Licensing Specialist (Kinship Care)- Orange/Osceola

Salary: $50,000/year

Position Summary: The Licensing Specialist serves as the primary point of contact for prospective foster parents and is responsible for the timely and thorough completion of foster home studies in accordance with Florida Administrative Code. This role evaluates applications and provides recommendations for the approval or denial of licenses. The specialist also assesses incident reports and licensing concerns related to potential foster homes, offering recommendations for appropriate resolution. Under the guidance of the Licensing Supervisor, the Licensing Specialist is responsible for collecting, organizing, monitoring, and distributing documentation to ensure licensing standards are met. This position supports the successful progression through the various levels of initial or re-licensure for foster care applicants, ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements.

Technical/Functional Expectations

1.Complete Licensing Home Studies-Essential Function: The position completes initial and/or re-licensure home studies inclusive of the assessment and evaluation of all household members and babysitters, to include background screening and abuse report history.

2.Background Checks – Essential Function: Review and evaluate criminal history reports, fingerprint results, child abuse and neglect registry checks, sex offender registry searches, and other required clearances. Ensures continuous compliance with Title IV-E requirements by monitoring and tracking background check renewals, preventing lapses in required screenings and clearances for foster parents and household members.

3.Home Visits to Family Foster Homes-Essential Function: This position will provide regular and ongoing home visits to family foster homes throughout the licensure process.

4.Conduct Ongoing Assessments-Essential Function: This position will conduct ongoing assessments to determine capacity as indicated based on family skills, training, household composition, physical space and other determining factors.

5.Liaison between Foster Parents and Case Managers – Essential Function: This position will serve as a Liaison between foster parents and case managers ensuring open communication and timely resolution of any identified concerns when applicable.

6.Foster Care Referrals-Essential Function: This position will comply with Administrative Code requirements for any foster care referral on a licensed foster home. The licensing specialist will make recommendations for resolution of

all incident reports, foster care referrals and licensing concerns related to existing foster homes. This includes any joint visits for DCF institutional reports on assigned foster homes.

7.Confidentiality – Essential Function: Maintain strict confidentiality and security of sensitive personal information in compliance with applicable privacy laws and regulations.

8.Licensing Packets – Essential Function: Ensure licensing packets for caregivers meet code requirements, licensing expiration and DCF submission requirements.

9.Foster Care Regulations – Essential Function: Stay current on changes to foster care licensing regulations, background screening requirements, and agency procedures.

10.Knowledge of Microsoft Office Applications – Essential Function: Utilize Microsoft Office applications and agency databases to manage workflow, analyze information, and produce reports.

11.Attention to Detail and Judgement – Essential Function: Demonstrate strong attention to detail, critical thinking, and sound judgment when reviewing eligibility-related information. Effectively prioritize workload and manage multiple cases while meeting established deadlines.

12. On Call Rotation – Essential Function: Participate in first tier on call rotation.

13. Other duties as required: Job performance requires fulfilling other incidental or related duties as assigned, assisting, and training others, and performing duties of higher rated positions from time to time for developmental purposes.

Behavioral Competencies:

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

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

3.Integrity: Able to demonstrate consistency of words and actions; protect confidential information; do what is right even when no one is watching; demonstrate sound business ethics; consistently comply with organizational values.

4.Verbal Communication: Able to clearly express ideas, information, or concerns; presents verbal information in a straightforward manner; ask questions to open channels of communication; listen to understand perspective of others.

5.Self-Control: Able to maintain a composed problem-solving approach when faced with unrealistic expectations, pressing time demands, frustration, or interpersonal conflict.

6.Trust and Respect: Able to demonstrate respect and treat others in an honest and straightforward manner; follows through on commitments.

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

Business Experience:

1.Valid Driver License - Essential: This is required to travel throughout the County and other locations for client and other meetings.

2.Effective verbal and written communication skills: This is required to develop effective and collaborative communications with children and families, the community and service providers.

3.Advanced computer and data entry skills: This is required to maintain spreadsheets and data in Level 1 licensing.

4.Collaboration, negotiation, and problem-solving skills: This skill and experience is required to ensure successful integration into our system of care.

Educational and Experience Requirements:

1.An associate degree from an accredited college or 60+ college credits from an accredited college AND two years of full-time social work or human services experience or two years of professional work experience. OR a high school diploma or GED equivalent (official transcripts required) AND four or more years of full-time social work or human services experience.

2.BA/BS - Bachelor's Degree or equivalent preferred.

3.2+ years licensing experience preferred.

4.Florida Child Welfare Certification required (training provided)

Physical Requirements:

1.Lifting 20 pounds

2.Carrying 20 pounds

3.Sitting

4.Standing

5.Stooping / Crouching

6.Bending

7.Reading

8.Speaking

9.Listening

10.Typing

11.Writing

12.Noise Condition

For more information regarding our screening process please visit Clearinghouse.com .