Re-Licensing Specialist - Child Welfare

Re-Licensing Specialist - Child Welfare

Full Time Non‑Exempt – Full‑Time – Wildwood, FL, US

Salary Range: $23.56 to $26.92 Hourly

Initial Licensing Responsibilities:

• Develop timely and complete licensing packets for prospective new foster homes, which includes attending PRIDE classes upon request to become familiar with the family, conducting a minimum of two home visits to the prospective home for initial assessment; assisting prospective foster parents in completing all licensing and background screening paperwork; evaluating background information; evaluating and assessing all family members, household members and backups/sitters for inclusion in the initial licensure foster home study.
  
  The expected timeframe for initial packet submission to the Licensing Supervisor is within 30 days of the family completing PRIDE class, unless an exception is made by the Supervisor or Director.
• Screening prospective foster/adoptive parent applicants to include reviewing preliminary paperwork and completing background screening.
• May conduct Parent Resources for Information, Development, and Education (PRIDE) or other approved pre‑service training to prospective foster/adoptive parents in Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion, and Sumter counties.
• Assist the Kids Central Placement Department and Family Care Managers in determining appropriate foster parent and foster child matches.
• Back‑up the Placement Specialist in the actual placement of children during occasional weekend coverage.

Re‑Licensing Responsibilities:

• Create re‑licensing packet for submission to DCF, which includes: one home visit to assist foster parents in completing paperwork, assess and evaluate all household members and temporary alternate caregivers/sitters for inclusion in the home study, complete background screening process for new members of the household.
• Conduct minimum of quarterly home visits to all foster homes in the caseload (approx: 30 homes).
• Conduct an ongoing assessment to ensure a family’s skills, training, household composition, etc., are suitable for their licensed capacity, and complete paperwork, as necessary, to increase or decrease capacity.
• Act as liaison between foster parents and family care managers.
• Respond to Foster Care Referrals and complete assessment.

• Assist with community events.
• Participation in PRIDE classes and Foster Parent Orientation.
• Participation in Foster Parent Association meetings.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Education, Training, Years of
  
  Experience:
  
  Master’s degree preferred with one year of experience in child welfare or human services. Bachelor’s and/or associate’s degree in human services or related field with two years’ experience in child welfare. If the degree is in an unrelated field, one must be eligible for a waiver. Eligible college or university degrees must be awarded by an institution accredited by an accreditation body recognized by the Federal Department of Education and/or Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
  
  The college or university must have been accredited at the time the degree was awarded.
• Child Welfare Certification is preferred but not required at time of hire. Must obtain and maintain certification in good standing within one year of employment.
• Must maintain a clear criminal background and driving record.
• Must have a valid Florida driver’s license and be insurable by the agency’s current insurance carrier.
• Must successfully clear Level II Background Screen.

• Ability to meet Organizational Required Competency standards.
• Knowledge of the child welfare system and applicable statutes.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and written).
• Strong computer skills (Microsoft Office Suite and FSFN).
• Ability to work occasional weekends and nights (from 10 pm Friday to 8 am Monday or 10 pm to 8 am Monday‑Thursday) to cover Placement.
• Ability to multitask and solve problems.
• Ability to travel locally up to 75%.
• Ability to safely operate a motor vehicle.

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the…