Position: Family Group Conferencing Facilitator

　　Position Summary: In this role, you will facilitate effective family meetings involving a family-led decision-making process that brings together all individuals concerned with the children’s safety, permanency and well-being. The goal of Family Group Conferencing is to prevent foster care placement of youth, to enhance communication of families who are under county supervision, or to reunite families whose children are currently placed in foster care.

　　New Directions is an equal opportunity employer committed to championing the principles of anti-racism, justice, and equity. We welcome prospective employees from diverse cultures and backgrounds, for all positions, who will uphold our values and contribute to our mission. We aim to have a leadership and workforce that is reflective of the communities we work in partnership with.

　　Pay and benefits

　　105 hours of paid time off your first year, not including an additional 13 agency holidays.

　　Access to affordable life, dental and medical insurance.

　　401k with up to 3% agency matching.

　　$18.94 - $20.88/hr for your first year. Additional raises guaranteed.

　　Join our 100+ year old company, where over 30% of our staff have been with us for 10 years or more.

　　Minimum Education and/or Professional Qualifications/Skills:

　　Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services related field Job Description

　　Title: Family Group Conferencing (FGC) Facilitator)

　　Department: Niagara County Preventive

　　Title of Immediate Supervisor: FAR/FGC Facilitator

　　POSITION SUMMARY: The FGC Facilitator will facilitate effective family meetings involving a family-led decision-making process that brings together all individuals concerned with the children’s safety, permanency and well-being. The goal of Family Group Conferencing is to prevent foster care placement of youth, to enhance communication of families who are under county supervision, or to reunite families whose children are currently placed in foster care. The FGC will provide a neutral third party to families who elect to participate in the program. The FGC Facilitator may need to travel across Western New York and the surrounding areas to effectively engage all relevant parties in the decision-making process.

　　RESPONSIBILITIES/DUTIES:

　　Casework Contacts:

　　Work with families referred through the Local Department of Social Services for approximately sixty (60) days with the goal of facilitating a decision-making process specific to the needs on the referral.

　　Maintain a flexible caseload of approximately 12 families. The caseload may be smaller or larger to accommodate referrals and individual case needs

　　Schedule meetings with family members during days/times that are convenient for the family. This may include evenings and weekends.

　　Meet individually with all family members to engage them in the Family Group Conferencing model and learn about their strengths, needs, and resources

　　Utilize trauma-informed, solution focused casework practices

　　Family Finding and Natural Support Development:

　　Meet with relevant extended family and natural supports (identified by family or LDSS) to engage them in the Family Group Conferencing process and to obtain their view of children’s circumstances. This may include travel to areas within and surrounding Western New York.

　　Utilize family finding software and tools to help explore all options for establishing child safety and permanency

　　Collaboration with Local Department of Social Services (LDSS) and Family Court:

　　Meet “bottom line” on each individual referral for FGC

　　Maintain regular contact with LDSS staff involved in the case

　　Represent New Directions and the Family Group Conferencing model at scheduled stakeholder meetings

　　Collaborate with Community Partners:

　　Educate individuals involved in case on needs of the family and possible solutions for needs

　　Reach out to all service providers involved with the family to obtain pertinent information

　　Fidelity to Family Group Conferencing Model:

　　Utilize practices trained through the OCFS Family Group Conferencing tool-kit

　　Provide training and education to community partners on the Family Group Conferencing model to promote understanding and buy-in

　　Utilize solution focused and strength-based tools to reach successful conclusions in each case

　　Meeting Facilitation:

　　Coordinate a meeting between all individuals involved in referral at a neutral location

　　Set up meeting location, refreshments, and supplies for the meeting

　　Send out invitations to all parties involved for the meeting

　　Locate a staff member when available to utilize for note taking purposes

　　Facilitate one or more family meetings with all family members and service providers

　　Assure safety and well-being to all participants throughout the family meeting

　　Assure everyone’s voice is heard at the family meeting

　　Documentation:

　　Complete family plan document created at the meeting and obtain signatures from all parties in attendance.

　　Send signed copies of all family plan documents to each participant whom attends meeting and NCDSS staff involved on the case

　　Track all billable hours for each family meeting and submit to supervisor

　　Maintain accurate and timely case records, including progress notes and tracking mechanisms, electronically and in each client’s file

　　Keep all client and family information, verbal and written, confidential

　　Document all units of service in the case record

　　Program Development:

　　Represent New Directions at various stakeholder meetings to promote the use and benefits of Family Group Conferencing

　　Assist Program Manager with evaluating the utilization of Family Group Conferencing

　　Assist Program Manager with training and supervision of per-diem Family Group Conferencing Facilitators

　　Agency Standards/Norms:

　　Participate in regular supervision (per New Directions policy and procedure)

　　Collaborate with team members for case coverage and consultation

　　Participate in regularly scheduled team meetings

　　Maintain a flexible schedule including evening and weekend availability

　　Attend all mandatory in-service trainings as per NDYFS policy and LDSS requirements

　　Participate in continuing education as needed to maintain a level of expertise in the field.

　　Adhere to agency and department policies and procedures

　　Utilize normative culture

　　Adhere to the Code of Ethics prescribed by the National Association of Social Workers

　　Perform all other duties as assigned by immediate supervisor

　　SKILL, QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE, ABILITY & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Minimum Education and/or Professional Qualifications/Skills Education:

　　Bachelor’s degree in Human Services field required, Master’s degree in Human Services field preferred, experience in the child welfare field preferred. Candidates should have some experience and knowledge of trauma resolution. Candidate should have experience working with foster care and relative care out of home placements for childrenSpecial – Personal Skills, Qualities, Aptitudes and Physical Requirements New Directions Youth & Family Services, Inc is an equal opportunity employer. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable persons with disabilities to perform essential functions.

　　Ability to work effectively with clients, families, staff and community contacts from a variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

　　Ability to deal effectively with children/youth with behavioral, emotional and/or mental health challenges and their families.

　　Ability to accept supervision and perform as part of a team.

　　Ability to be flexible and adapt to change.

　　Must have a valid driver’s license, adequate auto insurance and meet the criteria for driving set forth in the New Directions Driver’s License policy and Auto Insurance policy.

　　Ability to pass annual physical for Category 1 job classification in accordance with New Directions Employee Health policy.

　　Must comply with Agency safety standards and be responsible for own actions and conduct concerning safety and healthy working conditions.

　　POSITIONS SUPERVISED: Per-diem Family Group Conferencing Facilitators