Lutheran Child and Family Services
Effective Date: March 1, 2024
NON-MANAGEMENT JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title: Case Aide
Exempt/Non-exempt: NON-EXEMPT
Immediate Supervisor: Case Aide Supervisor
Hourly pay range: $16.60 - $18.60
Essential Functions:
- Primarily responsible for establishing and maintaining a cooperative working relationship with Treatment Foster Care families through regular visits. These visits aim to identify needs and concerns, facilitating collaboration between the Case Aide, caseworker, and families to address and meet those needs. Additionally, the Case Aide provides direct and indirect services to assigned agency clients. May work evenings, weekends, and occasional holidays. Willingness to travel through high-risk communities as needed.
- Assist in supervised visitations, ensuring a secure and comfortable environment for families during these interactions. Provide supervision during visits with children, caregivers, and/or siblings. Interpret, assist, and monitor tasks assigned to caregivers during these supervised sessions.
- Demonstrate the ability to effectively evaluate and suggest client needs, positive parenting interaction during parent/child visitation, and provide assistance and guidance through knowledge and modeling to enhance areas of improvement. Effectively manage time and workload, ensuring timely completion of visitation records, and sharing pertinent information with the service team.
- Assist in filing documentation into the child's agency record and maintain accurate and timely records of client interactions, services provided, and any observed changes in client circumstances. Ensure completion of appropriate documentation in a timely manner, including names, identification numbers, dates, and visit-related information in the SACWIS system, as required for comprehensive and accurate recordkeeping.
- Actively collaborate with community resources to connect clients with essential services, including but not limited to housing, healthcare, and educational support. Develop and maintain a comprehensive working knowledge of community resources to effectively serve agency clients.
- Provide transportation to clients and caregivers, enhancing accessibility to service delivery. Safely transport clients to appointments, court hearings, visitations, and other relevant locations as required. Maintain and convey knowledge of car seat safety protocols and regulatory requirements to staff.
- Represents clients' needs and Agency interests to referral sources, governmental administrative and judicial systems.
- Shares information and observations concerning the family and service delivery in the team meetings.
- Performs the required duties of the position within the philosophy, policies, and procedures of the Agency and Standards of the Profession and Child Welfare Authorities.
- Works cooperatively with other service programs in the Agency.
- Demonstrates knowledge and acceptance of Agency policies and procedures and the policies and procedures of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS).
- Assumes responsibility for enhancing knowledge and understanding of the assigned area of service through utilizing supervision, program meetings, and staff development training opportunities, both within and outside the Agency. Attends all mandatory training offered through the Agency as part of initial orientation and ongoing as needed.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Background and Driving Requirements:
Employment is contingent upon successful completion of all required background checks, including but not limited to criminal background checks and CANTS (Child Abuse and Neglect Tracking System) checks, as required by law and agency policy. Candidates must also possess a reliable vehicle and have a valid driver’s license and must not have had a suspended or revoked driver’s license within the past three years.
Knowledge and Ability Requirements:
- Ability to build relationships.
- Understands the importance of client information confidentiality.
- Understanding of child welfare practices, policies, and regulations.
- Effective communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Strong organizational and time-management skills for scheduling other assigned tasks.
- Capacity to work independently and as part of a team.
- Knowledge of community resources and services.
Education and Experience:
High School diploma or equivalent as well as at least 2 years of experience working with children and families preferred. Training in child welfare practices and relevant certifications are a plus.
Physical Demands and Other Requirements:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential duties listed in the job description satisfactorily. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to sit. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, or controls; reach with hands and arms. Capable of operating standard office equipment, including a computer and keyboard, calculator, typical business machines such as a fax machine and copier. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and the ability to adjust focus. The employee is required to have valid driver’s license, auto insurance and must be able to safely operate a motor vehicle. The work environment characteristics include a noise level which is usually low to moderate.
Position Responsibilities/Program Execution and Decision Making:
- Diversity and Inclusion/ Professionalism: In all aspects of their work presents as a role model to others, behaving in a way which actively supports LCFS as a welcoming community, promotes diversity and inclusion in the workplace and collaborates with others to further equity and dismantle barriers to a more inclusive experience of community. Participates in annual professional development and/or advocacy regarding inclusion.
- Ethical Conduct: Follows all ethics policies and procedures related to program execution and decision making as defined by the agency as well as any related professional licensing, regulatory or accrediting body. Maintain confidentiality of client, staff, and agency information. Reports any known or suspected breaches of confidentiality in accordance with policy. Reports possible misconduct or relevant errors/ oversight in a timely manner and responsibly addresses related issues with chain of command.
- Communication/ Interpersonal Skills: Consistently conveys clear, accurate, timely, and respectful communication appropriate for the situation. Informs appropriate management staff when incident occurs or a crisis situation. Maintains professional boundaries with clients/residents, staff, interns, volunteers, and vendors. Able to successfully share skills and concepts with others and works effectively with others under time and environmental pressures.
- Safety and Agency Resource Utilization: Demonstrates sound judgement and foresight in safety awareness and in daily work. Notifies, in a timely manner, the supervisory chain of any incidents or circumstances that need attention. Report all suspicions or allegations of abuse immediately to their supervisor. Ensures appropriate utilization of materials and resources and minimizes waste.
- Other Responsibilities: All other tasks and responsibilities as assigned.
LCFS is an Equal Opportunity Employer
