Case Manager

Summary/Objective

The Case Manager is the primary individual responsible for supporting foster families as they care for children in need and connecting with foster children in all homes assigned. The Case Manager is also responsible for facilitating communication between foster parents and the agency, following up on compliance issues, ensuring minimum standards are met in the home, and acting as an advocate for the foster youth on their caseload.

Scope

This position is responsible for the foster homes assigned by the Regional Director. This position may require travel and coverage between divisions and meeting with foster families that may live some distance from the offices.

Position Details

• FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
• FTE Status (Full-Time, Part-Time, PRN, etc.): Full-Time
• Pay Method: Hourly, Twice Monthly
• Department: Primary: Nacogdoches CPA, Secondary: Tyler CPA
• Division: Child Placing Agency (CPA)
• Location: Nacogdoches, TX, with some travel required
• Reports to: Co-Directors of Children’s Services / Regional Director
• Supervises: N/A
• Work Schedule: Standard work week (9 am - 5 pm) May require nights, weekends, and office hours as directed. Employee will be compensated for all hours worked.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Essential Job Functions

• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Maintain up-to-date documentation for all case management duties including child contacts, treatment plans, service plans, etc.
• Provide routine guidance, assistance, support, and supervision to all foster families on caseload and document home visits in the foster family record.
• Ensure foster families on caseload are current on all trainings. Provide trainings if necessary.
• Work with staff in arranging placement of a child into the foster care program. Coordinate emergency placements and discharges.
• Develop and review treatment plans as required by agency policy.
• Attend treatment plan reviews, ARD meetings, court hearings, staff meetings, etc. 
• Facilitate communication and reporting between foster families, Azleway, law enforcement, licensing, administration, and/or managing conservator during serious incidents (e.g., run-aways, mental health needs, etc.).
• Maintain all documentation as required by Minimum Standards for Child-Placing Agencies, Level of Care standards, contract conditions, and Azleway policies.
• Keep agency administration informed of schedules, serious incidents, and problems within foster families.
• Serve as nights and weekend on-call staff as assigned.
• Develop and maintain a positive, warm, inviting, and accessible, service-oriented relationship with foster families and all children on caseload.
• Checks company email daily and utilizes company technology to communicate and be easily available.
• Regularly communicate work progress to supervisors for purposes of eliciting feedback and honing strategic focus.
• Participate in team meetings, supervision, and other activities as assigned.
• Maintain a calm and professional demeanor while under stress and managing multiple projects.
• Ensures that case management duties are completed in a timely manner.
• Makes themselves available to meet with families in different settings and at different times of the day.
• Is organized and able to maintain all written documentation.
• Enforces company and program policy within the scope of job function.
• Works independently and takes initiative to accomplish tasks and drive capacity building.
• Must be able to differentiate between speech that is therapeutic and non therapeutic and model for foster families.
• Must be capable of hearing and receiving verbal instructions, answering phones.
• Audits files on a regular basis to ensure that all requirements are met.
• Attend and participate in staff meetings and training as required.
• Visit each foster home on caseload at least one time monthly and have face-to-face contact with each child at least one time monthly.
• Complete other duties as assigned.

Competencies

• Technical Capacity. Able to use computer systems with effectiveness and efficiency. Knowledgeable with word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation applications.
• Personal Effectiveness/Credibility. Works with others to maintain a level of effectiveness and credibility.
• Thoroughness. Works projects through to completion with a strong attention to detail.
• Collaboration Skills. Able to collaborate with a team on tight deadlines. Identifies needs and assists in coordinating efforts to meet the needs of the office. A team player.
• Communication Proficiency. Effective and calm communicator. Able to handle stress with grace and patience. 
• Flexibility. Able to adjust to fast-paced work environment with multiple projects. Able to manage stress in a manner that does not add additional stress to the work environment.
• Business Acumen. Has professional knowledge of governmental and child placing agencies within the state of Texas.
• Communication. Has strong written and oral communication skills. Communicates with families and individuals from a variety of backgrounds and values with ease and respect.

Supervisory Responsibility

This position has no supervisory responsibilities over other employees, but may lead certain processes as described above and collaborate with other personnel within the agency.

Work Schedule

Work schedule is typically 9 am - 5pm with some variation expected due to the nature of the position. This may include nights, weekends, and early mornings as dictated by the needs of the job. (Examples may include taking phone calls in the evenings, flexing days due to work requirements, attending functions with families, attending conferences, trainings, or facilitating transportation if necessary).

• Days: Typically M-F, but may vary, (40 hours / wk, with occasional over time)
• Times: Typically 9am - 5pm, but may vary.

Work Environment

This role uses standard office equipment and requires use of computers, phones, copiers, filing cabinets, emails, and fax machines. Must have the ability to work in a high energy environment both at the office, in the community, and in the foster care and adoption environment. 

Physical Demands

Long drives to remote locations may be required. This position may require the individual to climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Travel

This position will  include long drives to various locations. Work outside of normal business hours (evening hours and weekends) will be frequently necessary in order to complete job duties. Ability to travel with some overnight stays expected. Travel will be reimbursed through normal means. Mileage must be submitted to finance at the end of each month.

Required Education and Experience

Bachelor’s Degree. This position requires a high-school diploma per DFPS standards. Bachelor’s degree preferred in areas of human development, psychology, counseling, coaching, communication, biology, social work, or a related field.

Preferred Education and Experience

Prefer experience in human services. Ideal candidates will demonstrate experience working with CPS and foster care in the state of Texas.

Work Authorization

The Case Manager must have a valid Texas Driver's License with a clear driving record and must maintain this status for the duration of their employment. Driving is a critical function of this position and failure to maintain the ability to drive and be insured through Azleway’s insurance providers may be grounds for termination.

• Azleway requires all employees to be authorized to work in the United States.
• Must be able to pass a background check, drug screen, TB test, and driving record check.

EEO Statement

Azleway is an equal opportunity employer. In accordance with anti-discrimination law, Azleway prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Azleway conforms to the spirit as well as to the letter of all applicable laws and regulations.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for their job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.