Posting Details
The Office of Family Representation and Advocacy (OFRA) provides high quality legal representation to children, youth, and indigent parents involved in New Mexico's child abuse and neglect system.
This posting will be used for ongoing recruitment and may close at any time. Applicant lists may be screened more than once.
Why does the job exist?
The Lead Family Peer Support Navigator (FPSN) plays a crucial role in enhancing the effectiveness of the FPSN program by maintaining an active client caseload while serving as an important resource for on-boarding, training, and supporting fellow FPSNs in their day-to-day work. In this role, the Lead FPSN directly supports OFRA clients by coaching, mentoring, and guiding them through the child and family welfare system, helping them navigate services in their court ordered case plans, offering emotional support, and collaborating with the interdisciplinary legal team to remove participation barriers. Additionally, the Lead FPSN supports the implementation of OFRA's practice model by modeling for and teaching consistent practice to fellow FPSNs and supporting them in the development of the competencies and confidence needed to do their jobs effectively.
How does it get done?
- Successfully balance lead responsibilities while carrying an active caseload and providing direct FPSN support to clients. The goal is for the lead to have a smaller caseload, however, there may be times for reasons outside of OFRA's control that this isn't possible.
- Effectively carry out client-centered FPSN standards and duties by helping clients navigate the child and family welfare system (and other overlapping systems), providing emotional support, and by helping them access the necessary services to achieve the goals outlined in their court-ordered case plan.
- Assist with the onboarding of new FPSNs by coordinating shadowing schedules, facilitating peer-to-peer learning opportunities, and modeling effective implementation of OFRA's service model and best practices.
- Collaborate with the Interdisciplinary Services Division Director and other members of the leadership team to identify strengths, gaps and workflow needs within the Interdisciplinary Services program, including assisting with determining appropriate caseload sizes and workload distribution. Recommend additional procedures, training topics, and practice improvements that support high-quality and consistent service delivery by FPSNs.
- Participate in OFRA's quality assurance activities, including shadowing FPSNs and interdisciplinary legal teams. Offer observational feedback to peers to support learning in the moment, and to the leadership team to help identify additional training and support needs.
- Assist the Interdisciplinary Services (IDS) Division Director in maintaining consistency, quality, and cohesion across the IDS and Legal Divisions.
Who are the customers?
The Lead FPSNs primary internal customers will be OFRAs FPSNs and legal teams. Other internal customers will include the Interdisciplinary Services Division Director and OFRA leadership. The Lead FPSNs primary external customers include indigent parents who receive an interdisciplinary legal team. Other external customers will include children, youth, eligible young adults, and other legal parties who are OFRAs clients or who are at risk of entering the child and family welfare (foster care) system
Ideal Candidate
The Lead FPSNs primary internal customers will be OFRAs FPSNs and legal teams. Other internal customers will include the Interdisciplinary Services Division Director and OFRA leadership. The Lead FPSNs primary external customers include indigent parents who receive an interdisciplinary legal team. Other external customers will include children, youth, eligible young adults, and other legal parties who are OFRAs clients or who are at risk of entering the child and family welfare (foster care) system
Minimum Qualification
Associate's Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Guidance and Counseling, Education, Sociology, Criminal Justice, Criminology, Family Studies/Services, Social Sciences, or Human Services and one (1) year of experience as a social work assistant and/or in social or community coordination, working with communities, working on health or social service related matters, social work/case management experience, and/or behavioral health care. Any combination of education from an accredited college or university in a related field and/or direct experience in this occupation totaling three (3) years may substitute for the required education and experience.
Employment Requirements
Must possess and maintain a valid New Mexico Driver's License. Must possess a current Defensive Driving Course Certificate from the State of New Mexico or must pass and receive Defensive Driving Course Certification within six (6) months of date of hire as a condition of continued employment.
Working Conditions
Work is primarily performed in the community and an office setting. Late hours and weekend work may be required to meet client schedules and needs. Will be exposed to stressful situations due to the nature of child and family welfare work and frequent time constraints. Will be exposed to regular periods of video display terminal and keyboard usage. Travel may be required. Must have own mode of transportation but will have access to fleet vehicles for business activities with possible occasional use of a personal vehicle for carrying out assignments.
Supplemental Information
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Agency Contact Information: Stacie Ortiz,
[email protected] Email
For information on Statutory Requirements for this position, click the Classification Description link on the job advertisement.
Bargaining Unit Position
This position is not covered by a collective bargaining agreement.
