Foster Care Licensing Specialist

Thornwell•Clinton, SC

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Foster Care Licensing Specialist (FCLS) manages the recruitment, screening, licensing, and renewal of foster families for the Thornwell Foster Care Program in South Carolina in accordance with SCDSS Child Placing Agency (CPA) regulations. The FCLS works with prospective and current foster families throughout the licensing and renewal process, evaluates placement referrals during business hours, and participates in the after-hours on-call rotation. The FCLS is responsible for meeting monthly goals for licensing new foster families and supporting Foster Care Family Specialists (FCFS) in retaining licensed foster families. The position requires extensive travel, with mileage reimbursed at Thornwell’s established rate. The FCLS must understand applicable state and federal foster care licensing requirements and Council on Accreditation (COA) standards. The FCLS also assists with pre-service and ongoing training for staff and foster parents.

Requirements

Must be committed to supporting foster families that are devoted to establishing a healthy home environment using Trust-Based Relational Interactions (TBRI).
Must possess professional oral and written communication skills.
Must be able to organize, prioritize, and implement work activities independently, demonstrate strong teamwork, and have a desire to grow professionally.
Must have direct experience working within community-based case management; field casework and foster care licensing experience preferred.
Must have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with at least two years of experience in licensing foster parents or case management experience; or a master’s degree in social work with at least two years of experience working with children and families in community-based settings (preferred).
Must have a valid South Carolina driver's license.
Experience working with youth with emotional and behavioral challenges and their families.
Effective problem-solving and creative resolution skills.
Possess strong organizational strategies to manage own workflow and prioritize needs.
Strong capacity to build positive relationships with community stakeholders and market the Foster Care program to appropriate sources within the state.
Ability to participate effectively as part of the Foster Care team.
Attention to detail.
Ability to compile and write home studies in compliance with agency, state, and federal regulations.
Interpersonal skills to effectively participate in problem-solving with potential foster families, staff, and agency partners.

Nice To Haves

Field casework and foster care licensing experience preferred.
Master’s degree in social work with at least two years of experience working with children and families in community-based settings (preferred).

Responsibilities

Collaborates with Family Specialists to identify potential foster parent applications through recruitment efforts and open, available beds for placements.
Regularly assesses Foster Care Intake Referrals, including on-call as scheduled, to identify the best possible match between a Foster Child in need and a Foster Home with open beds.
Screens and orients new prospective foster family applicants.
Works with families to ensure required supporting documents are obtained prior to licensing and renewals.
Completes home visits per licensing requirements, which include an initial home visit for safety checks and additional home visits for the purpose of completing the home study for licensure.
Ensures all foster family electronic and hard files contain all required documentation to meet COA, state, and federal regulations.
Documents all case notes in accordance with Thornwell policy.
Leads informational and orientation meetings with all prospective foster parents.
Works with the Foster Care team to ensure licensing documentation is complete for annual licensing and Council on Accreditation requirements for each home, and provides the State DSS Office with the necessary documentation for audits.
Assists with planning Family Fun Events, Regional Trainings/Support Meetings, and Annual State-Wide Conference.
Assists in establishing quarterly and annual goals and objectives for the Thornwell Foster Care Program.
Assists in providing monthly activity reports with data collection for grants and outcome measures.
Participates in Foster Care Team Meetings and Foster Care Meet the Need meetings to make decisions regarding Foster Homes, placements, and respites.
Maintains regular communication with the Foster Care Program Director, Program Supervisor, and Foster Care Family Specialists to ensure that any concerns regarding foster families and children are addressed in a timely manner.
Assists in supporting foster families during a staff vacancy in the program as requested.