Lead YV Case Specialist
UCAN - chicago, IL
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Description Position Title: Lead YV Case Specialist Department: YV LifeSet Department Reports to: YVLifeSet Case Specialist Supervisor Position Objective and Summary: The YV LifeSet Lead Case Specialist will provide youth driven direct individual case management services to YV LifeSet who are defined as high acute LifeSet. The YV LifeSet Lead Case Specialist will serve older youth between the ages of 17 ½ -21 years of age who are transitioning out of care. The YV LifeSet Lead Case Specialist will provide quality case management services building on the youth's individual strengths while adhering to the YV LifeSet program model and DCFS standards. The YV LifeSet Lead Case Specialists will serve as the assigned legal case worker and adhere to all Life Set, UCAN and DCFS service requirements. Essential Functions and Responsibilities: Assistance youth with obtaining and maintaining safe and stable housing and/or placement within the TLP. Support older adolescents with educational goals while teaching independent living skills, Educating and providing support to youth on obtaining, and maintaining employment, building a support system, and following the law to remain free from legal involvement. Carry a reduce case load of approximately 3 high acuity LifeSet cases and assume responsibility for the delivery of case management services to assigned youth, their families, caregivers, and other individuals significant to the youth. The LifeSet Lead Case Specialist will ensure all parenting youth assigned are provided with supportive resources to enhance their parenting knowledge and skills. Provide leadership support in the absence of the LifeSet Case Specialist Supervisor due to illness, vacation, etc. Provide case management support activities in the absence of the LifeSet Case Specialist due to illness, vacation, or otherwise assigned by the supervisor. Adhere to LifeSet processes, UCAN's and DCFS policies and procedures relevant to child welfare services to ensure compliance. Attend training opportunities as required by UCAN, DCFS, LifeSet or recommended by supervisor. Provides 24/7 on call services (rotating on-call at night and on weekends) and responds in person at any time when it is determined to be necessary by the team supervisor and program director. Assessment and Service Planning Completes as required, assessments and service plans for assigned clients that adequately and appropriately address the youths unique service needs. Implements client service plans, monitors service plan progress, and reviews progress with supervisor and DCFS as required. Demonstrates insight regarding youths' strengths and needs and incorporates this into service planning and assessment. Assesses and monitors the safety of clients in current living arrangement and makes any needed recommendations and referrals for appropriate placement. Assesses permanency options; recommends permanency plan for clients; and implements plan to achieve permanency for clients. Organization and Service Delivery Attends and actively participates in individual and team supervision sessions and trainings and follows up and/or implements feedback and recommendations received from the team supervisor, program director, and clinical consultant. Provides referral and linkage to appropriate resources; secures all written agreements in accordance with guidelines established by contracting agencies and other outside sources. Recommends and obtains supervisor approval of limited financial assistance for client needs. Creates organized plans so that all casework tasks can be completed as required. Responds in a timely manner to all written correspondence, email, and phone call inquiries regarding clients. Contacts courts, DCFS, and other service providers or community organizations to coordinate client services or to make referrals. Attends court hearing, ACR's and client staffing's. Performs other related tasks as required or assigned. Documentation and Reporting Makes frequent reports to supervisor on progress of client services, as well as required written reports. Maintains accurate, complete, and weekly client records and data as required by UCAN and IDCFS. Reports all possible critical incidents and unusual incidents to supervisor, management, or DCFS as required by UCAN or by mandated reporting law. Client Outreach and Engagement Attends all meetings related to the young adult and/or family with the purpose of gathering information specific to intervention development and advocating in the best interest of the young adult's long-term stability. Maintains weekly and when appropriate more frequent client face-to-face contact through required number of home and office visits. In person contacts will occur in community and at minimum of once per month home visit. Engages resistant and/or mandated clients in services. Provides outreach to client, family members and other significant people in the client's life to maintain contact and to develop resources for the client. Maintains required contact with relevant family members, assesses their need for services, and works on relationship building between client and family. Supports Parenting Skills and Child Development Completes required parenting assessments and child development screens of assigned clients and their child(ren). Provides individualized education to teen parents regarding developmental expectations, health and safety issues, and infant/child bonding. Assists clients in understanding and following through with recommendations made by their children's service providers when necessary. Assists clients in obtaining daycare, WIC, their child(ren)'s immunization and medical records, and Head Start. Develops a working knowledge of community parenting resources, which may be used in serving clients and maintains close working relationship with these resources. Assesses and monitors the safety of children living with clients and makes any needed recommendations and referrals for appropriate placement and services. Professionalism and Work Conduct Behaves with integrity, demonstrates high ethical standards, and displays a positive image of UCAN. Acts in a professional manner always and maintains appropriate boundaries with clients. Demonstrates accountability for results and keeps commitments to others Reports to work, meetings, training, and job-related activities prepared and as scheduled. Demonstrates openness and respect for cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of clients and coworkers. Understands and supports UCAN's standard of cultural proficiency and strives to meet it Responds to clients and their families, UCAN staff, DCFS, service providers and other stakeholders in a timely manner and ensures follow up to adequately address their need. Ability to read and understand general guidelines, procedures, policies, and internal communications. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from managers, employees, and the public. Performs other related tasks as required or assigned. Education/Job Experience/Certification: B.A. or MSW or MA/MS in Human Services/Psychology/Counseling. Two to three years of case management experience preferred. Special Knowledge and Qualifications: Demonstrated understanding of trauma-informed practice. Working knowledge of community resources to use in serving clients and maintains productive working relationship with these resources Demonstrated understanding of Positive Youth Development. Ability to work flexible and/or varying shifts, including evenings and weekends. Proficiency in operating a computer with Microsoft Office suite of applications. Ability to interpret and accurately apply the regulations of federal and state programs. Respect for cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of clients and coworkers. Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously. Excellent writing skills and record keeping practices. Excellent interpersonal skills. Valid Illinois driver's license and insurance, access to a car, and the ability to transport children in accordance with IDCFS regulations. Work Environment: This position requires local travel to provide services to youth at the TLP placements and in their community. This position may require the transportation of clients and/or their children. This position may require being on-call and work on weekends, evenings, and overtime.
Created: 2024-10-08