SVS Therapeutic Visitation Specialist

YMCA OF GREATE MONMOUTH COUNTY; Eatontown (NJ); On-site; USD 96,432,000 - 103,320,000; Full time

Job summary

The YMCA of the Jersey Shore seeks a Therapeutic Visitation Specialist in Eatontown, NJ 07724 to support home- and community-based parent-child visits for families needing therapeutic intervention. This full-time role includes intake assessments, visitation planning, documentation, and collaboration with partners.

Responsibilities include transporting families, debriefings, and planning meetings while maintaining a trauma-informed, family-centered approach.

Qualifications

• Requires valid NJ driver’s license and clean driving record.
• Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling or related field; professional license required.
• Minimum 1 year of experience with children and families, especially those affected by trauma.
• Bilingual in a client language (Spanish/Portuguese preferred).
• Strong communication and problem-solving abilities; culturally competent.

Responsibilities

• Support parent-child visitation for families needing therapeutic intervention.
• Complete intake assessments, visitation plans, and reports; document visits.
• Facilitate debriefings and visit planning meetings; transport families.
• Coordinate with DCP&P and other stakeholders; attend meetings/trainings.
• Maintain safety, trauma-informed, family-centered practices during visits.
• Prepare and transmit progress reports and records within required timelines.

Skills

Driver's license

Bilingual (Spanish/Portuguese)

Experience with children and families

Active listening and communication

Trauma-informed practice

Problem analysis & resolution

Cultural competency

Time management

Education

Master’s degree in Social Work/Counseling or related field

Job description

Job Details: Job Location: EATONTOWN, NJ 07724, Position Type: Full Time, Salary Range: $33.65 - $36.06 Hourly, The Therapeutic Visitation Specialist at The YMCA of the Jersey Shore intentionally fosters a cause-centered culture that is welcoming, genuine, hopeful, nurturing, and determined.

Responsible for supporting parent-child visitation for families in their homes or communities who require therapeutic intervention; completing initial intake assessments, assessment tools, and visitation plans; documenting visits and completing reports; facilitating parent debriefings before and after visits and visitation planning meetings; transporting children and/or parents; communicating with children, parents, relatives, resource parents, DCP&P, and/or other stakeholders by phone and in person; attending various meetings and trainings; and assessing families’ service needs and linking them to appropriate community providers.

ABOUT SUPPORTIVE VISTATION SERVICES

Parent-child visitation services for CP&P- 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.

This position is contingent upon the availability of grant funding.

Engaging

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

Assessing

• Uses a process to gather information which includes reviewing collateral information and inquiring about family's natural supports.
• Completes required assessment tools including but not limited to bio-psychological assessments, Rose Wentz Matrix and SVS Caregiver Surveys and documents contacts with families in agency's progress notes and DCP&P contact sheets.
• Creates a visitation plan with active familial involvement and updates the plan at regular intervals.

Active Listening

• Creates an environment that empowers family members, including parents, children, and caregivers to communicate their goals and
• Utilizes various interviewing and/or communication techniques in a culturally competent manner.
• Recognizes non-verbal communication and maintains good eye contact and posture.

Teaming

• Advocates for parents/families as necessary and supports them in advocating for
• Links the family to community resources and formal and informal supports and coordinates with DCP&P.
• Collaborates with and shares relevant information with DCP&P staff, other providers, and supports.
• Deliver and score assessment

Coaching

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

Operational

• Contact referral source and client within 2 business days of receipt of referral.
• Carry a caseload of 3 visit hours and 1 transport hours daily. Part-time staff will conduct a prorated number of transportation and visit hours per week based on hours worked.
• Available a minimum of 3 evenings per week.
• Establish visit parameters with all parties involved.
• Provide transportation to family members who require it as per caseworker.
• Supervisor visits according to level of supervision required by caseworker, the exception being emergency bathroom breaks.
• Document activity and interaction between family members during visits and provide copies to caseworkers within 5 business days of visit.
• Complete program paperwork in a timely manner including end-of-month paperwork, weekly schedules, vehicle log/maintenance, expense forms, and evaluation forms.
• Complete all record keeping according to COA and DCF standards.
• Compile and transmit all required progress reports and termination summaries.
• Attend and participate in weekly clinical supervision. Attend all mandatory training.
• Participate in all DCF and YMCA meetings.
• Maintain a safe driving record.

Qualifications

• Valid NJ Driver’s License and clean driver’s abstract.
• Successful completion + passing of state/federal fingerprinting: REQUIRED
• Bilingual in a client language majority (Spanish Speaking OR Portuguese speaking preferred)
• Minimum of 1 year’s experience with children and families, particularly families involved with the child welfare system and/or affected by trauma.
• Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling or related field.
• Valid Professional license (LPC, LAC, LSW, CSW) REQUIRED. May be in process of obtaining licensure.
• Knowledge of trauma and effect on children and families.
• Experience/willingness to work with culturally diverse populations.
• Skills in problem analysis and problem resolution at both a strategic and functional level.
• Ability to communicate effectively.