Family Support Specialist

**This position includes a $1,500 Signing Bonus. $3,000 Relocation Bonus available
Note: Internal candidates do not qualify for the bonus.

This position is based out of your home office in Maine and requires significant travel, with 50% of your time spent in the community providing in-home and local support to families. Candidates must be able to serve clients in the listed Maine counties: Hancock, Knox, Lincoln, Penobscot, Waldo, Northern Aroostook and Washington**

Rooted in our Christian faith, Bethany Christian Services works to ensure children are safe, loved, and connected through family. Across 29 states, we strengthen families, support foster care and adoption, and walk alongside refugees with compassion. Here, living out your faith means using your gifts to bring hope and make a lasting impact.

As a Homebuilders Specialist, you’ll support families at risk of separation due to challenges like neglect, substance use, or conflict. Through the Homebuilders model, you’ll provide intensive, in-home services that help families stay together, build on their strengths, and keep children safely at home.

How Your Role Makes a Difference

• Conduct interventions that are consistent with HOMEBUILDERS standards;

• Conduct data collection, and reporting in a thorough and timely manner;

• Provide client-interactive, comprehensive, strength and behavior-focused assessments;

• Work collaboratively with family members and referents in developing intervention goals and service plans directly related to the risk of out-of-home placement, while monitoring the progress, analyze barriers to goal achievement, and help families revise goals or plans as needed;

• Serve as a client and family advocate, while also providing concrete goods and services such as transportation as it relates to the family's goals and teach them how to meet these needs on their own;

• Serve as a back-up and support other specialists, as needed;

• Comply with service definition and guidelines outlined in the HOMEBUILDERS standards for services;

• Assess the safety and structure of the home environment and use intervention strategies that promote safety;

• Maintain clear and concise documentation of treatment efforts;

• Available to clients 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, while also arranging the appropriate coverage, when needed;

• Keep up-to-date and accurate client progress notes for all activities and submit reports in a timely manner in accordance with contract requirement, agency expectations, and program policy;

• Effectively utilize appropriate systems for data gathering, submission, and tracking client services rendered in accordance with time-bound expectations based on contract requirements, agency expectations, and program policy;

• Conduct sessions with families as outlined in the HOMEBUILDERS standards;

• Work collaboratively with direct supervisor to implement quality enhancement or quality improvements plans;

• Establish and maintain referral and community resources;

• Facilitate flexible appointment times outside of regular business hours, and work nontraditional hours in the community, as needed;

• Attend weekly meetings with supervisor to review case plan and direction, and to evaluate client participation and progress;

• Attend weekly group consultation with HOMEBUILDERS team to consult on cases;

• Keep abreast of community resources and refer families for support, as needed;

• Stay abreast of all agency, federal, and state regulatory requirements related to social services;

• Stay up-to-date on intervention and teaching modalities and complete trainings as required by funding sources, by attending conferences, seminars and journal reading;

• Essential job responsibilities may vary based on the specific needs of each program/department;

• May be required or asked to participate in a Bethany sponsored event;

• Complete other duties as assigned.

What Will Make You Successful

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Social Sciences, Human Services, or related field of study from an accredited college with at least two (2) years of experience working with children and families or a Master's degree in Social Work, Human Services, or related field of study from an accredited

college with experience working with children and families;

• Demonstrated experience working with children and families from diverse cultures with sensitivity to cultural differences and norms;

• Demonstrated ability with providing excellent teaching and crisis intervention skills;

• Knowledge of state, community and agency resources;

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills;

• Capacity to engage, respect, and serve a wide range of clients with a nonjudgmental attitude, while empowering the clients served;

• Must have an ability to provide excellent and compassionate customer service;

• Ability to work independently and exercise a high level of confidentiality;

• Must be willing and able to work outside of normal business hours to include some evenings, weekends, and holidays to address client issues as they arise;

• Must live within sixty minutes of proximity to most families being served;

• Computer skills sufficient to perform essential functions including knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite;

• Must be 21 years old with a valid driver's license with at least 3 years driving experience in the U.S. to operate a vehicle on behalf of Bethany;

• Must pass a Motor Vehicle Records (MVR) check and maintain a reliable vehicle with proof of adequate coverage;

• Pass a criminal history screen, including state and local child protection agency registries;

• Subscription to and integration of the agency Statement of Faith, Mission Statement, and Commitment to Unity.

We Invest in You

• Experience a team environment with other professionals who are motivated by faith, support one another, pursue excellence, and are in it for the long haul

• Access to training, professional development, and career growth opportunities

• Comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, and vision)

• 403(b) retirement plan with employer match eligibility

• Generous time off (11 paid holidays, PTO Your Way, paid parental leave, separate sick and paid absence banks)

• Access to education reimbursement for those that qualify

• Comprehensive employee assistance and wellness program

• Employer paid long-term disability and group term life insurance

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