Visitation Coach

Position Description

• Provide coaching and supervision during parent-supervised visitation with their children experiencing foster care. Work with a team of social workers and share observations and insights learned during interactions.

• Using a respectful and non-judgmental approach, provide constructive feedback to parents to improve their interactions with their children as they work toward reunifying with them.

• Working cohesively with birth and resource families, children, community, and in-agency partners to support and strengthen families.

• Striving for excellence in meeting all mandated standards in a fast-paced and mandated but rewarding environment that ultimately seeks to assure child safety and develop and reinforce protective family units.

Responsibilities

• Provide visitation coaching for parent/child visitations, assisting parents and foster parents to learn practical behavior approaches for children through supervision, coaching, modeling, and redirection
• Provide transportation for children and parents to remove barriers and assist in accessing necessary services (court-ordered visitation, school, etc.).
• Provide case management activities including but not limited to completion of social histories, calling/interviewing of collateral contacts, evaluation of client situation and assessment of safety and wellbeing of the child, participation in Child and Family Team Meetings, informing parents and foster parents of services and coordinating services when needed
• Complete appropriate and timely documentation in permanency planning record, including recording all interactions with the child and writing of visitation summaries
• Assist agency with after-hours crisis management (placement moves, etc.)

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited school of social work or in a human services field; or
• Bachelor’s degree in a non-human services field and 1 year of social work experience

• A valid driver’s license with a safe driving record
• Ability to engage with parents and children with a strength-based approach
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
• Excellent interpersonal and intervention skills
• Ability to work collaboratively with other professionals
• Solid understanding of trauma and how it impacts children and families engaged in the child welfare system
• This is considered light to medium work; lifting up to 40 pounds

Additional Information

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work is strongly preferred.

Catawba County Benefits
As of 7/1/2024:
You will find that Catawba County has one of the best benefits packages around. Our Human Resources staff are dedicated to keeping in touch with trends in benefits on both a local and national level, listening to employees' suggestions regarding benefits, and continually reviewing to ensure our benefits package is of good quality and meets the needs of both our employees and our organization. Available benefits include:


Health Care

• Health: For a small bi-weekly premium, employees may choose between a traditional (co-pay) health plan and a high deductible health plan coupled with a Health Savings Account (HSA). Coverage may also be purchased for spouse, child(ren), or family.
• Dental Insurance: At no cost to full-time employees, the County covers preventive, routine, and non-routine care. Coverage for the same benefits may also be purchased for spouse, child(ren) and family. In addition, a $2,000 benefit toward orthodontia coverage is provided for children up to age 19.
• Vision Care: Coverage is available, at group rates, for employee and dependents, with 2 plan options to choose from.
• Supplemental critical care and accident insurance plans: These optional coverage plans are available at a nominal cost.
• Flexible Spending Accounts: Pre-tax accounts which can be used to pay for qualified out-of-pocket medical, dental, vision expenses.

• Employee Health Clinic (EHC): An employee medical clinic, available to all County employees, which operates 40 hours a week. Services provided include acute care, first aid, evaluation and care for workers' compensation injuries, pre-employment screenings, health education, and behavioral health referrals. Services offered both in person and through telehealth. Acute care available to employee’s children ages 5-17 regardless of health insurance coverage and for employee’s adult children (ages 18-26) or employee’s spouse if covered on the county’s health insurance.
• Wellness: The County recognizes the importance of our health and well-being. We maintain a very proactive and effective Wellness Program, including reimbursement and discounts for gym membership, incentives for physical activity, on-site nutrition counseling, free exercise opportunities, wellness education and more.
• Employee Assistance Program: Counseling services are available to all County employees and immediate family members in the home. Services are provided in a private and confidential setting (in-person or virtually). The County provides coverage for the first six visits.

• Annual Leave: Full-time employees earn from 10-21 days annually based on years of service. Service credit from other NC and Local Governments in the retirement system may be transferred to the County.
• Sick Leave: Full-time employees earn one day (8 hours) of sick leave per month. Sick leave from other NC and Local Governments in the retirement system may be transferred to the County.
• Holiday Leave: Throughout the year, 11 days of paid leave are provided in recognition of holidays.
• Flexible work schedules.
• Time off for activities that support our local schools.
• Continuing educational assistance.
• Discount tickets to recreational venues.
• Employee appreciation days/activities.
• Tax-free flexible spending account to pay for dependent care.

• Local Governmental Employees Retirement System: For employees assigned to work 20 hours per week or more in a benefitted position, participation in this program is automatic. Employees contribute 6% of their salary, which is tax deferred. After (5) years of creditable service, you become fully vested in the retirement system. Employees may also take advantage of individual and group retirement counseling through the Human Resources department.
• 401K: The County provides a 2% contribution plus an additional 1% match (up to 3% total contribution by the County). Our sworn law enforcement officers receive a flat 5% contribution to their 401k.
• Other Tax Deferred Programs: Other tax-sheltering programs are available through IRS Code 125 (Cafeteria Plan), and a 457 supplemental retirement plan (Deferred Compensation).
• Longevity Pay: After 5 years of creditable service, employees receive an annual longevity payment that is paid every year thereafter. This lump sum payment rewards employees for their length of service to Catawba County. The amount is based on years of service.
• Life Insurance: Death benefit equal to one times employee’s annual salary with a minimum coverage amount of $25,000. Optional supplemental life insurance coverage is also available for both employee and dependents through payroll deduction at group rates.
• Short Term Disability: Available at no cost to employees, benefits are available after a 55-day waiting period.
• Long Term Disability: Available through payroll deduction at group rates.
• Eligibility for membership and financial services at State Employees Credit Union (SECU)/Local Government Federal Credit Union (LGFCU).