Professional House Parent in Chicago, IL at Ada S McKinley

Job Description

Basic Function: The Emergency Foster Care Program is a 24-hour shelter. We are looking for nurturing individuals, domestic partners, or married couples interested in devoting their hearts and time to the profession of Foster Parent. The Professional House Parent will create and maintain a safe, healthy, and short-term living environment so that the youth entrusted to the professional house parent will feel safe, loved and cared for; providing them with the necessary skills to become confident, resilient and productive individuals with hope.  Employees will reside on site with the clients.

Reporting Relationship:

Reports To: Program Supervisor

Supervises: (N/A)

Location: South East side of Chicago

**Employees must live on-site with clients**

Principal Duties/Responsibilities: 

• Provides a healthy, clean, safe and secure home environment for the children.
• In conjunction with the child's Case Manager; implement individual progress plans.
• Ensures that the children receive proper medical, dental and emotional care.
• Administers prescribed medications as needed and document all such interactions. Complete all required documentation related to medical incidents/reports and medication management as required by the Agency and Department of Children and Family Services.
• Ensures the educational growth of their children; including but not limited to possessing a pro-active attitude and responses: active participation in the school, setting expectations for attendance and performance, active participation in homework and enrichment programs, advocating for children’s needs, willingness to serve as a surrogate parent for special education needs.
• Encourage and ensure the child's participation in mental health services.
• Maintains timely and accurate records such as household budget, children's progress records, health records and periodic evaluations.
• Participates in on-going training and maintaining current certifications such as first aid and CPR, CPI-Non Violent Crisis Intervention, Medication Administration, etc.
• Transports children as needed, i.e., sibling visits, doctor visits, therapy groups, etc.
• Represents Ada S McKinley in a professional manner to the public and guests.
• Complies with all Ada S McKinley policies, state, federal, county and city laws, rules and regulations.
• Adheres to Agency’s Code of Ethics and maintains confidentiality of information.

Non-essential duties

• Attends general agency staff meetings, in-service education/training, individual supervision, and other meetings as directed by the Program Supervisor and/or Director.
• Participates on at least one Task Force, and participate in the Agency Annual Strategic Planning process

Mental/Physical Demands: Ability to deal with problems, involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.  Work requires prolonged concentration using a computer in analyzing and manipulating data. The employee frequently is required to sit, stand and climb stairs.  The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk.  The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Environmental Conditions: The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.  Duties are performed in a typical residential/office environment.  No unusual or adverse working conditions exist.