Clinical Support Specialist-REMOTE

SUMMARY:  

Implements statewide policies and operational procedures for Clinical staffing process; monitors and reviews program standards to ensure compliance with Department and Children Family Services (DCFS) policies and procedures; identifies performance problems and develops resolutions; provides consultation and professional technical assistance to other Clinical Staffing Process team members, permanency workers, supervisors and others developing plans to improve the quality of the Clinical Staffing Process; provides input into team meetings. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:

• Facilitate the Clinical staffing process with the Clinical Coordinator as a member of the Clinical team. 
• Engage the youth, biological family, caregivers, and those that the youth identify as important to this process and are equal members of the team.
• Providing safety for those attending the meeting and thereby gaining the thoughts and opinions of stakeholders, in which they can share issues, concerns, are interventions that are needed.  
• Provide Psychoeducation information that could be useful to the youth, family, or caregivers.
• Give the youth and family members voice and empowerment within the meeting.
• Modeling for the team the process that should be utilized in Child and Family Team Meetings.
• Will provide Implementation support after the meeting for the action plan that was developed within the meeting.  This includes helping to support the caregiver, youth, and worker on decisions to remain in placement. Also, to help and support the communication during the matching process between CMT, the Placement Team, and Providers. This should include the tracking of matching/referral and preplacement interview process for youth in need of new placement and/or higher level of care. 
• Ensuring that all Participants are feeling “heard” that their contributions were valued.
• Focus the Clinical Staffing Process teams on common tasks—to reach a decision about service needs that protect and provide safety for the child in the least restrictive/intrusive manner appropriate.
• Assure that the purpose of the meeting is understood, and all participants have an opportunity to be involved.   Co-lead the group discussion that determines the service needs for the child.
• They provide a safe, supportive environment to permit communication. They model supportive, non-threatening, respectful behavior.  Are sensitive and responsive to nonverbal cues.  They must manage conflict and emotions.
• Clinical Support Specialist periodically summarize, clarify, reframe, and identify areas of agreement to assist the group.
• Assure that the youth and family needs are is thoroughly examined, risks stated, family strengths recognized, goals verbalized, ideas brainstormed, quality decisions made with safety and action plans developed.
• Clinical Support Specialist assist in moving the group through the problem-solving/decision-making process, maintaining reasonable timeframes.
• Clinical Support Specialist must be knowledgeable of laws, agency policies/procedures, services, best practice, POS contracted service capacity, etc. and monitor compliance with standards by staff.
• Clinical Support Specialist co-manage with the Clinical partner the process and structure of the meeting, recognizing that the family and caseworker are the content experts.  They are responsible to ensure that a high-quality decision results from the meeting, intervening if necessary, as an experienced/knowledgeable participant.
• Clinical Support Specialist strive to develop a consensus decision with all participants with recognition that if group consensus cannot be reached that DCFS staff, as representative of the guardian, has the authority to make the final, best interest decision for the youth.  All efforts should be made to develop consensus within the context of the team.
• Clinical Support Specialist will recognize the importance of the attendance of the worker and/or supervisor and will not facilitate meetings in their absence. 
• Clinical Support Specialist ensure accurate recording of decisions for each child/youth on the Action Plan that is developed within the meeting.
• Provides input into team meetings and quality assurance meetings to foster a collaborative environment and ensure quality of performance of Clinical Staffing Process; consults with other divisions and/or disciplines as appropriate.  

QUALIFICATIONS  

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. 

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Health care or Joint Commission related safety experience preferred.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE 

Master’s Degree in Human Service-related field and minimum of two years of experience is preferred.  Must also possess excellent computer, written and verbal skills. 

Aunt Martha’s is an equal opportunity employer.  All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.