Child Welfare Case Manager/Trainee

Childrens Home Society of Florida; Town of Florida (NY); On-site; USD 42,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

Childrens Home Society of Florida seeks a diligent Child Welfare Case Manager Trainee to oversee minors in care, assess needs, coordinate service plans, and support permanency outcomes. The role supports the DCF-referenced mission and requires collaboration with housing, legal, and clinical partners.

Trained professionals progress through a Phase I classroom program to Phase II field practice, leading to full certification. Multi-county responsibilities and travel are involved.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university required.
• Bachelor’s in Human Services preferred; Master’s in Social Work preferred.
• Florida Driver’s License within 30 days from hire and daily insured vehicle access.
• Certification coursework and field practice required for DCM Trainee track.

Responsibilities

• Identify and assess client and family needs of minors placed in care by DCF for permanency.
• Conduct safety assessments and develop service plans with referrals and linkages.
• Coordinate services with other professionals and prepare reports for court or permanency planning.
• Maintain case documentation, progress notes, and termination summaries per CHS standards.
• Provide on-call support and assist with adoptions processes and related duties.
• Attend training phases for DCM Trainee and Certification as required.

Skills

Planning & time management

Oral & written communication

Collaboration & teamwork

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Human Services degree preferred

Master’s in Social Work preferred

Florida Driver’s License

Job description

Job Category: Childhood and Family Development

Since opening our doors in 1902, CHS became a part of Florida's history.

CHS has been committed to growing and evolving to provide the right services and solutions to address the needs of children and families throughout the changing times. Every day, our team works with parents and kids to empower them and encourage them. With innovative technology solutions and a dedicated, experienced team throughout the state, we’re changing the face of foster care and positively impacting children and families’ lives for generations to come.

Join our team to continue to do good and create history serving Florida's children and families!

As a Child Welfare Case Manager Trainee/Case Manager you'll become a part of a strategic care team charged with overseeing the children in need, while addressing the factors that have put them at risk for out-of-home placement. Our end goal? To help create permanent, stable, and safe home environments for all of Florida's kids.

• Make an impact in your community and become a part of Florida's history !
• Growth and professional development opportunities

1. Identify and assess client and family needs of minors placed in care by DCF due to abuse or neglect by caretakers with the ultimate goal of permanency

• Conduct child safety assessments.
• Assess client needs and develop service plans.
• Coordinate delivery of services; plan referrals and linkages to clients and families.
• Monitor service plan progress and evaluates reports from multiple service providers.
• Develop and maintain case and program documentation (assessments, treatment and service plans, progress notes, termination summaries, etc.) according to contract and CHS standards.
• Prepare case and status reports and make recommendations; testify in court or other prescribed body regarding reunification, termination of parental rights or other permanency plans.
• Conduct diligent searches as required by dependency laws.
• Coordinate services with other professionals and para-professionals.
• Conduct community outreach as needed.
• Provide specialized services such as detainment, interstate compact, post placement supervision, relative and non-relative caregiver home studies, court testimony, termination of parental rights and judicial review staffing.
• Facilitate stable placement and timely achievement of permanency by providing support to children, caregivers, and family members.
• Assist family and caregivers in accessing subsidy, medical coverage and other needed services for children.
• Coordinate cases with supervisor, team members, providers, DCF and attorneys as needed.
• Facilitate placement and independent living.
• May remove and place children, and/or facilitate mediation staffing for reunification, TPR and detainment.
• Arrange or provide transportation of clients when needed.
• Arrange for drug/alcohol screens as necessary.
• Provide on call support as required or scheduled.
• For Adoptions:
  • Assess families for the purpose of adoption.
  • Complete child assessments specific for adoption.
  • Meet agency target/goal for adoption.
  • Complete subsidy packets for families.
  • Follow background requirements for adoption.
  • Adhere to requirements as provided by Florida statute and required by lead agency.
• DCM Trainee candidates only:Attend a paid classroom training program, Phase I Child Protection Certification, and upon successful completion, enter Phase II, a hands on supervised field practice that leads to full certification. This on the job training opportunity will allow you to strengthen your skills in case management.

Job Qualifications

Education, Licenses & Certifications - DCM Trainee Candidates:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university, required.
• Bachelor’s degree in a Human Services related field from an accredited university, preferred.
• Master’s degree in Social Work, preferred.
• Florida Driver’s License within 30 days from hire is required, along with daily access to a reliable and insured vehicle.

Experience - DCM Trainee Candidates:

• Must successfully complete:
  • Prescribed Child Welfare Case Management Certification training and examination.
  • A considerable period of monitored field practice under close supervision and the associated field case requirement.
  • The CHS Dependency Experience Waiver learning path, unless the team member possesses one of the preferred qualifications.
• Two years of experience working with at risk children and families, preferred.
• The team member may advance to a Dependency Case Manager once all qualifications are met.
• Experience in these related fields/titles welcome: Child Welfare, Dependency, Social Work, DCF, Foster Care, Adoptions, Teaching, Psychology, Criminal Justice, etc.

Education, Licenses & Certifications - Certified DCM Candidates:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university, required.
• Bachelor’s degree in a Human Services related field from an accredited university, preferred.
• Master’s degree in Social work from an accredited university, preferred.
• Florida Child Welfare Case Manager certification, required.
• CHS Dependency Experience Waiver may substitute for required qualifications.
• For Adoptions: Adoption Competent certificate or must acquire within 6 months of employment, required.

Experience - Certified DCM Candidates:

• Two years of experience working with at-risk children and families, required.

Knowledge of:

• CHILD DEVELOPMENT | COMMUNITY RESOURCES | DEPENDENCY | PERMANENCY

Skills and Proficiency in:

• Planning, project management, organization and time management
• Oral and written communication, including presentation and platform
• Collaboration, teamwork, consulting, facilitation, coaching and mentoring

Ability to:

• Interact effectively with children and families from diverse backgrounds.
• Set appropriate limits and boundaries with clients; act decisively to protect clients, when necessary.
• Assess and apply proper intervention strategies.
• Identify and understand environmental stressors.
• Recognize importance of social, economic, environmental factors in the development and resolution of personal/family problems.
• Be sensitive to service population’s cultural/socioeconomic characteristics
• Perform at a high level of autonomy, with general supervision.
• Perform under strong demands in fast-paced, diverse, sometimes ambiguous environments.
• Commit to providing high customer satisfaction with positive service delivery results.
• Meet critical deadlines, while maintaining attention to detail, accuracy and quality.
• Handle highly stressful, sensitive situations; maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries.
• Demonstrate the behaviors of our CHS Common Bond Values.

All applicants are subject to background screening through the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA). For more information, visit https://info.flclearinghouse.com

Together, good can be done.

Travel Required

Yes . Multi-County

Equal Opportunity Employer

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.