Placement Specialist

Archdiocese of St. Louis; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Good Shepherd Children & Family Services in St. Louis seeks a Placement Specialist for the St. Louis Partners program to identify suitable resource homes when a child needs placement due to intake or placement disruption. The role emphasizes keeping siblings together and preserving the child’s school of origin.

The position requires collaboration with families, staff, and community partners, timely communication, and a deep commitment to family-centered care across diverse backgrounds.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology or related field and at least three years' direct experience in child welfare.
• Knowledge of community resources and juvenile court processes in Missouri.
• Understanding of family systems and trauma impacts on children.

Responsibilities

• Search for and identify appropriate resource homes for new intakes or placement disruptions.
• Keep siblings together and maintain school of origin whenever possible.
• Respond to communications from families and professionals in a timely manner.
• Collaborate with case management agencies and staff to support families.

Skills

Strong communication

Empathy

Team collaboration

Cultural competency

Education

Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology or related field

Job description

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Good Shepherd Children & Family Services provides the highest quality foster care and treatment foster care, adoption, expectant parent counseling, maternity shelter, pregnancy services and advocacy. In response to the call of Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, to help those in need, we connect children with families and keep families connected.

Job Summary

The St. Louis Partners Placement Specialist is responsible for searching for and identifying appropriate resource homes when a child is in need of placement due to being a new intake or a placement disruption for all St. Louis Partners children. In all cases, every effort is made to keep siblings together, maintain children in their school of origin, and preserve the child’s important relationships with family members, friends and supportive adults.

Job Responsibilities- General

• Provide coverage as needed for other SLP positions.
• Responsible for answering the Partners Intake phone during business hours. The placement specialist is responsible for distributing the new intake information to the assigned case management agency.
• Respond to communication from families and professionals in a timely manner.
• Respect and demonstrate understanding for individual differences.
• Perform other duties as assigned to meet the betterment of families and children being served by St. Louis Partners.

Job Requirements

• Bachelors degree from an accredited program of Social Work, Counseling, Psychology or a related field and a minimum of three (3) years of direct experience working in child welfare and managing of such services.
• Working knowledge of community resources.
• Understanding of juvenile court processes and Missouri child welfare laws, practices and licensing standards.
• An understanding of family systems, the impact of abuse and neglect; substance abuse; mental illness; poverty; grief and loss; and trauma on children and their families.
• A strong commitment to the family, finding philosophy and a deep understanding of the essential role family connections play in a child’s life.
• Ability to work cooperatively, productively and in partnership with other team members, agency staff and clients.
• Maintain professional relationships and communicate effectively with CD staff, families, placement providers, and community partners.
• Demonstrate an ability to empathize with children and families.
• Ability to develop rapport and work effectively with staff and families of diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to support staff and confront issues with staff when needed professionally.
• Respects and demonstrates understanding for differences including the ability to interact effectively with individuals regardless of race, religion, gender, gender identity and expression, national origin, sexual orientation, age, disability, and socioeconomic status.
• Maintain professional relationships and communicate effectively with CD staff, families, placement providers, and community partners.

Good Shepherd Children & Family Servicesdoes not discriminate on the basis of handicapped status in the admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its federally assisted programs and activities.

Good Shepherd Children & Family Servicesis an Equal Opportunity Employer.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, or disability.

Pre-Employment Screening

All candidates receiving an employment offer must submit a pre-employment screening. The screenings will include criminal background check and other background checks (as needed), Family Care Safety Registration, drug screen, an employment and education or licensure/certification verification, and Covid-19 and Influenza vaccination. Various positions will require physical examination, Tuberculosis screening and Hepatitis A. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of required screening.

Our Mission

To bring the healing, help, and hope of Jesus Christ to those in need with a compassionate, caring presence.

Connecting children with families and keeping families connected by providing pregnancy and parenting support, foster care programs, and adoption services.

“Teach a youth about the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”