GUARDIAN AD LITEM OFFICE, 11TH CIRCUIT- OPS CHILD ADVOCATE MANAGER - 21311101

State of Florida • Miami, FL

2d

About The Position

The Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office is a state-funded child advocacy organization that provides independent legal representation to abused, abandoned, and neglected children in Florida dependency court proceedings. A multidisciplinary team represents each child appointed to the Office. The Child Advocate Manager serves as the child welfare professional on that team and oversees Guardian ad Litem volunteers assigned to individual cases. The position includes consultative, administrative, and advocacy work, and may involve supervising a group of volunteers.

The position requires collaboration with the multidisciplinary team and child-welfare partners; gathering and documenting case information; making best-interest advocacy recommendations; preparing reports and providing testimony in court; attending case-related hearings, depositions, conferences, mediations, and meetings; and visiting or contacting children, parents, caregivers, schools, and service providers. The role also uses organizational databases and reporting systems and includes participation in training, meetings, and conferences.

Candidates must hold a valid Florida Driver’s License. A relevant bachelor’s degree is preferred, although prior professional experience may be considered in meeting the education requirement. Two years of relevant experience is desired but not required. The employee must obtain Child Advocate Manager certification from the Florida Certification Board within 12 months of hire and maintain it while employed; the agency pays certification costs.

Requirements

• Valid Florida Driver’s License.
• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in sociology, social work, psychology, child development, education, juvenile justice, communications, or a related social science is preferred; prior experience may be considered to meet the degree requirement.
• Two years of experience in child welfare, social services, counseling, teaching, managing people, or supervising volunteers is desired but not required.
• Ability to obtain Child Advocate Manager certification from the Florida Certification Board within 12 months of hire and maintain it during employment.
• Self-motivated and achievement-oriented; strong desire to learn and pursue personal development.
• Ability to take direction, work as part of a team, interact effectively with and influence people from diverse backgrounds, exercise discretion, respect privacy, and maintain confidentiality.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills and ability to meet deadlines.
• Excellent oral, written, and computer literacy skills; ability to maintain a professional and effective demeanor in emotional or traumatic situations.
• Knowledge of case management, social support services, child development, the dynamics of child abuse, domestic violence, substance abuse and mental health, the Florida State Courts System, and Florida statutes relating to child welfare and protection.

Nice To Haves

• Relevant professional experience working with children and families, such as Child Protective Investigator, Dependency Case Manager, Juvenile Probation Officer, law enforcement, military, educator, or other related experience.
• Two years of experience in a program focusing on child welfare, social services, counseling, teaching, managing people, or supervising volunteers.
• Experience with critical decision-making, planning, organizing, coaching, leading, or supervising.
• Ability to coach, instruct, and motivate volunteers.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Guardian ad Litem Office multidisciplinary team, management, and child-welfare partners, including the Department of Children and Families, contracted service providers, the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Education, and law enforcement.
• Oversee the work of Guardian ad Litem Office volunteers and may supervise a group of volunteers.
• Gather and document pertinent independent case information.
• Provide best-interest advocacy recommendations to the multidisciplinary team, the court, and child-welfare partners.
• Prepare written reports for the court and provide testimony.
• Attend internal and external case-related court hearings, depositions, case plan conferences, dependency mediations, staffings, and meetings.
• Visit and contact assigned children, parents, caregivers, schools, and service providers.
• Use the organization’s database and reporting systems.
• Participate in internal and external training, meetings, and conferences.
• Obtain Child Advocate Manager certification within 12 months of hire and maintain certification throughout employment.

Benefits

• State contribution toward employee benefits, described as approximately 19 percent of total compensation for state employees.
• For eligible full-time OPS employees, health insurance may be available when reasonably expected to work an average of 30 or more hours per week; stated rates are as low as $50 per month for single coverage and $180 per month for family coverage.
• Participation in FICA Social Security and Medicare (mandatory).
• Workers’ compensation (mandatory).
• Unemployment compensation (mandatory).
• Deferred compensation participation (voluntary).
• Eligible OPS employees may enroll in $25,000 basic life insurance and pay the full monthly premium; OPS employees are not eligible for optional term life insurance.
• The agency pays the cost of Child Advocate Manager certification.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level