Conference Facilitator

Overview

THE SELECTED CANDIDATE WILL BE OFFERED A SALARY BETWEEN $84,863.00 - $97,593.00

THE POSITION IS ONLY TO CANDIDATES WHO ARE PERMAMENT (NOT PROVISIONAL) IN THE CHILD AND FAMILY SPECIALIST CIVIL SERVICE TITLE

The Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) protects and promotes the safety and well-being of children and families through child welfare and juvenile justice services and community supports. ACS manages community-based supports and foster care services and provides subsidized childcare vouchers. ACS child protection staff respond to allegations of child maltreatment. In juvenile justice, ACS oversees detention, placement and programs for youth in the community.

The Office of Family Team Conferencing primary function is the facilitation of a continuum of conferences and other related duties as required in support of Child Protection divisional best practices which may include the processing of out of home foster care placements for children deemed unsafe or at risk to remain in their natural environment. CFS focuses on family support, well-being, child safety, risk, and permanency.

The facilitated Child Safety Conference is to ensure the most appropriate safety decisions and safety plans are developed to prevent removal when safe to do so and/or decide on the best suitable out of home placement that will keep the child safe from imminent danger and harm through the exploration of familial and fictive kin resources to help expedite and support placement and permanency.

• Attend and facilitate all FTC’s that are scheduled focusing on child safety, risk and well-being, permanency, family support, and ensure that placement and discharge decisions reflect Children’s Service’s commitments, values and principles.
• Address critical issues and concerns of the child and family, the provider agencies, divisional partners and Family Court during these conferences.
• Use the decision-making process involving key stakeholders, children, families, service providers and community resources and make recommendations for referrals and resources when appropriate.
• Prepare and complete administrative functions including timely documentation of conference, data, action plans and all other reports related to Family Team Conferencing.
• Complete Expedited Home study packages (5300 series) with kinship resources in the community (resource homes).
• Make DOAS requests for items to support children in kinship resources homes.
• Request Emergency Funds/Miscellaneous Reimbursement Payments for kin resources to care for children in their care.
• Interface with interagency critical support resources (e.g., clinical consultation team, MCHU, Investigative Consultants) to identify critical issues and barriers to children’s safety and care.
• Provide case conferencing and consultation to reexamine and ensure appropriateness of decisions and service plans; consult with FCLS attorney for guidance on the legal posture of cases and relevant court orders when assessing familial readiness for change and caretaker’s protective capacity.
• Provide conferencing in the family’s natural community when appropriate, necessary, and safe.

Minimum Qualifications

A Masters Degree in Social Work from an accredited school of social work and:

• A valid New York State Registration as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with at least one year of full-time, post-graduate experience that includes experience in facilitation of family team conferences or family group decision-making meetings, clinical group work with children, youth, parents or families, or professional training on child and family services topics; or
• A valid New York State Registration as a Licensed Master of Social Work (LMSW) with at least three years of the experience described above, with up to two years in supervision of social work practice; or
• At least three years of the experience described above. A valid NYS LCSW or LMSW must be obtained within one year of appointment.

Note:

Employees who fail to obtain their LCSW or LMSW within one year after appointment may have their probationary periods extended for no more than six months. Failure to obtain the license by…