Job: Family Support Partner Team Lead

Southwest Network is a local non-profit behavioral health organization serving both adults and kids within the community. We believe and others will agree that we are the best of the best within Behavioral Health...and now is your chance to continue to prove this statement true. By joining Southwest Network, you will be helping us grow into a bigger and even better organization and thus allowing us to accomplish our ultimate goal - to improve the lives of those we are proud and honored to serve.

Primary Functions of the Family Support Partner Team Lead position:

Under the supervision of the VP of Children’s Services and the agency's program definition and policies, the Team Lead - Family Support Partners will:
1. Provide and manage peer to peer support and intervention to parents of enrolled children and youth.
2. Assist family members to achieve their stated goals.
3. Deliver interventions and activities that meet needs, build on strengths and achieve outcomes.
4. Collaborate with other individuals involved in providing support and care to families enrolled in services.

In addition to performing the tasks associated with the Family Support Partner role, the Team Lead - Family Support Partners will be responsible for:

1. Orienting new staff including providing group training and mentoring in the field with existing Family Support Partners
2. Monitoring staff performance including strengths and areas for improvement
3. Summarize and sharing information with the VP, Children’s Services about staff and program performance
4. Provide weekly supervision of each direct report including conducting performance reviews.

This position is established to directly provide and manage peer to peer support to parents of children enrolled in the Behavioral Health system. The role of the Team Lead - Family Support Partners will manage a reduced caseload while providing support and guidance to direct reports. This role exists as a key role for the purpose of assuring quality implementation of the Arizona Vision, which means:

“In collaboration with each child, family and others, Arizona will provide accessible behavioral health services designed to aid children to achieve success in school, live with their families, avoid delinquency and become stable and productive adults. Services will be tailored to the child and family and provided in the most appropriate setting, in a timely fashion, and in accordance with best practices, while respecting the child and family’s unique cultural heritage.”

Knowledge and Ability:
Must be able to demonstrate an accepting stance while responding with empathy and clarity to the family. Must be able to encourage collaboration and have knowledge of the systems of care in the community in which he/she is working. Must be able to obtain fingerprint clearance through the Arizona Department of Public Safety. Must have a valid driver’s license and proof of car insurance and dependable transportation. Must possess excellent verbal and written communication skills. Must have good organizational and time management skills. Must have prior supervisory experience

Work is performed in the community. Family Support Partner services occur in families’ homes, schools and other community based settings. Flexible work schedule based on the needs of the family served.

Education and Experience:
High School Diploma or G.E.D. required. Must be a parent or caregiver that has raised a child with behavioral health needs and have experience in at least two child serving systems. (Example: Education, Juvenile Justice, Child Protective Services, Developmental Disabilities, etc.). Must have at least two years experience in working directly with families in a peer to peer support role as well as a minimum of three years supervisory experience.

Essential Skill Requirements:

Engagement Skills
· Meet, greet, and welcome families.
· Support families as a peer and someone with a common background.
· Represent Parent/Family perspective in all program activities at the agency.
· Work intensively with the family to identify formal and informal supports.
· Assist parents with information regarding family involvement activities and provide assistance for their attendance in these events.
· Utilize personal and professional experiences to provide peer support to parents.
· Provide coaching, mentoring and training to Family Support Partners in engagement skills.

Strengths, Needs and Culture
· Assist the family in identifying its strengths, family culture and concerns
· Promote the individual family culture in the development of the Work Plan and Agreement.
. Offer support and encouragement as well as respect and curiosity to parents/caregivers.
· Listen to the parent’s story to identify strengths and natural supports.
· Communicate with referring agency about newly identified strengths and needs.
. Participate in Network Quality Reviews as a parent interviewer.

Transition
· Reach agreement with the parent about ending services.
· Summarize and distribute to the family and referral source a closure Summary listing accomplishments.
· Arrange and negotiate ongoing communication between the parent and community resources in the future.
· Create a resource packet to assist the parent in connecting to natural supports in preparation for transition.
· Plan, develop and host a culturally appropriate leaving/ending event.
· Provide coaching, mentoring and training to Family Support Partners in transition skills.