The Home Assessor conducts psycho-social screening with families and advocacy services to children and families involved with the Child Welfare System. Participates as a member of a multi-disciplinary team and consults with representatives of other agencies to support children and families. Ensures services provided are kept with high standards and quality, and in full compliance with all relevant legal, ethical, licensing, contractual and agency standards and expectations.

DUTIES

SUMMARY

The Home Assessor conducts psycho-social screening with families and advocacy services to children and families involved with the Child Welfare System. Participates as a member of a multi-disciplinary team and consults with representatives of other agencies to support children and families.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Independently gathers necessary information to assess needs and provide a thorough and accurate psycho-social assessment of caregivers who have been identified by an Emergency Response Children Social Worker (ER CSW) as having one or more of the following concerns: mental health, substance use/abuse, and/or intimate partner violence.

• Completes the Family Preservation Assessment Services (FPAS) assessment and must follow DCFS Guidelines; including contacting and gathering information from all collateral contacts as applicable. Available to complete services during business hours, after business hours, and on weekends.  

• Participates in ongoing consultation in order to discuss individual cases.

• Provides the client and their family (foster and/or biological) with appropriate resources and linkage opportunities to mental health services to ensure that the needs of the client are being met.

• Maintains clients’ records related to assessment that are accurate, concise, timely, and useful for coordinating treatment team planning, monitoring, and reviewing.

• Ensures confidentiality and maintenance of client records in compliance with HIPAA, CII Policies and Procedures and licensure regulations.

• Promotes highly integrated and effective care, a one-CII culture, and adherence to agency values.

• Communicates with DCFS staff and others involved in the case. Participate in treatment team meetings and make recommendations as appropriate.

• Supports with reporting, billing, and quality assurance in partnership with various CII departments. 

• Maintains knowledge of program standards and policies as developed by the agency, licensing and other governing bodies; develops personal and professional knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; benchmarking state-of-the art practices; participating in in-service programs.

• Ensures all licenses, registrations with boards, and trainings are up to date as required by state, county, and contractual requirements.

•  Other duties and special projects as assigned

SUPERVISORY RESPONSBILITIES

• No supervisory responsibilities

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Master's or doctoral degree in psychology or social work required.

• 3 years of professional level case management, community health service delivery, behavioral practice management, or related experience, required. 

• Previous experience with DCFS, Family Preservation, and/or child welfare services preferred.

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS

• Valid driver's license and state-required auto insurance.

• May require some travel.

• Ability to work with minimal supervision.

• Spanish / English bilingual preferred.

• Ability to handle confidential information.

• Maintains patient privacy, including protecting the confidentiality, safeguarding the integrity and availability, and limiting the use and disclosure of patient Protected Health Information (PHI) to authorized individuals and entities.

• Participates in, conducts, and sustains performance quality improvement activities according to designated role and responsibilities.

• Sensitivity to service population’s cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Free from alcohol and drug abuse.

• Understands CII’s basic philosophy and participates fully in carrying out its mission.