Permanency Specialist

sfmexternalcareers; Lubbock (TX); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Saint Francis is seeking a Permanency Specialist to coordinate services and level of care for youth, ensuring timely placement and permanency goals. You will work closely with families, courts, and partner agencies to develop case plans, arrange services, and advocate for the child’s best interests.

This role requires trauma-informed practice, strong communication, and the ability to travel within the state to support kinship and foster placements while maintaining thorough case documentation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or related field.
• 21+ years of age and valid driver's license.
• Successful background checks including DFPS and FBI background checks.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate assessments by gathering information from youth, families, and collaterals.
• Make initial contact with children within 4 hours of referral and assist with placement.
• Develop and implement case plans and permanency goals with timelines.
• Determine required services (mental health, substance use, respite, supervised/unsupervised visits).
• Prepare families and children for moves, reunification, or permanency outcomes.
• Report to court and testify as required, ensuring court orders are followed.

Skills

Trauma-informed care

Mandated reporter

Flexible schedule

Genograms & ecomaps

Family engagement

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work or related field

Job description

BASIC PURPOSE OF THE JOB

The Permanency Specialist coordinates and delivery of appropriate services and level of care for youth.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTION

• Completes initial and ongoing assessments by gathering information from, children and their families, and collaterals
• Responsible for initial contact of children within 4 hours of referral and subsequent placement.
• Researches and recommends possible relative placements, giving them priority, whenever viable.
• Facilitates and coordinates family meetings.
• Develops and implements case plans and permanency goals with children and families, ensuring that goals are reached within established time frames.
• Determines and recommends which services are needed for the child and family, including mental health, drug and alcohol services, respite care and supervised or unsupervised visitations/interactions.
• Assists families to establish a support network of family, kinship, and community.
• Preparing families and/or children for moves, reunification or other appropriate permanency goals.
• Provides intervention for children and families in crisis situations.
• Ability to work with the court system and follow court protocols including appropriate business attire.
• Assesses ongoing case plan goals and recommends reunification, termination of parental rights or other permanency options.
• Completes reports for court, participates in court participates in court proceedings, including testifying, and makes sure court orders are followed.
• Completes and maintains written documentation in child/family's case record accurately and within established time frames.
• Supports kinship and foster families to maintain placements and help children work toward permanency.
• If child's permanency goal becomes adoption, complete necessary documents to assist in the adoption process.
• Participates in supervisory and team meetings, sharing pertinent information about children/families' progress, critical trends, barriers and solutions to achieving outcomes; and relationships with other agencies/communities.
• Participates in monthly supervision.
• Works collaboratively and provides guidance to family support workers assigned.
• Supervises and transports children and families as needed.
• Reports critical incidents to DFPS verbally within 12 hours, written within 24 hours.
• Implements Saint Francis policies and follows directives as required. Follows and adheres to all pertinent Saint Francis Standard Operating Procedures (SOP's), rules, personnel policies and procedures; related accreditation and licensure standards; and federal, state and local rules, statutes, regulations, and contractual terms.
• Is knowledgeable of and follows all safety procedures.
• Reports unusual incidents through appropriate Risk Management, clinical and safety channels.
• Ensures clients' rights are protected.

NON-ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Prefer a minimum of 40 hours in-service education per year
• Other duties as assigned

MINIMUM JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work or Human Service Field from an accredited college or university
• Must be 21 years of age
• Must pass a drug screen, MVR, Criminal History and DFPS History Check, Centralized Background Check Unit Texas Health and Human Services Eligibility and any background checks deemed to be necessary.
• FBI Fingerprint Check
• Lifting requirements of 30-50 lbs.
• Must have valid driver's license, acceptable driving record and reliable transportation

REQUIRED SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES

• Mandated reporter
• Receives training in trauma informed practice and incorporates knowledge in day to day practice
• Ability to work flexible schedule including on-call
• Understanding of family centered practice, genograms, ecomaps, and social histories
• Understanding of the child welfare and state system
• Ability to engage families in working relationships
• Understanding of child and adolescent development
• Demonstrates effective written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to travel throughout the State
• Consistently exercises discretion and independent judgment in performance of duties in conformance with applicable policies, procedures, statutes, rules and regulations
• Ability to work with minimal supervision
• Handles multiple priorities
• Independent discretion/decision making within the scope and responsibility of the position
• Manages emotions and can make decisions under pressure
• Manages stress appropriately
• Works alone effectively
• Works in close proximity to others and/or in a distracting environment
• Works with others effectively/teamwork
• Ability to work with diverse populations
• Understands and practices Universal Precautions