Foster care case assistant

Welcome to your opportunity to change the world! If you have a servant’s heart and want to be part of something truly special, then Caritas Family Solutions needs you. We have been serving the people of Illinois since 1947 and have over 500 committed and mission-driven team members. At Caritas, we do not hire people for jobs; we find new team members for rewarding and life-changing careers that make the world better.

If you are kind, patient, and ready to make a difference, we would love to meet you!

Full-time employees are offered the competitive benefits outlined below:

• Generous Paid Time Off
• Paid training
• Health Insurance
• Dental and Vision
• Life insurance
• 403(b) with company contribution 5%
• Tuition reimbursement

We know great candidates bring a wide range of experience. If you believe you can be successful in this role, we encourage you to apply — even if you don’t meet every qualification listed.

Job Title: Foster Care Case Assistant

Department: Foster Care
Status: Full-Time, Nonexempt
Reports To: Associate Program Director of Foster Care
Starting Compensation Pay: $17.25/hr

PURPOSE:

The Foster Care Case Assistant provides transportation of clients, supervision of visitations, and other support for the foster care program including youth, foster parents, birth parents, and Foster Care Case Managers.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Transport youth and families to and from parent-child visits, sibling visits, counseling appointments, medical appointments, schools, and other case-related activities.
• Provide supervision during family and sibling visits, ensuring safe and appropriate interactions.
• Maintain accurate, objective, and timely visitation notes and case documentation.
• Collaborate and communicate regularly with assigned Foster Care Case Managers and supervisory staff.
• Communicate with youth, families, foster parents, and other service providers to coordinate visitation schedules and appointments.
• Support implementation of visitation plans and other case-related services.
• Complete required agency and Department documentation in accordance with policies and procedures.
• Maintain confidentiality of client information and records.
• Follow agency and state guidelines related to transportation safety, driving requirements, and rules of the road.
• Travel frequently throughout the service area to provide support services.
• Assist with additional program and case management support activities as assigned.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Please note that the Responsibilities and Qualifications provide a general overview of the primary duties for this role and the basic qualifications. This is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required.

Requirements

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to work effectively with children, families, foster parents, and service providers while maintaining professionalism and appropriate boundaries. The individual must be able to work independently, demonstrate sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE REQUIRED/PREFERRED:

Degree/Field Required: High School Diploma or GED
Additional Fields of Knowledge Important for the Role:

• Child welfare and foster care services
• Family visitation practices
• Documentation and recordkeeping
• Community resources
• Trauma-informed care

Experience Required: 0–6 months of experience in human services or a related field preferred but not required.
Experience Preferred: Experience working with children, families, foster care, social services, or related programs.
Licenses/Certifications Preferred: CPR/First Aid Certification

SKILLS REQUIRED:

Manager-Specific:

Basic: Strong written and verbal communication skills, active listening, organization, attention to detail, and the ability to maintain accurate documentation and case records.
Social: Ability to establish positive working relationships with youth, birth families, foster families, service providers, and agency staff. Demonstrates professionalism, empathy, patience, and appropriate boundaries.
Problem Solving/Decision-Making: Ability to exercise sound judgment, recognize potential concerns during supervised visitation, respond appropriately to unexpected situations, and follow established protocols.
Proficient Computer Skills In: Outlook, Word, database management systems, electronic documentation systems, and agency software platforms.
Expert Computer Skills In: N/A
Resource Management: Ability to prioritize schedules, coordinate transportation and visitation activities, and complete tasks within required timeframes.
Technical: Ability to maintain documentation, complete visitation notes, enter information into agency databases, and follow agency policies and procedures.
Trauma-Informed: Must display a willingness to adopt trauma-informed interventions, principles, and practices and demonstrate a commitment to ongoing professional development in trauma-informed care. Recognizes the impact of trauma on children, families, caregivers, and communities and incorporates trauma-informed principles into all interactions and service delivery.

VEHICLE RELATED REQUIREMENTS:

Access to reliable transportation: Required.
Access to a reliable automobile: Required.
Proof of continued auto insurance: Required.
Valid driver’s license: Required.
Additional license requirements: Current DMV Record.

DRUG-FREE WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Caritas Family Solutions is dedicated to maintaining a safe, healthy, and productive environment for our clients and employees. As part of this, a strict drug-free workplace policy is maintained.