HSPRS Senior Caseworker – United States of America

SCOPE OF WORK:

The IRC’s Home Study and Post-Release Services (HSPRS) for unaccompanied children in the United States will expand from the current six IRC offices to over 17 offices across the United States. This is a national, multi-million dollar project with ambitious goals for implementation in a short period of time. This position is part of an expected 36-month contract.

The objectives of the Home-Study Post Release Services Program (HS/PRS) are:

• Assess the safety and suitability of a sponsor before an unaccompanied child is released from detention into the care of a sponsor (home study)
• Support case management remotely and/or by conducting home visits to ensure the continued safety and stability of children in sponsors’ homes and to connect children with resources in the community (Post Release Services).

The Senior Case Worker for Home Visits and Post-Release Services (Level 2) conducts home visits to determine a potential sponsor’s ability to meet an unaccompanied child’s needs following release from Office of Refugee Resettlement custody and provides post-release services to assist unaccompanied children and sponsors meet their current needs. The Senior Case Manager (Level 2) is responsible for assessing safety, developing a strengths-based service plan, providing psychoeducation, developing safety plans where needed, ongoing assessments, and referring and placing children with community-based services.

The main tasks include:

• Conduct an initial in-home assessment with the child and sponsors, followed by regular weekly or monthly contact as needed for six months or until the child’s 18th birthday or until the child receives legal assistance. Requirement that in-person contact occurs at least at 14, 90 and 180 days.
• Develop an individualized service plan that enables the delivery of high-quality, trauma-informed case management services.
• Conduct home visits after discharge to meet with children and their sponsors, assess the child’s safety, address any safety and protection concerns, and identify needs in multiple life areas.
• Conduct a comprehensive assessment to make a recommendation for reunification of children with their potential sponsors by conducting interviews with residential case managers, physicians, the minor, the sponsor, and all household members. This includes an in-person home visit and documentation of findings in a comprehensive report within 10 days of referral.
• Conduct an assessment of the mental health status of the child and/or sponsors using validated instruments.
• Continuously assess ongoing behavioral changes and general conditions that may impact children’s safety, well-being, and success
• Work with crisis response personnel to develop safety plans and ensure appropriate crisis intervention support when needed, including involvement of Child Protective Services, law enforcement, and various local stakeholders, which may result in disruptions to placement.
• Referral and connection to: legal advice; educational and English language instruction; medical and behavioral health care; housing stability and security services; assistance with immigration proceedings; assistance with guardianship proceedings; family stabilization/counseling; substance abuse treatment; gang prevention services; youth programs (such as youth care, tutoring, after-school and vocational programs, sports clubs or other extracurricular clubs, etc.); services related to cultural heritage and other traditions; and, where appropriate, integration and independence support.
• Address the needs and concerns of children and sponsors using a child-centered, developmentally appropriate and trauma-informed approach.
• Maintain a sound understanding of trauma-informed principles and approaches, protection and safeguarding, and reporting.
• Ensure timely documentation of all check-ins, home visits, referrals and referral outcomes, as well as progress and outcomes in the case file.
• Build and maintain relationships with community service providers in relevant areas.
• Maintain accurate records in electronic case files and required databases.
• Submit required reports and documents on time.
• Ensure the confidentiality of children and their cases.

Job requirements include, but are not limited to:

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, sociology or another relevant behavioral science
• Fluent written and oral knowledge of Spanish and English
• At least two years of relevant professional experience working with children, family reunification/preservation, kinship care, foster care, child welfare and/or conducting home visits required, or one year of relevant experience with a Master’s degree
• Experience working with immigrants; experience working with unaccompanied minors preferred
• Knowledge of local social services and orientation in the social services system
• Proven success in working and communicating effectively in a multicultural environment
• Proven ability to contribute both independently and as a key team member
• Initiative and excellent problem-solving skills coupled with the ability to prioritize tasks and manage time effectively
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook), Microsoft Teams, Zoom and other platforms
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Willingness to travel up to 200 miles up to 70% of the time. Often nights and weekends. May be required to rotate “on call” at regular intervals.
• You must have a valid driver’s license and access to a private, insured vehicle that is reliable and in good condition.
• Approval of the candidate by the ORR is required, as is clearance of background checks related to child abuse and neglect, and clearance of FBI fingerprints. These checks will be initiated by the IRC upon acceptance of the position.

work environment***:***

• The Level 2 Caseworker provides virtual case management but is required to attend in-person meetings at the discretion of the local office. A variable work schedule/hours, including non-traditional hours such as evenings and weekends, are required to accommodate the schedules of sponsors and children.

Compensation: Salary ranges shown are for applicants based in the United States. Ranges are based on a variety of factors, including the labor market, type of job, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated based on job location, individual experience of the applicant, and skills relative to defined job requirements.

Gender equality: IRC is committed to closing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that enable women to participate in our workforce, including parental leave, gender-sensitive safety protocols, and other supportive benefits and perks.

Equal opportunities for all employees: We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity in our company. We do not discriminate against anyone on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to participate in the job application or interview process, perform essential job functions, and receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodations.

Benefits for the USA: The IRC offers a comprehensive and highly competitive benefits package. All U.S. employees are eligible for sick leave, a 403b retirement savings plan: up to 4.5% immediately vested matching contribution plus 3-7% additional IRC contribution, and an Employee Assistance Program available to our employees and their families during times of crisis and mental health issues.

In addition, full-time employees are entitled to 10 paid U.S. holidays, 20 to 25 paid vacation days, disability and life insurance, medical, dental and vision insurance (employee contributions start at $135, $7 and $5 per month, respectively), and FSA for healthcare, child care and commuter expenses. Part-time employees are entitled to prorated paid vacation. These additional benefits apply to employees who work at least 6 months within a 12-month period.