About Our Organization:

St. Catherine’s Center for Children is a non-profit organization that offers a wide array of services designed to meet the needs of vulnerable children, families and adults, including residential and foster care programs for children and youth, homeless and community-based services for adults and families, and a special education elementary school, grades K-6th.

Our Mission:

St. Catherine's Center for Children provides a comprehensive range of human services designed to offer hope, foster growth, and improve the lives of the children, families, and adults we serve.

Function:

Under the leadership and supervision of the Director of Prevention Services, the RACC Clinical Case Planner (“Planner”) is responsible for delivery of evidence-based clinical services, assuring fidelity to an agency-adopted model, and overall case coordination activities, ensuring an array of services and supports are accessible for the program’s families. The Planner works closely with the agency’s clinical leadership.

Duties/Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Provide evidence-based clinical services to children and families as delineated and prescribed in treatment planning processes.

• Record accurate and thorough electronic documentation of client contacts and case activities via the New York State Connections system and with the agency AWARDS system.

• Provide specialized therapies, as directed, including play therapy for children, individual counseling, couples counseling, and family counseling.

• Adhere to the Child Adolescent Service System Program Principles, affirming a client’s right to self-determination and full involvement of that person with the treatment team in the development of service goals, and delivering services that are child-centered, family-focused, and culturally competent.

• Deliver outreach and advocacy services to developmentally disabled parents and/or mental health clients and/or their children; providing proactive, supportive case management.

• Assist parents and their children in the development of social support systems -- to utilize community resources, to become involved in community activities, and reduce isolation.

• To minimize potential interruption in children’s education, assist the children, their families, school staff members, and others in understanding and addressing the needs of the children related to their disabilities.

• Provide resources and education for parents regarding children’s growth and development.

• Provide intensive, in-home support to the family/caregiver to ensure a child’s well-being; provide guidance with home management skills (e.g., nutrition, budgeting, meal planning, etc.), child safety, and proper parental supervision.

• Coordinate communication with all of the treatment team members, including other service providers, in particular, maintaining steady contact with the Albany County Department for Children, Youth and Families.

• Provide psycho-educational training that addresses specific issues that disrupt successful functioning in the community with emphasis on “triggers” that create anxiety and frustration.

• Be available to all assigned families in times of family crisis.

• Provide transportation for all assigned families, as called upon.

• Meet with the assigned families at times that are convenient for them.

• Coordinate all necessary team meetings, service plan reviews, intake meetings, and discharge meetings with the assigned families as well as collateral providers.

• Complete all assigned Connections documentation, including service plans, in a timely, thorough manner.

• Supervise visitation with children and families, as assigned, for those families with children in the county’s care and custody.

• Complete additional position-related duties and responsibilities as assigned by the director.

Organizational Relationships:

• Works under the direct supervision of the Director of Prevention Services (or designee).

• Works collaboratively with other agency program and other department personnel to ensure that integrated services are provided according to the client treatment plan.

• Meets regularly with the Director of Prevention Services and, also, assigned clinical leader, for clinical supervision.

• Meets regularly with the Rural Albany County Connections (RACC) program team.

• Serves on agency committees as requested by the Director of Prevention Services.

Position Specifications:

• Master’s degree in MSW or MHC, preferred. Will consider a Master’s level MSW or MHC degree candidate with a commitment to degree completion, and licensure within one year of graduation. Supervision provided by a Licensed Mental Health Counselor/Prevention Director.

• LMSW, LCSW, LMHC required within one year of hire date.

• Strong organization, analytical and planning skills required.

• Ability to use various computer applications such as Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, NYS Connections and AWARDS, and Google Workspace.

• Experience working with multi-problem families and helping them to address their goals.

• Excellent written, organizational and interpersonal skills.

• Knowledge of community resources is a plus.

• Ability to show flexibility in planning for future programming and to take supervisory direction well.

• Clean and valid NYS driver’s license, with reliable (fully insured) vehicle for transportation to client homes and community resources, meetings, etc.

• Ability to work with clients with mental health issues, substance abuse and developmental disabilities.

• Ability to work flexible hours to accommodate client schedules, which may include evening hours.

• Ability to relate to a culturally diverse and economically disadvantaged population.

• Self-motivated and engaged, with a strong attention to detail; Excellent writing aptitude.

• Ability to function well in a high-paced and at times, stressful environment.

• Demonstrated placidity and patience; flexibility and adaptability.

• Ability to handle sensitive data with strict confidentiality.

• Must have the ability to pass required pre-employment background checks.

Essential Functions:

• Ability to relate professional to many staff members from St. Catherine’s, Albany County, School Districts and community providers.

• Ability to understand and relate to severely traumatized children.

• Ability to adapt to change while performing a variety of tasks required such as preventive tasks, replacements and improvements.

• Ability to relate to and communicate with a wide range of people. This includes but is not limited to a broad range of people who are culturally and socio-economically diverse, as well as people with various developmental and functional levels.

• Ability to understand, communicate with, represent and carry out the mission values, philosophy and policies of St. Catherine’s Center for Children.

• Ability to organize and effectively manage (in a timely manner) the varied tasks of the position.

• Ability to meet the criteria outlined in the revised Policy for Authorized Agency Drivers.

• Ability to conduct him/herself in a manner that is becoming of an employee of St. Catherine’s Center for Children.

• Ability to work effectively in a shared decision-making model as a team member, respecting the roles of others.

• Ability to work as a member of a multi-disciplinary team.

• Ability to carry out written documentation as required by St. Catherine’s policies and procedures and as required by regulating agencies.

• Value a nurturing family as the ideal environment for a person; and believe in the principle that people have the capacity to grow and change at their own pace and motivation.

• The ability to establish a respectful relationship with persons served to help them gain skills and confidence.

• The capacity to maintain a helping role and to intervene appropriately to meet service goals, while setting appropriate limits.

• The ability to remain in control during a crisis situation.

• Ability to provide clear instructions to staff and insure follow through on expectations.

• Ability to travel to and from clients’ homes and make other outside contacts as needed.

• Ability to safely transport clients in your vehicle (that is fully insured).

• Ability to work with automated data processing (computer) systems to enter and retrieve information.

• This position will have full and complete access to client Protected Health Information (PHI) in order to carry out the duties and responsibilities for this position. Therefore, the ability to meet HIPAA requirements and maintain strict client confidentiality is essential.

What We Offer*:

• Competitive Salary with an excellent benefits package

• Health Insurance options: medical, dental, and vision

• Generous Paid Time Off and Holiday Pay

• Employee Referral Bonuses*

• On-going Professional Development and Career Opportunities

• Pension Plan with Aggressive Agency contribution

• Life Insurance

• Paid Training & Tuition Reimbursement

• Fast-paced and business casual work environment

*some conditions may apply

EOE Statement: We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Background Checks: We run a thorough and complete pre-employment background check on all candidates being considered for a position, this includes fingerprinting. All candidates must successfully clear the pre-employment background check process, which follows NYS/DOJ requirements. We pay for all pre-employment background checks!