Licensing Specialist - Lead

About the role

This is a professional position responsible for managing the licensing/re-licensing of foster family homes, providing supervision/support to staff, the Program Manager and Director of the foster home licensing department.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain positive working relationships with HFC partners and demonstrate strong communications skills
• Provide training for all new foster caregivers
• Track certifications and recertifications for all foster caregivers
• Complete review of licensing files for accuracy and compliance, and ensure timely tracking and submission to the regional licensing office
• Provide weekly supervision with staff to ensure that accurate home availability and status is up to date
• Assist with on-call rotation along with other licensing management team members
• Ensure peer reviews of licensing files are assigned and completed on a rotating basis
• Attend any/all trainings, recruitment or retention activities for foster parents as requested
• Review closure summaries and ensure these are uploaded into FSFN and notification sent to the region
• Provide ongoing support to licensing staff and foster homes as needed
• Ensure that Placement Stability Staffings are referred and completed for any family expressing stability or disruption complications
• Attend Institutional Staffings and ensure that Foster Care Referrals are closed out timely and staff with the region
• Attend in-service training to further professional development
• Participate in the following meetings: quarterly meetings with licensing and STFC providers, training meetings, weekly staff meetings
• Review and track respite requests, ensuring that staff communicate with the placements team on any foster home respites
• Conduct home visits as needed to support staff or foster caregivers
• Perform special projects as assigned

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work or related field
• Florida Child Welfare Certification required
• Two to three years’ experience working in child welfare, working with children, adolescents and families is preferred
• Experience in foster home licensing is preferred

Benefits

• Tuition assistance
• Domestic partner coverage
• Retirement
• Generous paid time off

Drug free workplace. Drug testing required. Heartland for Children, 1239 E. Main Street, Bartow, Florida 33830, (863) 519-8900