Job Title: Foster Family Services Consultant
Location:  Southern Mass Area

Job Summary:  
The Foster Family Services Consultant independently coordinates the placement of children in foster family homes and develops all aspects of the child's program including developing and implementing the child's service plan and setting long and short term goals. This position also supervises and monitors foster families to ensure they are providing safe and humane service to the children in their home. 

Responsibilities:

• Screens and assesses child referrals and interviews youth to determine eligibility.
• Schedules pre-placement visits with child and potential foster family and assists in matching youth with an appropriate family.
• Participates in the recruiting and selection process of Foster Parents including home study evaluations.
• Consults and collaborates with referral source, Foster Parents, teachers, school counselors, and other professionals involved with the youth.
• Assists families with referrals to other community services identified in the plan of service and provides advocacy for the youth and their families to receive entitlements or needed services.
• Prepares intake and discharge summaries, routine progress reports and plans. Evaluates plan and recommends changes.
• Develops and monitors the child's service plan to include collecting initial and ongoing assessment data, developing the service plan and making modifications as necessary.
• Maintains monthly statistics and data needed for program accountability and billing for client services.
• Conducts periodic consumer evaluations.
• Responds to client emergencies within or outside normal work hours.
• Meets with Foster Parents following scheduled reporting guidelines, and as needed, to discuss administrative and programmatic issues, review progress, and provide support and guidance in areas of concern.
• Supervises the care and service that the Foster Parents provide including observing their interactions with the foster children and providing them with ongoing feedback on how to best meet their needs.
• Initiates and modifies development plans for each of their foster families to ensure they are aware of their strengths and areas to develop and understand their role as Foster Parents
• Provides ongoing training and teaching to the Foster Parents through formal group training opportunities, web-based learning and one-on-one training in the Foster Parents home.
• Maintains contact with the family and responds to issues/concerns from the family in a supportive and timely fashion.
• Encourages and expects Foster Parents to communicate openly with the family regarding the care and service that they are providing to the child in their home as appropriate.
• Assists with the reunification of child into his/her home communities.
• Assists with follow-up and aftercare services to family as needed.
• May be trained to become a certified Common Sense Parenting Instructor and as a certified instructor may be asked to conduct Common Sense Parenting (CSP) Courses at designated locations as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Services or related field.
• 1 to 2 years of experience including working with children and families; experience working with children and families in community-based programs or Boys Town Programs preferred.
• Must possess a valid driver's license with a good driving record, plus ability to provide own transportation to complete travel requirements of job. Must meet auto insurance requirements established by Boys Town policy and/or State and Local laws.
• This position is available rotationally to provide crisis response and must be available to work non-traditional business hours including early mornings, nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Experience working with local and state agencies and foster care services.
• Intermediate knowledge of the child welfare system.
• Independent decision making skills and competencies to work in crisis situations when circumstances warrant such action.
• Ability to work with confrontational clients and their families; necessary temperament to work with children and families experiencing crisis.
• Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality, professionalism, and role modeling.
• Computer skills in Microsoft Office.
• Ability to communicate with individuals at all levels in the organization and with external contacts in an articulate, professional manner.
• Knowledge of Boys Town Model.
• Ability to function independently and have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with children and families, staff, and support agencies.
• Advanced critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, including ability to make assessments and use sound judgment.

About Boys Town New England:

Since opening in 1991, Boys Town New England services and programs touch the lives of 8,000 children and families in each year.

The opportunity to shape the future of America’s youth is only one of the many perks here at Boys Town New England. Our work culture recognizes the importance of furthering your education, and in order to do so we offer a number of tuition assistance and scholarship opportunities to make it happen. We also recognize the significance of being involved with our community, which means our team participates number of events such as the Newport Marathon, our annual Spirit of Youth Gala and a Christmas tree lighting on our own campus. We want to support and celebrate you as a member of our Boys Town family through all-staff cookouts, generous time off for vacation and an emphasis on leadership development here on the beautiful east coast.

About Boys Town:

Boys Town touches the lives of more than 2 million children and families nationwide each year. As one of the country’s largest nonprofit funded child-care organizations, Boys Town is nationally recognized for its research-proven child, health and family care programs. From our start in 1917, we’re poised to make even greater strides forward as we lead the way in changing how America cares for children, families and communities for the next 100 years.

Schedule: Full-Time
Date Posted: November 14, 2019

Job ID: 14621

This advertisement describes the general nature of work to be performed and does not include an exhaustive list of all duties, skills, or abilities required. Boys Town is an equal employment opportunity employer and participates in the E-Verify program. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.  To request a disability-related accommodation in the application process, contact us at 1-877-639-6003.