Supportive Visitation Specialist

at  Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Newark

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Newark is one of New Jersey’s largest non-profit social service agencies with programs and facilities serving Bergen, Essex, Hudson, and Union counties.
We are currently seeking a Full-Time Supportive Visitation Specialist to join our Supportive Visitation Services program located in Union City, NJ.
The Supportive Visitation Specialist is responsible for supporting parent-child visitation for families in their homes or communities; completing and updating visitation plans; documenting visits and completing reports; facilitating parent debriefings before and after visits and visitation planning meetings; transporting children and/or parents, as needed; communicating with children, parents, relatives, resource parents, DCP&P, and/ or other stakeholders by phone and in person; attending various meetings and trainings; and assessing families’ service needs and linking them to appropriate community providers.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

• Initiates and maintains ongoing communication with families in a culturally sensitive manner utilizing a family’s preferred language taking into consideration a family’s faith and culture.
• Schedules and conducts visits in the least-restrictive, most home-like location (the first preference being within the family’s home) while ensuring the safety of the children.
• Ensures the environment for parent-child contact is safe, non-traumatizing, and promotes healthy attachment.
• Uses strengths-based, solutions-focused, family centered, trauma informed strategies to elicit family input.
• Initiates and maintains ongoing communication with DCP&P, other providers, and supports.
• Uses a process to gather information which includes reviewing collateral information and inquiring about family’s natural supports.
• Completes required assessment tools including but not limited to bio-psychological assessments, Rose Wentz Matrix and SVS Caregiver Surveys and documents contacts with families in agency’s progress notes and DCP&P contact sheets.
• Creates a visitation plan with active familial involvement and updates the plan at regular intervals.
• Creates an environment that empowers family members, including parents, children, and caregivers to communicate their goals and needs.
• Utilizes various interviewing and/or communication techniques in a culturally competent manner.
• Recognizes non-verbal communication and maintains good eye contact and posture.
• Advocates for parents/families as necessary and supports them in advocating for themselves.
• Links the family to community resources and formal and informal supports and coordinates with DCP&P.
• Collaborates with and shares relevant information with DCP&P staff, other providers, and supports.
• Facilitates visit planning meetings and participates in other relevant meetings.
• Enhances parental skills by goal setting, modeling, mentoring, reinforcement and feedback and reflection through a trauma-informed perspective.
• Prepares for each visit with caregivers reviewing goals and expectations and encouraging them to be the lead in visit planning.
• Debriefs with caregivers after each visit to allow for processing and self-reflection and discussion of strengths and challenges.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelors degree in social work, counseling, or related field
• Minimum 1 year experience working with children & families, particularly families involved with welfare system and/or affected by trauma preferred
• Valid NJ Drivers License

OR

• Associates degree in related field
• Minimum 1 year experience working with children & families, particularly families involved with welfare system and/or affected by trauma preferred
• Valid NJ Drivers License

Please refer the Job description for details