Careers at Family Service

Family Service is an equal-opportunity employer in a very diverse community. We also serve people across the generations. We encourage caring, professional individuals with experience and/or comfort serving people of all ages, stages, abilities, cultures and needs to apply for our open positions.

CASEWORKER I

WE ARE HIRING TWO FULL-TIME CASEWORKERS IN CHAMPAIGN COUNTY (CHAMPAIGN OFFICE) AND ONE IN PIATT COUNTY (MONTICELLO OFFICE). PLEASE INDICATE IN YOUR EMAIL OR COVER LETTER WHICH COUNTY YOU ARE APPLYING FOR.

Seniors in our community thrive when they remain in their own homes as long as possible, and helping them do just that is one of the main goals of Family Service. We’re currently looking for a highly motivated, compassionate, and organized person to work directly with seniors in Champaign, Piatt, and Douglas Counties to help them avoid assisted living or skilled nursing facilities for as long as possible.

Our ideal candidate has these qualities:

A KEEN EYE

You’ll be doing assessments of seniors, and this requires catching small details and reading between the lines to find and solve root problems and barriers that might keep a senior from managing in their current environment. From initial assessments to ongoing monitoring of the seniors’ emotional, mental, and physical well-being, your default position is watchful, ready to jump in and change course for struggling seniors whose situation requires care and attention.

HIGH ENERGY & INDEPENDENT

You won’t be trapped behind a desk all day, every day; you’ll be out in the community, working with seniors at their residence, visiting medical facilities, and educating other professionals about issues associated with aging. You’re good with keeping your own schedule and staying on top of your case load without constant supervision.

WILLING TO BE A SQUEAKY WHEEL

When it comes to older adults, advocacy is the name of the game. You’ll be using your assertive personality and your wide knowledge of available services to plug seniors in to the services that best fit their needs. These needs will include nutrition, shelter/housing, legal issues, medical/pharmaceutical. From time to time, this requires urgency, and the ideal candidate will go the extra mile to meet urgent needs.

COMPASSIONATE & EMPATHETIC

When seniors grapple with issues surrounding life changes, grief, or family difficulties, you’re a patient listener and knowledgeable resource to accompany them as they navigate these issues. You are sensitive to cultural and socioeconomic differences. We might ask you to do other tasks that support seniors from time to time to make sure our programs run smoothly and no senior falls between the cracks. It goes without saying that the right person is a “people person” who can be diplomatic one second and a staunch advocate the next.

WILLING TO TRAVEL (LOCALLY)

We do home visits throughout Champaign or Piatt County; we also attend community events to meet older adults who may benefit from our services. Family Service offers senior services in three counties. You will occasionally visit one of our other counties (Champaign, Piatt or Douglas) as part of your work week. (We cover mileage at the federal rate.)

A NATURAL-BORN SCRIBE

You’re organized and detailed, and you use those traits to keep timely, observational case notes. You can commit to double-checking that all the necessary forms are correct, case notes are updated, and follow-up tasks are scheduled on your calendar. (You’ll keep up with internal documentation, as well, such as mileage sheets and daily schedule.) Generally, you’re a great communicator, both written and verbal, and you appreciate the value of documentation. You probably loved new pens and notebooks when you were a kid.

BOTH A TEACHER & STUDENT

You will be presenting at various meetings and forums about contemporary senior issues, services available to seniors, and how others can connect with Family Service if they want to refer a senior. You have a bachelor’s degree, as well as the ability to obtain the certifications necessary for this position (such as SHIP, I-AIRS, and SAGE Care). You’ll also be attending advanced clinical training. We stay on top of training opportunities so you’re always in the know.

TEAM PLAYER

We have staff meetings, work at a fast pace, use a database, honor confidentiality, and put seniors first. If you’re the right candidate, you will work within those parameters professionally.

OTHER DETAILS:

We’re looking for someone with at least a year of case management experience. There are a few other things we require, such as:

An associate’s degree (bachelor’s preferred)
A reliable car that you can use every workday, plus valid auto insurance
Handling other tasks as assigned
Can pass a background check: Any individual who is the subject of a pending investigation by the Department of Children and Family Services for child abuse or neglect, or who has been the subject of an indicated abuse or neglect report, which indicated report has not subsequently been overturned on an appeal, or who has been substantiated as an abuser by an IDOA provider agency is not eligible for employment in the Counseling and Advocacy Program.

