JOB TITLE: Placement Specialist
SUPERVISED BY: Placement Supervisor
DEPARTMENT: Placement Department
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PRIMARY RESPONSIBLITY:
The primary responsibility of this position is to assess the needs of children requiring licensed care and determine the most appropriate placement options for the children in the least restrictive setting to best meet their needs.
EXAMPLE OF ACTUAL FUNCTIONS:
- Supports the organization's mission, vision, and values by exhibiting the following behaviors: excellence and competence, collaboration, innovation, respect, commitment to our community and clients, accountability and ownership.
- Respond to all placement inquiries from Intake staff, FCMAs and Department of Children and Families Protective Investigation staff, including after hours and on weekends
- Ensures the effective and efficient gathering of critical information to appropriately assess each child’s placement needs, identifying the least restrictive placement options and accessing the needed placement within a multidisciplinary team approach.
- Confirms if the foster home has any licensing restrictions that would contraindicate the placement of the child(ren) being considered due to age, gender, presenting symptoms and/or level of needed supervision.
- Ensure appropriate documentation on all secured placements are relayed to FCMA, Citrus FCN Intake staff and all other pertinent individuals via email once a placement has been identified.
- Ensures the timely and efficient tracking of placement data to include but not limited to movements, waivers and requests for placements.
- Ensure appropriate submission of placement waiver and supporting documentation to Placement Supervisor in a timely manner.
- Ensure timely entry (within 8 hours) of all secured placements in FSFN.
- Timely completion and submission of daily, weekly and monthly statistical reports.
- Compliance with established placement procedures, in collaboration with the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and pursuant to state and federal guidelines
- Participates in regular supervision, department and multidisciplinary meetings to ensure efficient and effective team work, collaboration and solution-oriented approach to addressing barriers and challenges to accessing or stabilizing needed placements for children.
- Schedules and participates in placement stabilization staffing(s) in collaboration with assigned Placement Supervisor, Placement Manager, FCMA, Behavioral Health and licenses caregivers.
- Ensures compliance with established placement procedures, in collaboration with the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and pursuant to state and federal guidelines
- Ensures any concerns or incidents reported related to a foster home or child(ren) in foster placement potentially impacting child well-being and/or child safety are addressed timely to the Placement Supervisor or designee as required by established procedure.
- Ensure daily work practices are aligned with the expectations Quality Parenting Initiative (QPI).
- Develops and maintain a professional, collaborative relationship with children/youth, Citrus FCN licensed foster parents, residential providers and community stakeholders.
- Engages newly licensed and current foster families, ensuring that they have necessary supports when children are placed in their homes.
- Ensures concerns related to a licensed foster home are addressed and brought to the attention of the Placement Manager and Citrus FCN Licensing Department in a sensitive manner for resolution.
- Facilitate placement stabilization staffing(s) in collaboration with assigned Placement Specialist, FCMA, Behavioral Health and licenses caregivers.
- Works in collaboration with DCF, Citrus Intake Department and FCMA’s to assess child(ren)’s placement needs to identify appropriate placement at the on-set of a removal, including licensed and treatment or specialized settings, as needed, for dependent children.
- Collaborates with FCMAs and internal departments such as Behavioral Health, Nurse Case Management, and Quality Assurance (QA) to formulate action plans to support /stabilize placements and/or identify placement options to provide the identified level of care needed for children.
- Participates in the Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement Program.
- Participates in supervisory review and assessment of child welfare certification tests and ensures certification remains active.
- Displays understanding of and sensitivity to service population’s cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.
- Assists in crisis intervention with children and foster parents, as needed and deemed appropriate.
- Travel throughout Miami-Dade and Monroe County including co-location at assigned FCMA sites.
- Ensures timely and quality submission of all relevant work product.
- Must be available for consultation after hours and on weekends.
- Responsible for timely completion and submission of daily, weekly and monthly statistical reports
- Timely and accurate completion of all placements in FSFN.
- Provision of services during flexible hours and during assigned on call scheduled.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
(To perform this job successfully, an individual must be capable to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representatives of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.)
- Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Social Work or a related field, combination of child welfare experience and other unrelated degree may be considered. Master’s degree preferred.
- Must be certified Child Welfare Case Manager (CWCM).
- Familiarity with Florida Child Welfare Practice Model and Child Welfare related computer programs.
- Knowledge of child welfare principles and practices to include but not limited to trauma informed care.
- Strong knowledge of HIPAA guidelines, and superior understanding of the importance of confidentiality.
- Highly developed Cultural Awareness and Sensitivity is required.
- Must have comprehensive knowledge of a variety of computer software applications in word processing, spreadsheets, database, and presentation software, including Word, Excel, and other MS Office products. Proficiency in Microsoft Excel required.
SPECIAL SKILLS AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies to perform the essential functions of this position:
- Must be able to work independently.
- Must have the ability to meet timelines and deadlines.
- Ability to work a flexible schedule to meet the needs of families.
- Must have excellent customer service skills.
- Must have excellent organizational skills.
- Must have excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Must have excellent interpersonal and communication skills with diverse populations.
- Able to handle sensitive and confidential situations.
- Ability to react calmly and effectively in emergency situations.
- Proficiency with FSFN is required.
- Work requires knowledge of Child Welfare Practice Model practices.
- Ability to interpret and apply laws, regulations, and policies affecting program operations.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others, including members of outside agencies.
- Ability to work independently and demonstrate initiative while accepting and acting upon advice and counseling from supervisory staff.
- Ability to lead with an exemplary customer service approach with consumers and all other stakeholders.
- Ability to recognize personal skills, abilities, limitations and strengths, taking appropriate action to pursue activities for professional development and seeks assistance from others in a proactive manner.
- Ability to work from a solution-oriented team approach fostering open dialogue and accountability.
- Ability analyze data, prioritize multiple priorities, identify and resolve problems in a timely manner.
- Ability to successfully communicate with Lead Agency staff and other pertinent parties in a consistently respectful and professional manner.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $55,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Schedule:
- 8 hour shift
- Monday to Friday
- On call
- Weekends as needed
Education:
License/Certification:
- Child Welfare Case Manager certification (Required)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Miami, FL 33128