License Specialist

JOB SUMMARY: Professional work licensing and relicensing foster families, including providing support, training and crisis intervention to families under CHCNs foster care program. Participates in organization’s continuous quality improvement efforts. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Provides ongoing supportive services to prospective and licensed foster family homes to include minimally:  quarterly home visits to include joint visits with case management when applicable, on-call crisis support, post-placement support, liaison with placement and other system of care providers.  The goal of the service is to provide safe, stable and quality foster home resources for children placed in licensed out of home care.
2. Facilitates pre-service training for prospective families and provides in-service training linkage or direct instruction as needed for assigned families, 
3. Conducts initial and relicensing family Home Study interviews and prepares written Home Studies for assigned families.
4. Facilitates and coordinates initial foster care family licenses and each annual renewal of license.
5. Participates, as assigned, in on-call rotation offering crisis assistance to foster families.
6. Serves as an active supporting member of the foster care support group.
7. Attends monthly Foster Care team meetings.
8. Attends a minimum of one hour of face-to-face supervision each month with immediate supervisor.
9. Serves as a participant in new family orientations and acts as a part of the screening team in selecting families for inclusion/exclusion.
10. Assists in the recruitment of foster homes as assigned.
11. Performs other duties as assigned.

***THESE ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS ARE NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS A COMPLETE STATEMENT OF ALLDUTIES PERFORMED.  EMPLOYEES WILL BEREQUIRED TO PERFORM OTHER JOB RELATED MARGINAL DUTIES AS REQUIRED***

 MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Education & Experience:

Minimum of Bachelor’s Degree in social work or a closely related field from an accredited educational institution and at least one (1) year of experience in working with special needs children in a child welfare setting. Relevant case management experience.  Experience with adoptions and foster care helpful. Master’s Degree in Social Work preferred.

Licenses &Certifications:

• Child Welfare Certification via the Florida Certification Board is required (may be obtained after employment)
• Must possess and maintain a valid Florida driver’s license with no record of criminal driving offense of license suspension. 
• Must possess means of providing job related transportation and show proof of required insurance.  Must be insurable under CHI’s current auto insurance policy.
• Must be able to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends. 
• Must successfully complete and maintain FDLE clearance, Federal background and state criminal background check and sexual predator screening.

COMPETENCIES & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:

Annual Training Requirements: The following training topics are required annually: Sexual Harassment, Blood-born Pathogens, Workplace Accident Prevention and Reporting, Confidentiality and Privacy Practices, Diversity/Cultural Competency, Child Abuse and Neglect Mandated Reporter Statutes and Methods, Prevention of Violence in the Workplace, OSHA–related training, Crisis Prevention, and Program Goals.  Maintenance of Child Welfare Certification. 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of Department of Children and Families rules and regulations regarding the care of children and the specific regulations around foster care and adoption.
• Knowledge of childhood development and related mental health processes.
• Knowledge of child abuse or neglect reporting procedures and methods.
• Knowledge of child and family histories, habits, tendencies, general behaviors, etc.
• Knowledge of agency's organizational structure, standard operating procedures, and policies.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships with clients, co-workers, supervisors and other individuals.
• Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing. 
• Computer skills

 ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL SKILLS:

• Visual: ability to safely operate a motor vehicle, read printed materials, and make observations of physical facilities.
• Hearing: ability to understand and comprehend spoken dialogue in individual and group settings.
• Frequent use of hands.
• Ability to speak clearly and effectively.
• Reasonable accommodation will be made for otherwise qualified individuals with a disability.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

• Works indoors in an office environment.
• Spends periods of time in transit using personal vehicle.
• Works within applying and licensed adoptive / foster homes.
• High interaction with children and families.
• Moderate level of potential for exposure to blood borne pathogens; therefore, eligible for Hepatitis B vaccination series.