ARE YOU THIS PERSON?

If we’re describing you, let’s talk. Send us your resumé and cover letter at hr@familyservicecc.org.

CAREGIVER ADVISOR - PIATT COUNTY

Join Our Team: Caregiver Advisor in Piatt County (part-time)

Effective Date: Immediately

Before you scroll by: If you’re thinking that this job post isn’t for you because it’s senior services and your social service experience is with kids, please keep reading! This job listing might be exactly what you’re looking for.

Your Crucial Role in Caring for the Carers: Helping Ease the Stress of Day-to-Day Caregiving

Unpaid caregivers have a remarkable place in our country. It is estimated that up to 85% of caregiving services are provided by unpaid caregivers, and one-quarter of the households in Illinois have a member who is looking after an older adult in some capacity.

Caring for an older adult is one side of the caregiving spectrum; the other comprises adults 55+ who are raising their grandchildren. Though the two caregiving scenarios look different, they share themes of concern, stress, and the need for resources and self-care.

To respond to the needs of unpaid caregivers and grandparents raising grandchildren, the State of Illinois offers a Caregiver Advisory service. The Caregiver Advisory helps caregivers and grandparents raising grandchildren build knowledge and skills, navigate services, access resources, and reduce caregiver stress.

Our Caregiver Advisor offers that support and guidance to caregivers of older adults residing in Piatt County.

Your Role as the Caregiver Advisor

As our Piatt County Caregiver Advisor, you’ll be a key member of our Senior Resource Center staff. You’ll enjoy variety and opportunities for creativity in this role. This means you’ll be:

Making contacts in Piatt County with other organizations who work with caregivers or grandparents raising grandchildren to build a robust referral network.

Finding ways to connect with potential clients (e.g., social media, in-person events).

Providing clients with access to information and assistance about a wide variety of services available to them.

Giving instruction and training, both in a classroom / workshop setting and through personalized in-home meetings, so the client has the skills they need to do the best job they can.

Develop and implement support groups for both caregivers and grandparents raising grandchildren in Piatt County. (You’ll get plenty of training.)

Working with grandparents raising grandchildren on solutions to challenges specific to their situation. They often have questions about navigating the school system, dealing with technology at school and at home (Chromebooks, video games), and handling behavior issues and children’s grief and frustration.

Being a listening ear and reliable support person who checks in on the client, gets to know them, follows up, and lets them know in word and action that they are not alone on their caregiving journey.

You’ll get all the tools you’ll need to be a fantastic Caregiver Advisor in your training, and your coworkers in the Senior Resource Center will provide robust support.

Who You Are: The Ideal Candidate

In our ideal world, our Caregiver Advisor will have knowledge or experience in children’s services. A background in elementary or high school education, CASA, DCFS, or similar would go a long way in this position. A willingness to learn about social services for children for our grandparents raising grandchildren works, too.

If you are the ideal candidate, you have at least a bachelor’s degree in social work or a related field. High school graduates with at least 5 years of relevant experience with the aging or youth population are encouraged to apply, as well.

You’ll have the following abilities:

Cordial and friendly with clients, maintaining professionalism and kindness at all times

Understanding of casework & how to properly document with case notes

Organized and efficient with minimum supervision

Respectful of various lifestyles, cultures, temperaments, and needs

Reliable transportation, ability to meet clients in their homes, at school, or in a public third place.

Can pass a background check: Any individual who is the subject of a pending investigation by the Department of Children and Family Services for child abuse or neglect, or who has been the subject of an indicated abuse or neglect report, which indicated report has not subsequently been overturned on an appeal, is not eligible for employment in the Counseling service.

The Family Service Culture

Family Service has a culture that is reflected in our name: We are both family-focused (both the families we serve and the families we are from), and we pride ourselves on being strongly service oriented.  We are cultivating a workplace that is humble and diligent – a place where you can enjoy your coworkers, be proud of your impact, and always look for new and better ways to enhance our community by meeting its needs.  We train our people thoroughly and consider ourselves a training ground for being the best humanity has to offer.   If you are looking for a position in an organization that values kindness, fresh ideas, hard work, and going the extra mile to help our clients and our community, Family Service might be the place for you.  (Of course, we’re an Equal Opportunity Employer.)