Foster Care Licensor I

Catholic Community Services; Tacoma (WA); On-site; USD 49,000 - 61,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent benefits package

Pension plan

403(b) plan

Health insurance

Paid holidays

Job summary

Catholic Community Services seeks a Foster Home Licensor to ensure safe, licensed placements for children, including respite and regular care. You will recruit, license, and monitor foster homes, provide training, and liaise with DCYF and DLR to maintain compliant licenses.

You will also engage communities, attend meetings, and support CCS’s mission of safe, nurturing placements for children in care. Travel across Pierce, King, Kitsap, and Thurston counties is expected.

Qualifications

• MA in Social Work or related field with two years of relevant experience.
• Background checks required (DSHS & WA State Patrol).
• Ability to assess placement of children in foster homes.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
• Reliable transportation and valid driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Ensure safe placement of children in licensed foster homes.
• Recruit, license, train and monitor foster homes; ensure compliance.
• Provide ongoing training and support to foster parents.
• Act as licensing liaison with DCYF and DLR.
• Develop community relationships and recruit new homes.
• Coordinate with CCS staff and attend monthly meetings.

Skills

Team collaboration

Communication

Interdisciplinary work

Public speaking

Education

MA in Social Work

BA in Social Work or related field

Job description

Overview

$35.71- $44.64 HR DOE

Join our Team! We offer an excellent benefits package!3 weeks vacation * 12 days sick leave * 13 holidays* medical * dental* vision* life insurance * LTD * AD&D * pension * 403b * catastrophic & accident ins *

Position Description:

The Foster Home Licensor is responsible for the safe and appropriate placement of children in licensed foster homes on behalf of the organization, including both respite and regular placements. This role requires an understanding of risk and risk mitigation, as well as encompasses the recruitment, training, licensing, and ongoing monitoring of foster homes to ensure a high standard of care and compliance.

A key responsibility of the Licensor is to actively recruit new foster families through community engagement, outreach efforts, and collaboration with local partners to expand the pool of qualified foster homes. The Licensor collects and maintains all required documentation in a thorough and organized manner, ensuring compliance with all federal, state, local, and contractual regulations, and maintaining each foster home’s license in good standing.

The Licensor also represents CCS in the community, serves as a liaison with agencies such as DCYF and ORR, and provides training and ongoing support to both newly licensed and existing foster families. As a core member of the collaborative Children’s Programs team, the Licensor plays a vital role in supporting the overall mission of providing safe, nurturing placements for children in care.

Licensor will work in the several counties, including Pierce, King, Kitsap and Thurston Counties. Travel through these counties for recruitment and to work with foster homes is required. Attending meetings in Pierce County is expected.

