Supportive Visitation Specialist - RENU (4998)

Center for Family Services; Camden (NJ); Hybrid; USD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-On Bonus: $500

Competitive benefits package

401(k) Plan

Medical insurance

Paid Time Off

Job summary

The Center for Family Services in Camden, NJ is looking for a dedicated professional to provide parent-child visitation services for families. The role involves supporting families to maintain and strengthen their relationships while ensuring safety in a flexible working environment.

As an ideal candidate, you'll need a Bachelor's degree in Social Work or a related field and knowledge of trauma's effects on children and families. The company offers competitive benefits, including a $500 sign-on bonus, paid time off, and ongoing professional development opportunities.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 1 year experience with children and families, particularly in child welfare.
• Knowledge of trauma's effects on children and families.
• Experience or willingness to work with diverse populations.
• Valid NJ Driver's License and clean driver's abstract.

Responsibilities

• Support parent-child visitation for families in their homes.
• Document visits and complete reports.
• Facilitate debriefings and communicate with stakeholders.
• Link families to community resources.

Skills

Communication

Culturally sensitive engagement

Trauma-informed strategies

Goal setting and mentoring

Assessment and documentation

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Social Work or related field

Associate Degree with experience

Job description

Position Summary

Parent-child visitation services for child‑protective and child‑performance‑involved families with children in out-of-home placement to maintain and strengthen familial interactions and facilitate permanency. Services are provided in the least restrictive setting that maintains safety along a continuum of supervision based on family need. Core activities include ongoing assessment, visitation, aftercare (post-reunification support), transportation and documentation.

Duties & Responsibilities

Support parent-child visitation for families in their homes or communities; complete and update visitation plans; document visits and complete reports; facilitate parent debriefings before and after visits and visitation planning meetings; transport children and/or parents as needed; communicate with children, parents, relatives, resource parents, DCP&P, and/or other stakeholders by phone and in person; attend meetings and trainings; assess families' service needs and link them to appropriate community providers.

Essential Duties

Engaging

• Initiate and maintain ongoing communication with families in a culturally sensitive manner utilizing a family's preferred language, taking into consideration a family's faith and culture.
• Schedule and conduct visits in the least restrictive, most home-like location (first preference within the family's home) while ensuring the safety of the children.
• Ensure the environment for parent-child contact is safe, non-traumatizing, and promotes healthy attachment.
• Use strengths-based, solutions-focused, family-centered, trauma-informed strategies to elicit family input.
• Initiate and maintain ongoing communication with DCP&P, other providers, and supports.

Assessing

• Gather information via reviewing collateral information and inquiring about family's natural supports.
• Complete required assessment tools including but not limited to bio-psychological assessments, Rose Wentz Matrix and SVS Caregiver Surveys and document contacts with families in agency's progress notes and DCP&P contact sheets.
• Create a visitation plan with active familial involvement and update the plan at regular intervals.
• Create an environment that empowers family members, including parents, children, and caregivers to communicate their goals and needs.
• Utilize various interviewing and/or communication techniques in a culturally competent manner.
• Recognize non-verbal communication and maintain good eye contact and posture.

Teaming

• Advocate for parents/families as necessary and support them in advocating for themselves.
• Link the family to community resources and formal and informal supports and coordinate with DCP&P.
• Collaborate with and share relevant information with DCP&P staff, other providers, and supports.
• Facilitate visit planning meetings and participate in other relevant meetings.

Coaching

• Enhance parental skills by goal setting, modeling, mentoring, reinforcement and feedback and reflection through a trauma-informed perspective.
• Prepare for each visit with caregivers reviewing goals and expectations and encouraging them to be the lead in visit planning.
• Debrief with caregivers after each visit to allow for processing and self-reflection and discussion of strengths and challenges.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, Counseling, or related field preferred; minimum of 1 year experience with children and families, particularly families involved with the child welfare system and/or affected by trauma preferred but not required.
• Knowledge of trauma and its effect on children and families.
• Experience or willingness to work with culturally diverse populations.
• Valid NJ Driver's License and clean driver's abstract.
• Associate degree in related field with a minimum of 3 years of experience with children and families, particularly families involved with the child welfare system and/or affected by trauma preferred but not required.
• Knowledge of trauma and its effect on children and families.
• Experience or willingness to work with culturally diverse populations.
• Valid NJ Driver's License and clean driver's abstract.

Working Conditions

A flexible working schedule is required to accommodate families, which may include nights, weekends, and/or holidays. Some working time is spent out of the office transporting children and/or parents to and from visits and observing visits in families' homes or in the community (parks, libraries, restaurants, jails, etc.). Work may include lifting individuals up to, or in excess of, 50 pounds and performing work that requires frequent standing, sitting, bending, reaching, squatting, kneeling, and moving.

Benefits

• Sign-On Bonus: $500 upon hire.
• Competitive benefits package.
• Paid Time Off (PTO) program including vacation, sick, personal, and holiday.
• 401(k) Plan.
• Medical insurance plan options.
• Prescription insurance.
• Life insurance.
• Flexible Spending Accounts.
• Health & Wellness Activities.
• Ongoing training & professional development opportunities.
• Opportunity for advancement.

Disclaimer

Center For Family Services is an equal opportunity employer offering competitive salaries and excellent benefits packages. Many positions require motor vehicle record evaluations and medical clearances.