Child and Family Support Specialist - School Based

Priority Dispatch Corp.; Town Plot Hill (CT); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Priority Dispatch Corp. seeks a SBS Child and Family Support Specialist to join a multidisciplinary team enhancing students’ behavioral, emotional, and social development in school and community settings.

The role co-facilitates daily interventions, provides wrap-around case management, crisis response, and advocacy with schools, families, and social service agencies. A Bachelor’s degree and CT driver’s license are required; bilingual skills are preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in social work or related counseling field is required.
• CT driver’s license and ability to provide own transportation.
• Certified in Mandt, First Aid and CPR (or obtained within three months).
• Bilingual preferred (English/Spanish/Portuguese) and knowledge of community cultures.

Responsibilities

• Respond to students’ social and emotional needs when intervention is appropriate with school staff.
• Facilitate debriefing for staff, students, and caregivers after behavioral incidents.
• Support transitions of students back to school after crises or disciplinary actions.
• Provide case management, advocacy, and linkage to services with schools and community agencies.
• Conduct crisis intervention in home, office or community when needed.
• Maintain timely documentation per CMHA policies (progress notes, treatment plans, logs).

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Problem solving

Good judgment

Adaptability

Flexibility

Organizational abilities

Verbal and written communication

Confidentiality

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in social work or related counseling field

Tools

Microsoft Office (Word, Outlook)

EMR system

Job description

Summary:The SBS Child and Family Support Specialist (SBS-CFSS) serves as an active member of a multidisciplinary team that provides assistance and support to facilitate client’s behavioral, emotional and social development and learning in school and within the community. This includes co-facilitation of daily social and emotional support interventions to decrease recurrence of behavioral health related issues and absenteeism. The CFSS will also provide case management services to students and their families, both in school and in the community, who are in need of additional wrap-around support. Case management services may include treatment planning, advocacy, linkage, referrals, and crisis intervention.Essential Responsibilities and Target Outcomes:While on-site at assigned schools, case manager will respond to students’ social and emotional needs when it is appropriate to intervene alongside school staff.Facilitate debriefing for school staff, students, and their caregivers when appropriate following a behavioral incidence at school that may or may not have resulted in disciplinary outcomes or crisis interventions for the student.Support students and their caregivers as well as school staff with transitioning student back to school following a behavioral health-related crisis intervention (i.e., ED visit, hospital admission) or disciplinary outcome (i.e., suspension).Provides case management services, such as communicating with schools, pediatricians, DCF, juvenile court, and other social service agenciesSupports client’s recovery plan goalsProvides crisis intervention to child and family in the home, office or community if need arises.Provides case management services, advocacy, and assistance to clients with linkage to services.Collaborates with integrated CMHA clinical team to ensure all services provided are communicated with whole team to be an effective wrap around model.Assures timely documentation is maintained in accordance with CMHA policies and procedures, including but not limited to progress notes, treatment plans, authorizations, program orientation, consent to treat, activity logs, and monthly targeted case management notes.Maintains appropriate caseload as determined by CMHA and funderPerforms other related duties as assigned.Principal Customers: Students grades K-12 in contracted public school districts and their familiesCritical Work Relationships: CMHA programs, schools, pediatricians, DCF, juvenile court, and other social service agenciesEducation:Bachelor’s Degree in social worker or related counseling field required.Credentials and Licenses:Valid CT driver’s license and ability to provide own transportation.Certified in Mandt, First Aid and CPR (or obtained within three months of hire)Bilingual/Bicultural preferred(English/Spanish/Portuguese) and knowledge of cultural values, traditions, and practices of the communities we serve.Experience working with children and family systemsExperience:Minimum of 1 year of experience working with youth with social/emotional/behavioral difficulties; or comparable education and/or internship experience within a human service-related bachelor’s level program to compensate for lack of work experience.Beginner to intermediate experience Microsoft Office products including Word and Outlook. Experience in, or the ability to learn how to use an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system to which includes appointment scheduling, authorization tracking, assessments, treatment plans, progress notes, and discharge summaries.Competencies: Behavioral skill setsEffective interpersonal skills, ability to problem solve, use good judgment and work independentlyFlexibility and ability to adapt creatively to stressful situationsAwareness/sensitivity to all types of issues related to client diversityStrong organizational abilities and verbal and written communication skillsAbility to ensure the security and confidentiality of client information and records in a manner consistent with professional and CMHA codes of ethics.