Case Planner (Foster Care)

About Us

Good Shepherd Services is a leading multi-service agency with more than 85 programs that serve over 30,000 youth and families each year – and builds on their strengths to help them gain skills for success.  At Good Shepherd we respect the dignity and worth of every person and reject intolerance, inequity and injustice in whatever form it may take. Voted one of the top 100 places to work in NYC by Crain’s New York, Good Shepherd Services offers a fantastic work environment, a collaborative team dedicated to fulfilling our mission, and an amazing array of benefits. Join our team and help make a difference! 

NOTE: As a NYC contracted agency all positions at Good Shepherd Services fall under the NYC vaccine mandate. All employees, volunteers and interns must show proof of vaccination upon hire.

Benefits

Salary: $48,000/Yr. to $50,000/Yr.

Benefits/Perks:

• Tuition Assistance Program
• Monthly MetroCards or travel reimbursement for use of personal vehicle will be provided to staff conducting home visits to families
• Generous paid time off (Including 5 Self-Care Days/Floating Holidays, 12 Sick Days, 15 Vacation Days, and 11 Holidays)
• Healthcare Plans (Medical, Dental, Vision, and Pet Care)
• 403(b) Plan (GSS contributes 3% of your salary to your 403(b) plan after 3 years of service, with contributions increasing over time) 

Overview

The Homefinding Case Planner performs a wide range of activities related to the maintenance of foster homes.  The job’s objective is to open kinship homes, recertify, and/or update studies of foster homes in a timely manner, while implementing all OCFS, ACS, and agency mandates. The goal of the position is to ensure that GSS maintains a sufficient pool of safe and nurturing foster and adoptive homes to meet the needs of the children referred for both temporary and permanent placements.

Reports to:                 HOMEFINDING SUPERVISOR, FAMILY FOSTER CARE

Location:                    7 West Burnside Avenue, 3rd Floor, Bronx, New York 10453

Hours:                        35 Hours/Week; Non-Exempt

Major Duties:

• Conduct annual foster/ home visits/inspections prior to due dates.
• Communicate with appropriate FFC and TFFC staff regarding each home’s annual performance, adherence to training requirements, OSI’s or other incidents during the year, completion and review of medical forms and other foster home related issues as needed.
• Interview current foster parents and new kinship foster parents and collect documents required to certify/re-certify their homes in accordance with ACS and agency guidelines. This includes an in depth personal history in addition to a genogram.
• Interview new home members, references and/or new backup people as needed
• Complete, document and follow up on foster home re-certification assessments and home study updates as assigned.
• May conduct or co-lead MAPP and re-certification training necessary.
• Participate in foster home recruitment activities, department events and other meetings/projects as required.
• Work with HF Administrative Assistant and Reservist/Interns to ensure that recertification medicals and SCR clearances and fingerprint checks are completed on appropriate individuals as required
• Collect annual verification documents on all areas of health and safety.
• Assist the department in coverage of all telephone or written inquiries from potential applicants and ensure timely response
• Assist in maintaining demographic information on foster homes and applicants both internally and externally via Evolv and Connections computer systems.
• Other duties as assigned to meet the job objective
• Flexibility to change as OCFS/ACS/Agency documentation and practice models change and evolve over time
• Collaboration with case planning team on ensuring that the foster home is meeting the standards and complying with all policies and regulations as foster parents should.
• Effectively use and practice the Sanctuary Model tools: safety plans, community meetings, psycho-educational groups, team meetings, red flag reviews, treatment planning conferences (or similar) and self care in the department/program to create a non-violent and trauma sensitive culture.
• Promote and model the seven Sanctuary Model commitments to create a non-violent and trauma-sensitive culture
• Integrate the Sanctuary Model SELF (Safety, Emotional Management, Loss and Future) framework into daily practice to ensure quality care and an effective work environment.
• Utilize Solution Based Casework in casework practice.
• Implement Solution Based Casework model of casework practice within the department/program.
• Implement and integrate the principles and procedures of Solution Based Casework: assessment, family and individual level outcomes, action plans and documentation and celebration.
• Actively participate in case consultation, continued SBC training and the SBC certification process.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

 Qualifications:  

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Bilingual Spanish Required
• At least 2 years experience in foster care or other social services field required
• Excellent organizational and writing skills required
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite required (especially Word, Excel and Outlook)
• Familiarity with State’s Connections computer system preferred

Additional Information

Good Shepherd Services is an equal opportunity employer that is proudly committed to becoming an anti-racist and multicultural organization that stands up for justice and equity. We welcome prospective employees from diverse backgrounds, for administrative support and direct service and leadership roles, who will join us on that journey, uphold our values and approach, and believe in our mission. Additionally, we aim to have a racially representative leadership and workforce that is reflective of the communities we work in partnership with.

Good Shepherd Services is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, participants, volunteers, subcontractors, and vendors. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of our activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and termination of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services.

Salary : $48,000 - $50,000