Child Welfare Case Manager

Lutheran Services Florida • Milton, FL

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

Lutheran Services Florida (LSF) is seeking a dedicated Child Welfare Case Manager to join their mission of ensuring children are safe, families are strong, and communities are vibrant. This role involves serving clients in Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton counties, acting as the coordinator of all services and interventions for children and families entering the dependency system due to concerns of abuse, neglect, or abandonment. The Case Manager will play a crucial role in facilitating reunification or other permanency goals for children.

Requirements

• Must possess a Bachelor’s degree in a Human Services field. Degree in Social Work preferred.
• Must have a minimum of one year of relevant experience working with children.
• Must obtain child welfare certification within one year of hire date.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Familiarity with and ability to use Microsoft Office programs Word and Excel.
• Ability to type 45 words per minute.
• Ability to drive both locally and throughout the state in connection with the duties of this position.
• To fully understand case ownership responsibility as the integrator of all services and supports identified for each child, including therapy, other mental health services, health and dentistry, developmental services, educational support, permanency and safety; as well as their responsibility to make trauma sensitive transitions when it is determined that a caretaker lacks the needed level of responsibility to care for their children.
• Must demonstrate sensitivity to our service population’s cultural and socioeconomic characteristics and needs.
• Valid driver’s license and appropriate auto liability insurance ($10,000/$20,000) required.

Nice To Haves

• Degree in Social Work preferred.

Responsibilities

• Accept all cases assigned by unit supervisor and meet with children in their primary residence within two working days of case transfer staffing and with identified parents in sufficient time to complete a Family Functioning Family Assessment within 15 working days of case transfer staffing.
• Participate in Family Team Conferencing and negotiate and develop a case plan based on identified strengths and needs of the family, the circumstances bringing the family into care, recommendations provided by the Comprehensive Behavioral Health Assessment and other relevant data. This plan is to be created in collaboration with the parents, Guardian Ad Litem, foster parents and other pertinent parties with the goal of reunification or other permanency for the child.
• Visits the child in their primary residence according to required frequency, but no less than once every 25 days. At least one visit each quarter is to be unannounced.
• Accurately document all case activities in the Florida Safe Families Network database within 48 hours. Maintain the electronic case file in chronological order, by subject, in accordance with the standardized case file format guidelines.
• Submit service requests to the lead agency and provide clients with timely referrals to services. Develop and maintain knowledge of community resources, program eligibility requirements, key contact persons, emergency procedures, and waiting lists of available resources. Maintain regular contact with service providers and document service progress in FSFN.
• Complete and submit court documentation within in required time frames. Prepare for, attend, and participate in all court activities as necessary.
• Arrange for, attend, and participate in individual case staffings as necessary. Complete all required staffing and application packets.
• Conduct initial and/or ongoing child safety and family functioning assessments as required. Prepare initial and on-going safety plans as necessary.
• Arrange for emergency placement, emergency medical treatment, and emergency services for children at risk.
• Conduct diligent searches for parents and family members when deemed necessary and thoroughly document that the effort has been made to find the parents and family members.
• Conduct home studies as required for prospective placements. Provide relevant medical, psychological, behavioral and educational background information about the child or children to prospective care-givers as needed. Plan and facilitate parental and sibling visits as needed and appropriate.
• Transport children as needed to visitations, appointments, school, etc.
• Provide direct supervision and transportation of children awaiting placement.
• Ensure that all Independent Living functions are completed as required.
• Attend all appointments, staff meetings, trainings, seminars, workshops, etc., as necessary and as required by the supervisor.
• Function as agency on-call Case Manager as scheduled.
• Organize, prioritize and complete all work assignments by the established deadlines.
• Perform other related duties and special assignments as required.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental and Vision
• Telehealth (24/7 online access to Doctors)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Employer paid life insurance (1X salary)
• 13 paid holidays + 1 floating holiday
• Generous PTO policy (starting at 16 working days a year)
• 403(b) Retirement plan with 3% discretionary employer match OR 3% student loan repayment reimbursement
• Tuition reimbursement

What This Job Offers

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