At Risk Youth Permanency Coordinator - Residential Program bei The Home for Little Wanderers

When you join The Home for Little Wanderers, you join a team of professionals dedicated to creating better, brighter futures for kids.

For over 200 years, The Home for Little Wanderers has helped build stable lives and hopeful tomorrows for vulnerable children and their families. Our 25+ community-based and residential programs serve thousands of at-risk youths from birth to age 26. Many of these children have experienced abuse, neglect, trauma, or a disrupted family life. As the oldest child welfare agency in America, we provide them with safe surroundings, permanent loving relationships, and a secure path toward a better, brighter future.

To learn more about the incredible impact our employees have on the lives of children and families, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXedSArtYbg

About The Program

The Home in Walpole serves youth between 12 and 18 years old, providing year-round educational and residential services and creating safe, stable surroundings for children. Programs on the Walpole campus provide supportive academic and living environments and diverse levels of service and support.

The campus is located on 166 scenic acres and features five residential units, a large gym and recreational space, a small engine repair program, and a large cafeteria. There is also access to an outdoor basketball court, a playground, a Project Adventure ropes course, a ball field, and several hiking trails.

Whether preparing a youth to return to their family or helping a young adult begin their independent life, The Home at Walpole enables youngsters to acclimate into the community and move toward a successful transition.

About the Role

Under the direction of the Clinical Coordinator and/or the Clinical Director, the Permanency Coordinator is responsible for developing and coordinating permanency plans in order to meet the social, emotional and developmental needs of youth who have experienced complex early childhood trauma and/or who are living with mental health diagnoses.

How You'll Be Making a Difference

• Participate in Massachusetts Permanency Practice Training Series
• Work directly with youth to identify and engage their family/identified supports in the permanency planning process. and their families to address permanency needs
• Search for and engage a youth’s family network and others in the youth and family’s natural support system. Considers the steps that are needed to build a team around the youth and consider the needs related to permanency readiness.
• Utilizes on line search strategies as well as in person case record mining as needed to identify potential members of a youth’s permanency team.
• Organize and lead Youth Guided Family Driven Team meetings for individual youth
• Communicate frequently with treatment team members, including DCF regarding progress
• Provide case management services, act as a liaison with collaterals; establish and maintain relationships that support the youth and family’s growth.
• Act as an advocate for families, teach parents ways to advocate for their youth, help families develop the skills needed to navigate the social service and behavioral health system.
• Assist with initial assessment and evaluation of new youth and families Assist clinical staff in designing  permanency focused treatment plans that utilize interventions that meet permanency goals.
• Utilizes best practice tools with youth and with family members in order to support desired permanency outcomes.
• Work with clinical, OT, milieu staff and program leadership to assess the permanency needs of youth in order to develop programming that helps youth build connections, skills and interests.
• Participate in permanency consults across congregate care programs
• Meet with The Home’s Center for Permanency team members for consultation and support
• Facilitate trainings on permanency in collaboration with the clinical department and support staff in utilizing permanency focused interventions
• Provide constructive feedback regarding implementation of permanency interventions with staff individually and in group forums.
• Provide operational/task supervision for residential counselors and supervisors participating in permanency initiatives
• Actively communicate with all treatment team members through participation in treatment team meetings, staff meetings, shift reports and through individual communication as indicated
• Submit reports and documentation in a timely manner.  Ensure that documentation meets contractual and quality assurance standards.
• Willingness to have a flexible schedule to meet the individual needs of family members.  This may include some weekend and evening hours

• Required to have a valid Driver’s License, clear driving record, and personal vehicle available for use during work hours

Qualifications

• B.A./B.S. in human services, psychology or social work preferred.
• Experience working with youth in residential or community settings.
• Supervisory experience helpful.
• Computer literate, including Microsoft Office and Microsoft Edge, with the ability to learn new software applications.

What The Home Can Offer You

In addition to the chance to make a lasting impact on the lives of the youth we serve, The Home for Little Wanderers offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Generous time off including up to 15 days per year for new full-time employees, plus 11 holidays, and 5 sick days
• Health and Dental Insurance that is effective immediately upon hire
• Extensive training to new staff
• Tuition reimbursement of up to $2,400 per fiscal year
• 403(b) Retirement Plan with employer match
• Employer paid Long-term and Short-term Disability Insurance, plus Basic Life and AD&D Insurance
• And more!

Valuing Diversity

We are committed to excellence in diversity, equity, and inclusion, while simultaneously creating a culture that supports those values. We believe the differences we bring enhance our ability to provide exceptional service and care to diverse children, families, and communities. Moreover, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging align with our values and our mission to help vulnerable children and their families build permanent, positive change.