What are the responsibilities and job description for the DSPD Family Consultant position at Brighter Futures?
Job Overview:
The DSPD Family Consultant role is essential in helping people with disabilities participate more fully in their communities and lead self-determined lives. The Family Consultant is to stay apprised of persons information, such as grades, behaviors, incidents, treatment plans, etc., and provide recommendations for improvement and/or connect others with available resources. The Family Consultant acts as a liaison between Brighter Futures, Inc., and persons outside team members. Family Consultants work closely with foster families, caseworkers, therapists, behaviorists, Guardian Ad Litem, and DSPD Support Coordinators to support persons in their goals to live independent lives.
General Responsibilities:
- Staff must adhere to the Agency’s policies and procedures to work cooperatively with the Division of Child and Family Services, Division of Services for People with Disabilities, Office of Licensing, Juvenile Court and law enforcement officials, or others.
- Must understand, agree, and abide by all requirements regarding confidentiality as provided by the State of Utah.
- Complete required paperwork to maintain compliance within Agency and governing agency requirements. Paperwork includes, but is not limited to, advisory notes, monthly Progress Reports, incident reports, Client Specific Training forms, Child and Family Team Meeting notes, Person Centered Support Plans, and any other required forms.
- Must attend and participate in required persons meetings (school, Child and Family Team meetings, therapy, court appointments, etc.), Agency trainings, monthly meetings with Brighter Futures, Inc. team, and any other required meetings.
- Family Consultants must facilitate and complete scheduled “Home Visits” with assigned families to implement and discuss S.M.A.R.T. goals for families and persons, as well as review their Person-Centered Support Plans.
- Family Consultants are to communicate periodically with caseworkers and with foster families and persons frequently. The Family Consultant is to communicate needed information to the persons team as soon as appropriate.
- Resolve conflicts and make sound decisions while negotiating with families, persons, caseworkers, individuals within the client’s school, etc.
- Family Consultants must respond to grievances and conflicts associated with their level, according to Brighter Futures, Inc.’s Grievance Policy.
Responsibilities to Clients:
- Advocate for persons individual or community needs with foster families and in Child and Family Team Meetings.
- Family Consultants are expected to understand the agency services provided to persons and communicate with applicable team members. Family Consultants are to communicate with the Day Support Lead for Day Support, the Secretary for therapy services or to schedule med management, DSPD Support Coordinator for scheduled yearly Person-Centered Support Plan meetings, and the Program Director for contract assistance.
- Family Consultants must have the ability to help and support persons in placement progress by following their Person-Centered Support Plan and accomplishing personal goals.
- Family Consultants work with foster families, caseworkers, and DSPD Support Coordinators to ensure persons are enrolled in school and meeting expected metrics within their Person-Centered Support Plans.
- Family Consultants must ensure foster parents inform the agency of any accidents, injuries, or emergencies that involve the person, including any extreme or repeated behavioral problems.
- Must understand and implement approved intervention methods to de-escalate persons when displaying physical or verbal aggression.
- Family Consultants must assist in the process for persons by providing resources to persons regarding housing, job information, budgeting, household maintenance, etc.
Qualifications and Education Requirements
Family Consultants must be at least 21 years of age or older per state requirements
Ability to fluently speak English
Must be able to pass required background checks
2 years of experience in the Social Work, or applicable field, or a bachelor’s degree in Social Work
Salary : $16 - $18