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO/Paid Holidays

Life Insurance

Medical & Dental & Vision

Wellness Program

HSA Contributions

Dependent Care FSA

Employee Referral Bonus

PSLF eligibility

403(b) Retirement

Job summary

Child & Family Services of Erie County, Inc. is seeking a Foster Care and Adoption Case Planner to assess needs, promote safety, and support timely permanency for children in foster care.

You will manage a caseload, coordinate visits, and collaborate with families and local agencies to advance reunification where possible. The role requires a Bachelor’s or Master’s in Social Work with relevant child welfare experience, a NYS driver’s license, and strong teamwork and communication skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work (BSW) or MSW with child welfare experience.
• Valid New York State driver's license and insurance.
• Strong interpersonal and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to work as part of a team.

Responsibilities

• Manage an assigned caseload of children in the Foster Care program.
• Ensure child safety and support permanency planning goals.
• Conduct monthly home visits and maintain case notes.
• Facilitate visits between parents, youth, and siblings.
• Collaborate with district case managers and service providers.
• Assist in transition of children between placements and settings.
• Participate in Family Court proceedings to support permanency plans.
• Support foster parents with skill development and documentation.

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work (BSW)

Master's Degree in Social Work (MSW)

Interpersonal skills

Conflict resolution

Teamwork

Valid NYS driver's license

Reliable transportation

Job description

Description

Are you passionate about advocating for children and families? Are you looking to work in a program that centers on teamwork, collaboration and the drive to create lasting change? The Foster Care Program wants you on our team!

Job Details

Are you passionate about advocating for children and families? Are you looking to work in a program that centers on teamwork, collaboration and the drive to create lasting change? The Foster Care Program wants you on our team!

The Foster Care Case Planner plays a crucial role in assessing needs, promoting safety, and supporting reunification efforts for children in foster care. Your expertise will guide your assigned caseload of children and families toward brighter futures while ensuring timely permanence for those who need it most.

What does a day on the job look like for the Foster Care and Adoption Case Planner?

• Manages an assigned caseload of children in the Foster Care program and provides casework services to ensure the child’s safety and well-being and support the child’s permanency planning goal
• Maintaining the goal to reunite the child in foster care with their family of origin while concurrently planning for other permanency routes for the child if reunification is not possible.
• Completing, at minimum, monthly home visits with the youth in their foster home based on the child's level of care associated with their needs
• Make monthly contact with all identified parents of the youth in foster care
• Scheduling and facilitating visitation between parents and youth in foster care and siblings of the youth who may be placed in an alternate setting
• Providing casework services and support to birth parents in meeting court ordered requirements to achieve family reunification. Facilitating concurrent planning to ensure timely permanence for child if reunification is not possible
• Working closely in collaboration with local district case manager and other service providers in facilitating child’s permanency plan
• Managing the transition of children in placement from one setting to another (e.g. birth parents’ home to foster home, foster home to birth parents’ home or adoption home etc.)
• Participating in Family Court proceedings to facilitate child’s permanency plan
• Supporting foster parent’s skill development in order to best meet the needs of children in their care
• Maintaining progress notes, case record documentation, and required reports in accordance with district requirements and NYS regulations
• Participates in a department on-call rotation

The Qualified Candidate Will Have

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work (BSW) plus two years experience in child welfare preferred, or equivalent combination of education and experience OR a Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW) with experience in child welfare
• A valid New York State driver’s license and continued automobile insurance required
• Strong interpersonal and conflict resolution skills
• Accessibility to reliable transportation during working hours
• The ability to work as part of a team

Shift Information:

Must have reliable transportation for frequent travel throughout Western New York, primarily Erie County, and must be available to work a flexible schedule that includes regular evening hours for home visits and community events. Hybrid and flexible schedule options to support needs of the children and families on caseload.

Competitive Pay Range of $24.61- $25.90

per hour based on education and experience, based on a 37.5 hour work week

CFS offers full-time employees the below benefits to support our employees and their families and help to create a healthy work environment.

• Paid Time Off (PTO) –20 PTO Days (25 Days After Five Years of Employment) –14 Paid Holidays (includes 2 flex holidays) – Bereavement: Four Paid Days – Paid Jury Duty
• Employer Paid Life Insurance
• Medical, Two Plan Options
• Dental, Two Plan Options
• Vision Insurance
• Wellness Program and Incentives
• Health Savings Account (HSA) and Quarterly Employer-Contributions
• Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Dependent Care FSA
• Employee Referral Bonus
• Qualifying Employer for Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)
• 403(b) Right Away and Employer-Contributions After Two Years (1000 hours each year)

Child & Family Services Is An Equal Opportunity Employer

Child & Family Services provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran or familial status, or genetics.

In addition to federal law requirements, Child & Family Services complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer leaves of absence, compensation, and training.