Job Summary: The Family Support Services Program Assistant provides a combination of administrative
support, including data management and billing support, as well as in-home counseling to families referred
from DCF, school, court, self-referral, or other community agencies, where the child or children are at risk of
removal. The main goal is for the family to maintain the child in the home while ensuring immediate
protection of the child. The FSS Counselor shall provide interventions utilizing the Nurturing Skills curriculum
and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy interventions. Exercise discretion and independent judgment concerning
matters of significance to the family and facilitate appropriate referrals for additional evaluation and services
as needed.
Job Duties:
Administrative Responsibilities (50% of time)
1. Program Administration & Referral Coordination
documentation of accepted and rejected referrals
2. Data Entry, Reporting & Compliance
· Input required data (including demographics and billing) into systems as required by Children’s
Services Council (CSC)
o Filing and organizing data
o Updating tracking and trending tools
o Assisting with chart audits and reporting results
3. Billing & Financial Support
· Process weekly billing packets and verify Units of Service (UOS) data
· Review and verify staff travel expense forms for accuracy prior to supervisor approval
Counselor Responsibilities (50% of time):
1. Responsible for carrying a caseload of 4-5 cases.
2. Provide initial assessment of children, family, and significant others, as needed to complete a
psychosocial assessment and to develop a viable treatment plan.
3. Meet with family/everyone on the designated caseload once a week for two hours in-home to
provide individual and family counseling concerning the treatment plan developed for each
individual/family and respecting the culture and cultural beliefs of everyone served.
4. Provide interventions to help prevent abuse and neglect of children, utilizing the Nurturing Skills
Curriculum and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) modalities.
5. Co-facilitate (on a rotating basis with other FSS Counselors) psychoeducational support groups every
2-3 months. Groups are held during the week and some weekends.
6. Provide case management interventions and link families to available community resources.
7. Provide assessments -- pre-, and post-tests – for each family served and implement interventions to ensure successful outcome attainment based on contractual requirements. 9. Install progress notes in the chart within 48 hours after an activity occurs. Be in the office at least three times a week. 10. Be available for at least two to three evenings a week until 9:00 p.m. for regularly scheduled face-to-face sessions with clients.
8. Provide crisis intervention for family members as needed. The FSS Program Assistant must be available (by cell phone) 24 hours, 7 days a week for this purpose. 12. Maintain and document ongoing contact and consultation with referral sources for each client, starting at the time of assignment and through service provision, until case closure. 13. Maintain productivity standards by providing the required number of weekly face-to-face direct service and case management hours.
9. Provide accurate case presentations for each client during individual supervision, and consultation with staff from outside agencies involved with cases as needed.
10. Maintain client files, keeping them up-to-date and adhering to all mandatory due dates (releases, psychosocial assessment, treatment plan, treatment plan review, etc.)
11. Complete all documentation as required and comply with all contract requirements related to client care.
12. Every Monday, submit advanced and corrected schedules to the FSS Supervisor on a weekly basis, indicating daily start and end times, accurate planned and completed face-to-face visits, as well as daily tasks and time in office. Also submit service verification logs, updated client lists, accurate weekly billing sheets and progress notes.
13. Attend and present (on a rotating basis) at in-service training courses. Complete annual required training.
14. Attend unit meetings and scheduled individual/group supervision sessions.
15. Respond to all communications from the supervisor, including reading and responding to e-mails from the supervisor daily, and to phone calls within 24 hours.
16. Provide court testimony regarding clients when necessary.
17. Be familiar with and adhere to all Children’s Harbor policies and procedures as written in the Employee Handbook and as amended, and all FSS procedures.
18. Participate in accreditation activities as assigned, and maintain standards required by accreditation sources.
19. Participate in Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) tasks as assigned and attend all CQI meetings.
20. Help prepare for and attend a minimum of two (2) events per year any of the following categories (beyond regular business hours): a. Client-related activities and events beyond the regular services provided, or marketing and increasing community awareness of Children’s Harbor programs. b. Marketing and increasing community awareness of Children’s Harbor programs.
21. Promote a culturally competent workplace regarding employees and clients. Outcomes-oriented performance expectations:
22. 12 units of combined weekly Productivity: Beginning with the start of an employee’s second month, the following standards must be met:
a. Direct, face-to-face client contact productivity: average 10 hours per week. b. Case management: average 2 hours per week.
23. Ensure assessment outcomes and successful completion of program requirements are achieved as per contract requirements. (75% successful completion of cases closed; 90% client satisfaction; 65% improved scores on AAPI; 80% improved scores on NCFAS)
24. Complete all required documentation and assessments (by contract or internal) in the required time frames.
25. 80% of all treatment plan goals set for clients who have participated in a minimum of 10-12 sessions must be either totally or partially resolved.
26. 100% of all children in assigned families will be seen in their current residence, at least once in a calendar month.
27. 100% of progress notes will be installed in charts within 48 hours after the activity is completed, including face-to-face contact, case management, and telephone calls. The preceding list is not inclusive. This employee may be required to perform other duties as requested by her/his supervisor and the President/CEO.