Foster Care Licensing Specialist

Position Description

Child Welfare – Foster Care

Job Title: Licensing Specialist

Reports To: Licensing and Intake Supervisor

Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt

To provide expert, comprehensive services in southeastern Michigan that strengthen children, adults, and families impacted by abuse and neglect, autism, developmental disabilities, and mental health challenges so they are successful in their communities.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The primary responsibility of a Licensing Specialist is to provide services to the agency’s licensed foster homes; as well as to recruit, assess, and license new foster homes.

• Provides pre-licensure orientation for potential foster parents.
• Conducts written assessments of potential and licensed foster parents.
• Determines compliance with state and agency policy regarding foster parenting.
• Investigates any allegations of non-compliance regarding a foster home.
• Participates in recruitment and retention activities.
• Obtains all required information regarding initial placement of children into foster care.
• Secures appropriate placement for children.
• Participates in family team meetings, unit meetings, and other case conferences as necessary.
• Assists with emergency situations by covering shift(s) as necessary.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Must be able to work a flexible work schedule that allows for support to consumers during non-typical business hours.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Outlook, and Excel.
• Concise grammatical skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to provide culturally competent services that shows sensitivity to the service population’s cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.

• Customer Service – regularly respond to customers in a courteous and timely manner with focus on providing quality services.
• Job Knowledge – demonstrate mastery of basic principles, techniques, and skills related to job, consistently applying technical and procedural competence.
• Professionalism – consistently present a positive image of self and the agency, operating with integrity and credibility.
• Planning & Organization of Work – reliably demonstrate time management skills through advance planning in order to deliver high quality work product within deadlines.
• Relationship / Leadership – exhibit ability to develop cooperative relationships based on mutual respect and trust, treating others fairly, consistently listening, openly and actively encouraging others to express candid and differing views.
• Judgement & Problem Solving – show ability to review facts and information using sound judgment to arrive at the most effective solution and when appropriate seek supervisory assistance.
• Quality & Accuracy – consistently present work product that is thorough, accurate, and effective in accomplishing intended purpose of assignments.
• Initiative & Independence – demonstrate ability to effectively complete work tasks with minimal direction from supervisor and take initiative to increase effectiveness of work and that of the department.
• Reliability / Dependability – exhibit consistency in performance and reliably follows through on tasks and assigned responsibilities.
• Temperament – maintain emotional control, a positive perspective, and effectively respond to stress on the job.

• Bachelor’s degree in a social work or related human services field.
• Valid Michigan Driver’s License, appropriate insurance and use of own vehicle.
• Must be able to attend and complete 5-day Foster Home Certification and Licensing Complaint Training through the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Division of Child Welfare Licensing (DCWL). Completion is achieving a passing score.

• Works in an office environment and in the community as needed.
• Non-traditional hours occur often due to the need for evening and weekend visitation and trainings, as well as accommodation of foster parent’s schedules.
• Possible stressful environment working with families and court system.
• Fast paced, enthusiastic and team oriented workplace.

Physical requirements:

None

Direct reports:
None

This description is intended to describe the type and level of work being performed by a person assigned to this job. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities of a person so classified. The employee is expected to adhere to all company policies and perform other duties as assigned for the good of the consumers, the program, the department and the agency.