Under assigned supervisor, the Independent Living Case Manager Lead provides direct casework management to young adults who have reached the age of majority in Foster care, and who have chosen to enter wither the Extended Foster Care (EFC) program or the Post Secondary Education Support Services (PESS) program within agencies policies and program context, utilizing human service principals and Independent Living (IL) statutory requirements.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Acts as a liaison with multiple public and private agencies to advocate and assist with service needs of young adults
• Arranges for and or provides transportation for young adults, such as school,

appointments, medical appointments, etc.

• Assists young adults in developing life skills
• Assists young adults in locating employment, housing, day care, and assistance with meeting basic needs
• Conducts home studies and transition plans in which the notes are then entered into FSFN in a timely matter
• Conducts specialized meetings for educational, social skills development, and support services
• Establishes and maintains records and related assessments, Independent Living case plans and documentation of services as required
• Makes appropriate referral sources including but not limited to schools, public or private child welfare, Family and/or Juvenile Court
• Moves young adult placements as needed
• Attends and participates in Court proceedings on behalf of the young adult; provides testimony at hearings, compiles court reports, and prepares case records
• Provides individualized community based services to foster young adults 16-22
• Remains accessible to young adults during work hours and on-call schedule as required
• Writes accurate reports on a timely basis
• Works closely with Supervisor to provide oversight of the unit
• Performs other related duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

Education:

Bachelor’s degree or a Master’s degree in Social Work, Criminology,
Psychology, Sociology, Counseling, Special Education, Education, Human
Development, Child Development, Family Development, Marriage &
Family Therapy, or Nursing from an accredited college or university

Experience: Two to Five years of progressive work experience related to child welfare; previous supervisory experience

Certification: State of Florida; Child Welfare Certification

Other: Reliable transportation, valid driver’s license and acceptable driving record with OHU required levels of coverage for auto insurance

Required Skills
1. Ability to assess, interpret, and deliver care-related information concerning the life-span development of children and families
2. Excellent written and oral communication, with ability to document in a clear, concise manner
3. Highly organized, yet flexible and can handle multiple projects and or priorities well with the ability to manage tight deadlines
4. Intermediate data entry skills
5. Positive attitude concerning all aspects of working in a challenging environment (including significant patience and respect for children and families who can become quite angry and demanding), sensitivity to cultural needs, and ability to serve as a positive member of a working team
6. Resourcefulness in researching issues, analyzing information skillfully, solving problems, and developing solutions with minimal supervision in a timely manner
7. Proficient computer skills in a Microsoft Windows environment and adaptive skills to expand software application skills as necessary
8. Ability to exercise discretion and ensure confidentiality

Physical Demands & Work Environment
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. The position requires visual and auditory acuity within professionally determined normal ranges, with correction if need; and manual dexterity sufficient to operate a computer and office equipment, including, but not limited to, the telephone, computer, and copier. The employee is occasionally required to move items
up to 50 pounds.

The employee works in varied residential environments based on assigned caseload and may encounter unpredictable clients. While performing the duties of this position, the employee travels by automobile and is exposed to changing weather conditions. The employee must be able to enter and exit a vehicle or a building without assistance. While performing the duties of
this job, the employee may frequently drive an automobile, taking clients to appointments, in the local and regional area. Occasionally, travel is outside the local area and overnight.

• Tuition assistance up to $2500 per year
• Up to 4 weeks paid Vacation Days, up to 6 paid Personal Days, and up to 5 paid Sick days annually
• Medical, dental, vision, 403b Retirement, flexible spending accounts, health savings account, and short-term disability options
• Agency paid life up to $50K based on salary
• Voluntary Supplemental Life for Employee, Spouse, and Child(ren)
• Voluntary Legal Plans
• Agency paid long term after 1 year of employment
• Career ladders, professional development, and promotion opportunities
• Free LCSW and LCPC Supervision hours available in some locations

• 800+ talented professionals strong, serving 10,000 children and families in Illinois, and Florida
Fiscally stable, $70 Million agency
• - strong since 1895
• Energetic leadership and a rich community of support