Job Description

Salary: $45,000/year

Position Summary : The Child and Family Services Specialist works collaboratively with the Department of Children and Families as a liaison and resource to Child Protective Investigators (CPI's) to ensure services are provided in a timely manner in accordance with agency operating procedures. This position receives Family Support and Non-Judicial In Home Services referrals from DCF, assists with family engagement and initiates contact with the family. This position also provides community referrals, service authorizations and crisis intervention linkages to ensure family stabilization when indicated. This position develops and maintains strong working relationships with community agencies to successfully divert families from entering the child welfare system in a solution focused manner. The Child and Family Services Specialist enters case activity into FSFN, is clinically astute, offers consultation to CPI's, attends staffings and ensures all families referred are engaged and that additional action steps are taken on disengaged families to "close the loop". This position produces necessary reports on utilization in a culturally competent, flexible and responsive service delivery system.  

Technical/Functional Expectations:  

1. Outreach, Family Engagement and Intervention - Essential Function: This position provides outreach and family engagement of families referred for services by DCF that includes review and discussion of family situation and risk level, barriers, appropriate interventions and options that would effectively lower the current risk.

2. Knowledge of Safety Decision Making Methodology - Essential Function: This position must possess strong knowledge of Safety Decision Making Methodology. This position receives referrals, assists with family engagement and provides case consultation.

3. Coordination of "Close the Loop" Staffings" - Essential Function:  For all families referred to Family Support determined to be safe but at high or very high risk who are unwilling to engage and participate, the Child and Family Services Specialist will request and hold a "close the loop" staffing no later than 2 business days with all parties to discuss next steps.

4. Intake Management and Timely Service Referrals - Essential Function: The Child and Family Services Specialist is responsible for managing the intake of referrals and coordination of staffing with Child Protective Investigators. Upon receipt of the referral, the Child and Family Services Specialist submits the referral electronically to the appropriate unit at CARES for subsequent assignment. This position tracks the status of referrals and initiates a secondary review and staffing when indicated for families determined to be at risk.

5. FSFN Documentation Case Activity - Essential Function: C.A.R.E.S. maintains a case record for each family served and documents all case activity into FSFN. This position ensures that case documentation complies with all legal requirements and contains information necessary to provide services. C.A.R.E.S. complies with case record guideline and best practice standards related to documentation of case elements.

6. Other duties as required:  Performs other tasks in order to contribute to the team effort.  

Behavioral Competencies:  

1. Responsiveness:  Able to take action to meet the needs of others; respond to solve problems; minimize delays or problems with little or no supervision.

2. Attention to Detail:  Able to be thorough and complete when working with assembling, processing, or providing detailed information; track details even when under pressure.

3. Develop Relationships:  Able to relate with others while building credibility and rapport; give personal support and reassurance; put others at ease; build cooperative relationships.

4. Deal with Ambiguity:  Able to maintain composure and handle frequent job changes or unexpected disruptions; work with conflicting, delayed, or unclear information; remain effective when faced with change and uncertainty.

5. Adaptability:  Able to adjust approach when dealing with arrogant or inflexible people; adapt to changes in situation, direction, or people; adjust to needs of others without losing self-esteem.

6. Customer Service:  Able to anticipate and respond to customer's needs, concerns, or questions in order to meet or exceed their expectations; help evaluate needs and options; show care and concern to demonstrate customer importance and value. 

7. Sensitivity:  Work effectively with and show sensitivity to cultural differences and various socio-economic backgrounds of others.

8. Ethics:  Adhere to and model principles and values of Agency and System of Care by being strength-based, solution-focused, maintains highest level of integrity and ethical standards and work collaboratively with employees, partners, stakeholders and clients in all interactions.  

Business Experience:  

1. 2 years of Child Welfare Experience:  This position will act as a coordinator of services pending family needs as well as provide community linkages. Extensive knowledge of community resources is essential.

2. Child Protection Certified-state of Florida:  This position will be co located and work in conjunction with the Child Protective Investigators for children and families whom are at risk for abuse, neglect or abandonment.

3. Florida Statute Chapter 39 and Florida Administrative Code:  This position requires extensive knowledge of Florida Statute Chapter 39 and Florida Administrative Code.

4. Superior verbal and written communication skills:  Effective communication skills are essential in order to work with multiple parties, drive to consensus and support the needs of children and families.

5. Clinical Oversight and Clinical Integrity:  The Child and Family Specialist is responsible for ensuring the clinical integrity of services authorized and provided to ensure that intervention matches family needs.

6. Valid Driver's License-Essential:  This position requires a valid Driver's License to travel within the County and for external meetings.  

Educational and Experience Requirements:  

1. BA/BS - Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent required.

2. MA/MS - Psychology, Social Work or Human Services preferred.

3. Minimum 2 years related experience required.

4. 2 to 5 years related experience preferred.  

Physical Requirements:  

1. Lifting 20 pounds

2. Carrying 20 pounds

3. 10 % Grasping

4. 25 % Reaching

5. 50 % Sitting

6. 25 % Standing

7. 10 % Stooping / Crouching

8. 5 % Bending

9. 30 % Reading

10. 10 % Speaking

11. 25 % Listening

12. 10 % Typing

13. 25 % Writing

Family Partnerships of Central Florida is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. These employers also maintain Drug-Free Workplaces. Requests for Auxiliary Aids for Hearing Impaired or Limited English Proficiency Candidates may be made with a minimum of five (5) days notice to C Hernandez at (321) 752-4650.

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