Live-In Relief Parent

at ONE FAMILY ILLINOIS in Chicago, Illinois, United States

Job Description

The Role:    

The Live-In Relief Parent (LIRP) lives on the Village (at Chicago Village) in an apartment provided by One Family Illinois (One Family). The role of the LIRP is to provide full-time support and assistance to the Professional Foster Parents at any of the three Villages. 

As a key support staff, they will support and enhance the care to children to assist in the growth, skill development, and nurturing of children in One Family Illinois foster homes. They will serve in the parents’ absence and/or in combination with the parents and/or foster parents in providing a support system to meet the children’s needs. Provide tools and activities for educational development and enhancement in the absence or in conjunction with the foster parents.  

The Live-In Relief Parent may spend time taking children in their care to appointments or activities including visitations with biological parents.  

The Live-In Relief Parent is a part of the Village community and is expected to participate in Village meetings and be a part of the neighborhood in addition to the job responsibilities. While housed at Chicago Village, you may be asked to work at other Villages for Relief hours and/or meetings and activities.  

This role full-time and hours may vary but expect a minimum of 40 hours per week of active Relief work. The role is expected to start as part-time prior to move-in ($15.40/hour, subject to change in accordance with the law).  Upon move-in, employment will adjust to full-time salaried at $25,000/year.  Compensation includes room & board (One Family Illinois provides the living arrangements and a monthly budget of $150 for food and necessities). 

While the position is full-time with flexible hours, you may not hold another job outside of this employment but could do online school or something similarly flexible that may work with your One Family Illinois schedule.  

If you are part of a committed relationship with a live-in spouse or partner, they can join you in the One Family Illinois provided housing (pending DCFS background clearance) and they can work outside the home.   

The overall goal of this role is to create consistency in the family setting and to help the children progress, grow, and continue to develop in a safe and productive environment. 

Responsibilities: 

1. Assist the One Family Professional Foster Parent in providing care, whether in their absence or presence, in services to the children including transportation of children to recreational activities, homework assistance, therapy, and additional supervision of the children. 

2. Provide responsible, "parental" supervision, monitoring, care and direction for the children consistent with the One Family Professional Foster Parent's methodology in the One Family Professional Foster Parent's absence. 

3. Maintain written documentation necessary for internal files and contractual obligations. 

4. Provide transportation to appointments for the children if necessary.

5. Prepare meals, do laundry and assist the children with appropriate maintenance of the home and attend to the general orderliness and neatness as would normally occur during the shift which relief work is scheduled. 

6. Carrying on the normal structure and routine in the absence of the One Family Professional Foster Parent. 

7. Communicating with the One Family Professional Foster Parents as to events during their absence. 

8. Answer the telephone in the home and take messages or re-direct calls as appropriate for the Program and the rest of the Agency. 

9. Maintain records as required. 

10. Establish a positive, constructive relationship with the children through communication, interaction and role modeling.  

11. Act as a caring parental authority so as to assist the children in their personal growth. 

12. Maintain confidentiality of all client, staff and agency matters. 

13. Work collaboratively with One Family Professional Forster Parents, staff and others, including the children's biological parents. 

14. Be aware of the policies and philosophy as outlined in the One Family Parent Manual and work within those guidelines. 

15. Participate in on going training and maintaining certifications such as first aid and CPR, TCI, Med. Administration, etc. 

16. Represent One Family Illinois in a professional manner to the public and guests. 

17. All other tasks as assigned, including the supervision of biological family visits. 

18. Comply with all One Family policies, state, federal, county and city laws, rules and regulations. 

19. Answer phone and return all calls within 24 hours and read and respond to emails, daily. 

20. Attend general agency staff meetings, in-service education/training, individual supervision, and other meetings as directed by the Village Director or Supervisor.