Child Welfare Case Manager

Lutheran Services Florida • Bradenton, FL

9d

About The Position

Lutheran Services Florida (LSF) Manatee County CMO is seeking a Child Welfare Case Manager to promote the social, physical, psychological, and emotional well-being and safety of children and families. The Case Manager partners with individuals and groups in the child welfare system and community and holds case ownership responsibility as the integrator of services and supports for each child, including therapy, mental health, health and dental care, developmental services, educational support, permanency, and safety. Cases are managed toward case-plan goals in accordance with Florida statutes, administrative code, written policies, and Dependency Court orders. The position reports to the Case Management Supervisor.

Candidates residing in Florida are preferred. Training locations are in Tampa, Pinellas, or Fort Myers, with paid mileage for travel to those locations. The role involves extensive driving and unexpected travel, irregular and extended hours, nights and weekends, and scheduled on-call responsibilities.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a Human Services field.
• At least one year of relevant experience.
• Must be certified or become certified within one year.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Familiarity with and ability to use Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Ability to type 45 words per minute.
• Ability to drive locally and throughout Florida in connection with job duties.
• Valid driver's license and appropriate auto liability insurance.
• Ability to understand case ownership and coordinate services and supports for children, including therapy, mental health, health and dentistry, developmental services, education, permanency, and safety.
• Ability to make trauma-sensitive transitions when a caretaker does not have the needed level of responsibility to care for their children.
• Sensitivity to the cultural and socioeconomic characteristics and needs of the service population.
• Ability to adapt to irregular and extended hours, rotate on-call as needed, and travel as needed.
• Must complete mandated training and assessments, including the PDC Assessment and examination, Pre-service Training, MAPP Training, and in-service training, as scheduled.
• Successful completion of the Field-Based Performance Assessment is required for continued employment in the Case Manager class.
• Must adhere to confidentiality requirements and respond immediately to calls during assigned on-call hours.

Nice To Haves

• Degree in Social Work preferred.
• Candidates residing in Florida are preferred.

Responsibilities

• Accept cases assigned by the unit supervisor, meet children at their primary residence within two working days of ITR staffing, and meet identified parents in time to complete a Family Assessment within 15 working days of ITR staffing.
• Develop case plans collaboratively with parents, the Guardian Ad Litem, foster parents, and other relevant parties, using identified family strengths and needs, circumstances leading to care, assessment recommendations, and other relevant information.
• Visit children in their primary residences at required intervals, at least once every 25 days, including at least one unannounced visit each quarter.
• Document case activities in the Florida Safe Families Network (FSFN) database within 48 hours and maintain physical case files in the required chronological and subject-based format.
• Submit service requests to the lead agency Utilization Management Department, refer clients to services, maintain knowledge of community resources and eligibility, and coordinate with service providers while documenting progress in FSFN.
• Complete court documentation within required time frames and prepare for, attend, and participate in court activities.
• Arrange and participate in case staffings and complete required staffing and application packets.
• Conduct required initial and ongoing child safety assessments and prepare safety plans as needed.
• Arrange emergency placements, medical treatment, and other emergency services for children at risk.
• Search diligently for parents and family members when necessary and document efforts to locate them.
• Conduct required home studies for prospective placements; provide caregivers with relevant background information; and plan and facilitate parental and sibling visits as appropriate.
• Transport children as needed.
• Complete required Independent Living functions.
• Attend appointments, staff meetings, training, seminars, and workshops as required.
• Serve as the agency on-call Case Manager when scheduled, carry an active cell phone during scheduled work and on-call hours, and respond immediately to calls.
• Organize, prioritize, and complete assignments by established deadlines.
• Follow applicable confidentiality, safety, communication, teamwork, courtesy, and training standards.
• Work cooperatively with Program Directors, Case Managers, placement staff, Protective Investigators, Child Welfare Legal staff, and agency support staff.
• Manage time to complete home visits, enter FSFN documentation within 48 hours, prepare court documentation on time, and attend court as necessary.
• Manage cases in accordance with Florida statutes, administrative code, written policies, and Dependency Court orders.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• 24/7 online access to doctors through telehealth.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Employer-paid life insurance equal to one times salary.
• 13 paid holidays and one floating holiday.
• PTO starting at 16 working days per year; Head Start employee time-off and holiday schedules may differ.
• 403(b) retirement plan with a 3% discretionary employer match or 3% student loan repayment reimbursement.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Paid mileage for travel to training locations.

What This Job Offers

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