Therapeutic Visitation Specialist - Bilingual (Spanish)
Family Connections, Inc.·South Orange, New Jersey
Family Connections, Inc.·South Orange, New Jersey
Provide therapeutic visitation services to children and families, utilizing trauma-informed strategies to promote healthy attachment and behavioral change. Coordinate with DCP&P and community resources while documenting progress and facilitating visitation plans.
Position Title: Bilingual Therapeutic Visitation Specialist
Reports to: Supervising Therapeutic Visitation Specialist
Provide therapeutic visitation services.
II: PROFESSIONALISM: 1. Values and participates in the Team as a proactive member. 2. Respects others’ professional opinions and tolerates a range of feelings. 3. Able to give and receive constructive criticism. 4. Willing to take on extra work as needed (i.e. when there is a vacancy).
SUPERVISION: Attends supervision consistently and comes prepared. Able to receive feedback and learn from it. Has insight about self (i.e., strengths and weaknesses) and utilizes that knowledge towards growth and change.
IV: DIRECT SERVICE Attends all necessary trainings in compliance with the SVS model.
Schedules and conducts visits in the least-restrictive, most home-like location (the first preference being within the family's home) while ensuring the safety of the children.
Initiates and maintains ongoing communication with families that is culturally sensitive, utilizing family’s preferred language considering a family’s faith and culture.
Ensures the environment for parent-child contact is safe, non-traumatizing, and promotes healthy attachment.
Uses strengths-based, solutions-focused, family centered, trauma informed strategies to elicit family input.
Advocates for parents/families as necessary and supports them in advocating for themselves.
Uses a process to gather information which includes reviewing collateral information and inquiring about family's natural supports.
Completes required assessment tools including but not limited to bio-psychosocial assessments, Rose Wentz Matrix and SVS Caregiver Surveys.
Documents contacts with families in agency's progress notes and DCP&P contact sheets.
Creates a visitation plan with active familial involvement and updates the plan at regular intervals.
Facilitates visit planning meetings and participates in other relevant meetings.
Initiates and maintains ongoing communication with DCP&P, other providers, and supports.
Links the family to community resources, formal and informal supports, and coordinates with DCP&P.
Collaborates with and shares relevant information with DCP&P staff, other providers, and supports.
Provides therapeutic support and modeling around appropriate and nurturing parenting.
Uses clinical interventions and trauma informed approaches to promote behavioral change in caregivers and children through education, modeling, reinforcement, and empowerment.
Interventions may include but are not limited to: Elements of family counseling, play therapy, art therapy, and/or individual therapy; focused on improving parenting skills, attunement, and communication within the family.
Intervening in the event of a safety issue.
Incorporating trauma informed care to all facets of treatment.
Creates an environment that empowers family members, including parents, children, and caregivers to communicate their goals and needs.
Utilizes various interviewing and/or communication techniques in a culturally competent manner.
Recognizes non-verbal communication and maintains good eye contact and posture.
Enhances parental skills by goal setting, modeling, mentoring, reinforcement, feedback and reflection through a trauma-informed perspective.
Prepares for each visit with caregivers reviewing goals and expectations and encouraging them to be the lead in visit planning.
Debriefs with caregivers after each visit to allow for processing and self-reflection and discussion of strengths and challenges.
Provides in-home aftercare services in the event of reunification of families.
Provides transportation for parents and/or children to and from visitation location.
Engages in case presentations and completes timely documentation.
Prepares case presentations and engages in case discussions/consultations.
Maintains electronic health record and completes all internal and external documentation needs in accordance with program guidelines.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Vacation: As a full-time employee working generally 35 hours per week, you will be eligible to participate in the Family Connections group benefit plans. Benefits include medical, dental, life insurance, long term disability, retirement plans, and additional supplementary benefits. Yes, you can elect to not enroll into these benefits. You will also be eligible to accrue vacation, personal, and sick days in addition to 12 paid holidays, and summer wellness Fridays. Benefits also include professional development assistance, referral program, internal/external trainings, Capella University partnership, 403b retirement plan with employer matching (3% max) (you can enroll in your 403b without a waiting period) , employer-paid life insurance, employer paid Long-term Disability (LTD) insurance, employer paid Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, etc. Family Connections is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer committed to excellence. Employment offers are made on the basis of qualifications and without regard to race, sex, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability, age veteran status, or sexual orientation or other protected classes under the State and Federal law. Family Connections participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with information from each new employee’s Form I-9 to confirm authorization to work in the United States. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States and eligible for full‑time employment on a W‑2 basis. This role must be performed in a manner that is fully compliant with all applicable federal, state, and local employment laws, including those of the State of New Jersey. C2C, 1099, or other non‑W‑2 arrangements are not eligible for consideration.
Requires a master's degree in social work or a related field and a valid professional license (e.g., LPC, LCSW). Must be bilingual in English and Spanish (or Haitian Creole/Portuguese) and have at least one year of experience with child welfare systems.
Market context
Behavioral health positions in New Jersey often draw steady demand from providers serving children, families, and community-based programs. These roles can be competitive because employers commonly look for a master’s degree, a valid clinical license, bilingual communication skills, and child welfare experience. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to save time, and tailor your application to highlight licensure, language ability, and direct child welfare exposure.
