Foster Care Placement Specialist
Supervisor:
Foster Care Clinical Director
Position Function:
To manage all admissions to the Foster Care Department through screening and
assessment of all referrals, matching with current family openings, and facilitating
placements.
Educational Requirements:
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in social work or related
field.
Experience Requirements:
A minimum of one year of documented full time work experience in a child-placing
agency is required with a Bachelor’s degree. A Masters degree in Social Work,
Counseling or related field can substitute for one year of experience with a CPA
Functional Requirements:
Must have excellent verbal and communication skills and the ability to work
collaboratively with youth, families, collaborating agencies, community
professionals, and ACH Child and Family Services staff.
Working Conditions:
Position includes exposure to parents, guardians, and conservators as well as to
youth with behavioral problems, including possible physical aggression. A personal
vehicle is required for travel.
Exposure to Confidential Information:
The placement specialist will have access to confidential records including youth
files, foster care/adoption records, and foster/adopt parent information. Must
maintain confidentiality and follow policies related to personnel records and client
records.
Key Expectations/Responsibilities:
 A commitment to empowering others to solve their problems.
 Value a nurturing family as the ideal environment for a person.
 A conviction about the capacity of people to grow and change.
 The ability to establish a respectful relationship with persons served to help them
gain skills and confidence.
 The ability to work collaboratively with other personnel and/or service providers
and professional.
Position Description: Foster Care/Adoption Specialist
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The capacity to maintain a helping role and to intervene appropriately to meet
service goals.
The ability to set appropriate limits.
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Planning:
 Participate in foster care/adoption program development.
 Participate in providing training for foster parents
 Participate in weekly supervision meetings.
 Participate in meetings with collaborating partners and agencies.
Implementation:
 The placement specialist will respond to all referrals and coordinate all
admissions for the foster care program. Screen all referrals based on current
openings and admission criteria. Nominate families for placement based on the
match between the family and the child(ren).
 The placement specialist completes all admission paperwork within required
time frames and coordinates the transfer of the case to the assigned
Foster/adoption specialist.
 The placement specialist will work with referring agencies to gather information
prior to admission on all non-emergency placements and set up services for the
child accordingly.
 The placement specialist will help the foster family set up all required services at
the time of placement including, school registration, medical appointments,
therapy, psychiatry and psychological services as needed.
 The placement specialist will prepare all newly developing families for their first
placement.
 The placement specialist manages the openings list and assists in updating family
profiles in accordance with the needs of the referral source.
 The placement specialist completes the preliminary plans of service and the
initial supervision plan.
 The placement specialist assesses compliance with minimum standards when
placing a child in the foster home.
 Performing any additional activities that may enhance current systems of
practice.
Training and Supervision:
 Attend relevant in-service training offered at ACH to expand knowledge of
services and the application of clinical skills.
 Attend SAMA, first aid, and CPR training.
 Communicate regularly with supervisor and seek supervision when appropriate.
 Attend training on trauma informed care and attachment –focused-parenting and
demonstrate the ability to develop preliminary plans of service and supervision
plans that are consistent with this model.
Position Description: Foster Care/Adoption Specialist
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Attend continuing education necessary to expand knowledge and maintain
certifications or licenses.
Manage an irregular work schedule
Notify supervisor properly when absent.
Complete assignments on time.
Establish effective working relationships with co-workers.
Deal satisfactorily with and acknowledge work-related stress.
Maintain appropriate boundaries between professional and personal issues.
Adhere to all policies and procedures of the agency and its accrediting and
standard setting bodies, such as COA, YFT and state licensing.
Respect the dignity and worth of clients and foster parents.
Maintain client confidentiality per agency standards and all applicable codes of
ethics.
Use outside professional collaboration and intra-agency teamwork appropriate to
the agency.
Use a professional development plan to address own strengths and limitations in
periodic and annual reviews.
Learn, understand, and support the agency mission, purpose and function.
Be prepared to address appropriate issues during supervisory conferences and
meetings.
Accept direction from supervisor and implement supervisor’s suggestions and
instructions.
Understand your job description in relation to other agency positions.
Continue to work to improve skills needed for position held.
Consider the environmental, cultural, safety, diversity issues and needs for the
foster parent and client.
Identify and understand the strengths, abilities and competencies of the foster
parent/adopt and client.
On call ability to respond to referrals and placements at all hours.
The above noted job description is not intended to describe, in detail, the multitude of tasks that
may be assigned but rather to give the employee a general sense of the responsibilities and
expectations of his/her position. As the nature of business demands change so, too, may the
essential functions of this position
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Employee’s Signature
Position Description: Foster Care/Adoption Specialist
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__________________
Date
___________________________________
H.R. Signature
Date Received by HR:
Dates Reviewed/Updated: 08/2011; 7/2010; 10/2013
Position Description: Foster Care/Adoption Specialist
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Date