Permanency Specialist (10151)

Lutheran Services Florida • Tampa, FL

7d

About The Position

Lutheran Services Florida (LSF) envisions a world where children are safe, families are strong, and communities are vibrant. LSF is seeking a talented Permanency Specialist who wants to make an impact in the lives of others. Purpose and Impact: This position will be responsible for driving Permanency for children and youth involved in Dependency Cases. Tracks, monitors, and facilitates the timely permanency of children through facilitating, scheduling, and coordinating staffings, permanency data tracking and analysis, and administrative follow-up with tasks needed to promote the timely permanency of children. Works collaboratively with case management, partners, and stakeholders to identify and complete critical tasks needed to affect permanency, develops strategies to mitigate risk and promote child safety, and actively works to eliminate potential barriers to permanency.

Requirements

• Must have a minimum of three years of direct child welfare experience (child protect investigations, case management, children’s legal services, etc.)
• Must have in depth knowledge of Florida’s child welfare practice and protocols and possess strong data analytic skills.
• Must be well organized, able to work effectively with others, good communicator and loyal team player.
• Must have the ability to utilize state data systems (i.e. FSFN), track and analyze data, and prepare data reports as they relate to permanency for children/youth.
• Dependability, discretion, good judgment and decision making are a must.
• Must demonstrate sensitivity to our service population’s cultural and socioeconomic characteristics and needs
• Must demonstrate excellent customer service with both internal and external partners, stakeholders, and clients.
• Must have a high level of energy, be adaptable to irregular hours, able to travel as needed.
• Ability to drive, use phone, sit for long periods of time, use computer for long periods of time
• Master’s Degree in Human Services field with one year of experience directly related to child welfare dependency system is preferred. A Bachelor’s Degree may substitute for educational requirement with two years of direct child welfare experience

Nice To Haves

• supervisory experience and child welfare certification preferred

Responsibilities

• Prioritizes permanency efforts and creates focus on children projected as potentially able to safely exit care in the next 90 days
• Creates monthly permanency data report and associated analysis of barriers to timely permanency and shares with program leadership
• Maintains accurate log of all children in Out of Home Care with updated permanency status and actions taken/planned to expedite safe exit from care
• Works in collaboration with Case Managers and Supervisors to ensure activities needed to be accomplished in order to affect suitable permanency options are completed timely
• Identifies, schedules, coordinates, and facilitates permanency staffings and tracks follow up activities to expedite permanency providing support in completing identified follow up tasks as needed
• Documents staffing outcomes in FSFN within 48 hours of staffing completion and reminders for follow-up activities to ensure timely completion.
• Responsible for completing ICPC and OCS requests to move children to less restrictive placements and/or when permanency can be achieved
• Engage parents in participation with permanency and reunification staffings and family finding efforts to meet safe and timely permanency goals
• Provides guidance and support to case management teams in creating and modifying safety plans as needed
• Works with internal and external stakeholders to remove barriers to permanency.
• Attend Court as necessary
• Participates in a variety of staff conferences and meetings.
• Performs all other duties within reason as assigned by Program Director/Quality Assurance Manager

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)
• Note: Head Start employees paid time off and holiday schedule may differ
• 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