Intercept Specialist

Description

Position Function: 

The Intercept Specialist is responsible for providing intensive home-based services to families  The role involves providing individualized family sessions in the home and community settings in order to safely reunify the youth with family and/or maintain the youth in the home. The implementation of Intercept offers a unique opportunity to become immersed in an evidence-based program model to serve youth and their families. The Intercept program serves a broad population of youth and families, including those involved with multiple child servicing systems and those at high risk of removal from their families. The program specializes in diverting youth from out of home placements by helping their families safely maintain youth in their home environment.  The Intercept Specialist will be responsible for accurate documentation, consistent communication, and maintaining a strong working relationship with families and community partners.  Travel within the service area is required, and the position demands sensitivity to the cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of the  families served.

Requirements:  

Education:

A Bachelor’s degree in Social work, psychology, or related human services field from an accredited college or university is required: a Master’s degree in social work, psychology or related field is preferred.

Experience: The position requires 1 year of cumulative experience with an undergraduate degree which includes working with children and families providing counseling, crisis intervention, intake and assessment, and case management. Candidates should also possess strong organizational skills and attention to detail, the ability to maintain a flexible schedule, the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously, and excellent written, and verbal skills as well as basic computer skills. This position requires understanding of crisis intervention and trauma informed care interventions in working with children, adolescents and families.

Functional:

• Providing expedient and intensive services to a small caseload of 4-6 families. 
• Be present in the home on a regular and consistent basis for families assigned to Intercept services, with an average of three face-to-face sessions with the family per week, including youth and their support system.  
• provide ongoing assessment, service planning, risk assessment, safety planning, and advocacy 
• Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team. 
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of services for all assigned clients. 
• Schedules for this position are non-traditional, but flexible and based around the families’ availability. 
• Provide on-call after-hours support to families using a rotating on-call schedule with the Intercept team, with the expectation of potentially responding in person during some crisis situations as deemed necessary by the leadership team.  Intercept specialists may be required to provide transportation for families they are serving.  
• Prepare and submit all required documentation, reports, and statistical data in a timely manner. 
• Follow policies and procedures of ACH and represent the agency in a positive and professional manner. Coordinate the collaboration of referral agencies, family members, and other support systems to meet the needs of families and children. 

Working Conditions: 

• Exposure to children with behavioral challenges, including possible physical aggression.
• A personal, dependable vehicle is required for travel.
• Must maintain a good driving record and ensure safe transport to client locations.
• The position provides 24/7 on-call support to assigned families.

Exposure to Confidential Information:

The Intercept Specialist will have access to confidential client information, including family plans, case files, and personal records. The Intercept Specialist must maintain confidentiality & follow HIPAA and agency policies related to personal records & client records. Specialists are expected to adhere to all ethical and legal guidelines, including confidentiality and mandated reporting. 

Key Expectations/Responsibilities:

Programming:

• Organize and facilitate sessions for caregivers and children, ensuring sessions are accessible and flexible to meet client needs.
• Provide intensive, ongoing case management services and therapeutic interventions, including risk assessments, safety planning, skills training, and behavioral stabilization. 
• Ensure regular engagement with clients by visiting with the child, family, or support system an average of three times per week, attending school meetings, and court proceedings as needed.
• Collaborate with other agencies, including Intercept, OCOK, and community resources, to ensure comprehensive care for children and families.
• Implement interventions for children’s behavioral challenges and family challenges based on Intercept’s evidence-based model. 
• Develop individualized treatment plans in collaboration with families, setting achievable goals, and coordinating resources to facilitate transitions and stability.
• Complete trainings and certifications as required by the Intercept program, licensing standards, and agency policies 
• Attend and actively participate in team staffing meetings, including group supervision, clinical consultation, and individual professional development and to follow-up and/or implement feedback and recommendations received from the Team Supervisor, Program Director, and Licensed Program Expert. 
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date case records and complete required paperwork within specified timeframes, including treatment plans, weekly session notes, and ongoing clinical assessments. 

Community Relations 

• Build and maintain positive, collaborative relationships with community agencies, including schools, therapists, courts, and other providers.
• Represent ACH Child and Family Services in all professional interactions, promoting the agency’s mission and values.
• Ensure that services are provided in compliance with program agreements and ACH policies and procedures.

Documentation and Reporting

• Keep accurate and timely documentation of case activities, including bi-weekly treatment plans, weekly session notes, and ongoing clinical assessments. 
• Complete and document initial and ongoing family assessments, ensuring that each family has a clear and updated treatment plan. 
• Intercept specialists attend three required meetings per week (group supervision, clinical consultation, and individual development) for program model adherence, case conceptualization, and professional development. 

Work Behaviors

• Follow ACH’s policies and procedures, ensuring quality services and professionalism in all aspects of the role.
• Respond flexibly to changing priorities and client needs, adapting strategies as necessary to support families and children in care. Since specialists are heavily involved with each family, long hours may be required to respond to families’ needs. 
• Demonstrate a commitment to advocating for the well-being and empowerment of children and families in any involved system they are a part of, with the purpose of gathering informational specific to intervention development and advocating in the best interest of the child’s long-term stability. 

Other Duties Assigned

• Attend designated agency or community meetings or training.
• Assist with other agency program’s activities as assigned.
• Assist with fundraising or other agency functions as needed.
• Other applicable duties as assigned by supervisor.

Requirements

Education:

A Bachelor’s degree in Social work, psychology, or related human services field from an accredited college or university is required: a Master’s degree in social work, psychology or related field is preferred.

Experience: The position requires 1 year of cumulative experience with an undergraduate degree which includes working with children and families providing counseling, crisis intervention, intake and assessment, and case management. Candidates should also possess strong organizational skills and attention to detail, the ability to maintain a flexible schedule, the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously, and excellent written, and verbal skills as well as basic computer skills. This position requires understanding of crisis intervention and trauma informed care interventions in working with children, adolescents and families.