Responsibilities

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Ensures the safe placement of children in licensed foster homes, including both regular and respite foster placements. Employee accomplishes this responsibility by completing the following tasks:
  • Completing an in-depth process of risk analysis in addition to balancing all variables; child’s needs, foster family capacity, foster family strengths/current issues, match between child and all children and adults in foster home, nature of the safety plan, etc.
  • Following all CCSWW Placement Protocols.
  • Gathering accurate and up to date information around risks, history, behaviors, etc. prior to making placement decisions.
  • Ensures Placement Checklist is completed and signed by all required parties prior to placement.
  • Consulting with the clinical team/case managers regarding appropriate placements, additional clinical information, risk issues and safety planning.
  • Completing a House Plan when more than one child is placed in a home (as needed).
  • Coordinating Safety Plans with the House Plan.
  • Maintaining knowledge of all children in each home at all times.
  • Working in tandem with all case managers to ensure all placement protocols are followed.
  • Actively participating in the Foster Care Placement Committee (FCPC).
• Training, licensing, and monitoring of foster homes. Employee accomplishes this responsibility by completing the following tasks:
  • Visiting prospective foster family homes to assess their readiness and ability to care for one or more children in need of temporary foster care. This involves an ability to make judgments about parenting skills, marital stability, emotional maturity, conflict resolution skills, financial management, and their willingness to cooperate with the child’s case plan and social worker(s).
  • Planning and participating in regular pre-service and ongoing foster parent training sessions, both at CCS and with other agencies.
  • Guiding families through the licensing process, including collecting all required documentation, assessing the parents’/family’s readiness and ability to provide foster care, and preparing the formal written report (home study) of the process. This task requires thorough knowledge and understanding of WAC’s in regard to licensing of foster parents.
  • Making 6 month and annual Health and Safety visits to each licensed home, ensuring their continued compliance with licensing regulations, and noting any need as well as any deficiencies.
  • Working to set up and participate in recruitment opportunities within the communities where CCS wants to develop foster homes.
  • Speaking publicly to both small and large groups about foster care, becoming a licensed foster home, and other related topics.
• Provide ongoing training and support for foster parents. Employee accomplishes this responsibility by completing the following tasks:
  • Planning and participating in continuing education opportunities for foster parents, as well as notifying foster parents of training possibilities in other agencies in the community.
  • Being available for emergency contacts via home and office phone numbers and offering other kinds of support to them in times of need.
• Act as licensing liaison between Catholic Community Services and other agencies, including the Department of Children Youth & Family Services (DCYF) and the Division of Licensing Resources (DLR). Employee accomplishes this responsibility by completing the following tasks:
  • Representing CCS at licensing meetings with other child-placing agencies (CPA) and community organizations.
  • Communicating with CCS staff the information shared at these meetings.
  • Establishing and maintaining good working relationships with colleagues from other CP agencies.
• Focus on program developement, community relationships and site growth. Employee accomplishes this responsibility by completing the following tasks:
  • Be self motivated and willing to assist in the growth and expansion of program site.
  • Attend local community meetings representing CCS and the program, building community partnerships and spreading community awareness of the program.
  • Work to expand program site and foster home applicants, recruit new homes from both local and neighboring areas.
  • Attend recruitment events, both virtual and in the community.
  • Meeting monthly and annual licensing and recruitment goals. Expectations of licensing 10 homes a year or, other set goal developed by the program.
• Collect and maintain all records necessary for program operation, review, and evaluation. Employee accomplishes this responsibility by completing the following tasks:
  • Prepare and maintain all foster files in current and correct order, based on licensing regulations and agency requirements, including CCS quality improvement process.
  • Ensure that database of current licensed foster homes is updated and maintained.
  • Demonstrate ability to organize time in a way that prioritizes work demands and timelines.
• Work in a collaborative team environment with Children’s Program case managers and supervisors. Employee accomplishes this responsibility by completing the following tasks:
  • Attending and participating in weekly foster care staff meetings.
  • Participate as a consulting team member with case managers for specific children or foster family issues.
• Other Duties as Assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• M.A. in Social Work or related field and two years of relevant experience. or, a BA in Social Work or related field plus 10 years working in the foster care system with direct work with foster families and with increasing levels of responsibility.
• Applicant must successfully pass required background checks prior to an offer of employment (including DSHS & Washington State Patrol).
• Knowledge of family systems approach, with capacity to make appropriate assessments in regard to placement of children in foster homes.
• Be able to function well within an interdisciplinary team.
• Must have the ability to communicate both orally and in writing.
• Must have reliable transportation, valid driver’s license, automobile insurance. Must have acceptable driving record per CCS policy (driving abstract required).
• Proof of negative TB test upon hire or proof of test within past 12 months.
• Be committed to developing and safekeeping a workplace which values and supports a culturally diverse environment.
• Support and uphold the mission, beliefs and values of Catholic Community Services and Catholic Housing Services.
• Support and contribute to a creative, collaborative and respectful environment that promotes teamwork.
• Demonstrates the necessary attitudes, knowledge and skills to deliver culturally competent services and work effectively in multi-cultural situations

Preferred Qualifications

• Foster Home licensing experience.
• Training and experience in public speaking and teaching.
• Knowledge of Washington State child welfare regulations and procedures.
• Bilingual (Spanish speaker preferred): International Foster Care(IFC) Licensor applicants only.