Permanency Specialist

PARTNERSHIP FOR STRONG FAMILIES INC • Gainesville, FL

97d • $22 - $23

About The Position

The Permanency Specialist is a highly responsible position providing organizational consultation regarding case specific issues as well as procedural issues and ensures that quality service is being monitored and tracked, including out of home care services, protective services, and adoption related services. This position will perform advanced child welfare work that facilitates both multi-disciplinary and permanency staffings on behalf of the lead agency. This will include the coordination and facilitation of the staffings. For multi-disciplinary staffings, the recommendation may result in competing opinions and recommendations from the Department, as well as other organizations and persons involved in the life of the child. This position reports to a Support and Oversight Coordinator.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Counseling, Social Work or comparable related field.
• Master’s Degree in the like preferred.
• Management experience in child welfare or related field preferred.
• Possession of a valid, State of Florida driver’s license to operate the motor vehicle.
• Experience in child welfare and/or working with at risk families and children with significant emotional and behavioral needs and their families preferred.
• Certified as a Child Protection Professional (CPP) or CPP eligible.
• Prior DCF experience or knowledge of child welfare systems, data management systems, and wraparound planning a plus.
• Case Management, Service Coordination experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Reviews prior and current history of child(ren) prior to all staffings to make an informed decision.
• Develops written report for the court that outlines the overall decisions of the staffings and the feedback of each individual participant.
• Provides notification to the court through Children’s Legal Services and DCF Regional staff within 48 hours after the conclusion of an MDT staffing when a unanimous consensus can not be reached by all parties.
• Serves as a Practice Expert ensuring quality child welfare practice.
• Implements and evaluates policies and procedures for Partnership for Strong Families to assure consistency of services within and between service sites.
• Understands the basis in federal and state laws, regulations, and rules for the operation of child welfare programs.
• Coordinates and facilitates staffings including ensuring relevant parties are invited to staffings.
• Mediates disagreement during staffings to ensure effective communication between participating individuals.
• Assists participants in using the strengths within the family when determining and establishing goals for the child.
• Gives positive feedback and reinforces strengths to help people build self-esteem and feelings of self-worth.
• Helps clients/employees understand issues/problems and sets up behaviorally specific goals and expectations related to those issues.
• Facilitates permanency staffings.
• Understands and appreciates different views, expertise, and experience of others.
• Recognizes and understands the interrelationships and dynamic nature of family systems.
• Understands and is able to identify standards and methods to promote permanence for children.
• Establishes and maintains cooperative working relationships with organizations and other agencies involved with child welfare.
• Identifies and understands what resources are available and builds and maintains effective working relationships with a network of systems.
• Finds creative and effective ways to engage all staffing participants.
• Offers support to co-workers.
• Maintains an organized tracking system to account for each staffing and confirm participation of required attendees.
• Documents the outcome of staffings in the Florida Safe Families Network (FSFN) System.
• Reviews Florida Statutes, DCF Operational Procedures, Administrative Rule, and policies.
• Acts quickly to solve problems and to get things done.
• Keeps providers, clients, constituents, and oneself directed toward objectives.

Benefits

• Full Time position
• Salary Range: $22.49 - $23.61 Hourly
• Day Shift

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 51-100 employees