Placement Specialist

The Placement Specialist is responsible for serving as the initial point of contact with Partnership for Strong Families Inc. Responsible for assessment and coordination of placement of children in need of licensed out-of-home care under the supervision of Partnership for Strong Families Inc. and/or Department of Children and Families. This position will report directly to the Placement Manager.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Accepts and processes all placement intake calls and messages.
• Completes assessment of a child’s needs and matches with placement provider skills.
• Coordinates with the case management agencies, Department of Children and Families, and other providers to ensure children receive accurate and complete placement assessment information/Child Information forms.
• Coordinates with internal and external parties to access appropriate level of placement for children into foster homes, residential and acute care behavioral settings.
• Communicates, counsels, and deescalates placement crisis calls from partner parents and group homes, including coordinating team meetings, respite, and resolving partner parent/group home payment issues with PSF Finance.
• Complete thorough assessment when an over capacity waiver is necessary for a placement documented in FSFN for placements with a provider involving (1) more than 2 children under age 2, (2) more than 6 dependent children with a provider, and (3) more that 8 children in total in the care of a provider. 
• Complete a Capacity Exception assessment when placing more children in licensed foster home than the home is licensed to serve.  Ensuring medical, physical, and/or mental health needs of the child and ensures appropriate support services are considered prior to recommendation to review and approve.
• Maintain/update Over Capacity Waivers as necessary for placements at 30 and every 90 days as long as the placement remains intact and presents an over capacity situation. 
• Works cooperatively with caregivers, PSF clients, other providers, and/or case management agencies to stabilize all placements.
• Assumes on-call responsibilities as assigned to effectively meet placement needs after normal program hours, including weekends and holidays.
• Conducts, coordinates, and participates in team meetings, client care and utilization reviews, multi-disciplinary staffing, and placement stability team meetings as appropriate.
• Acts as liaison between partner parents, case management agencies and Department of Children and Families staff to ensure appropriate placements are maintained.
• Collaborates with Child Legal Services, Providers, PSF employees, and case management agencies to provide appropriate services to children and families.
• Ensures positive and timely communication with caregivers, case management agencies, and other providers.
• Works cooperatively with foster home Recruitment and Retention and Licensing staff to support partner parents, identify additional placement capacity needs, and resolve foster home issues and problems.
• Collaborates with partner parents and other placement providers to ensure trauma informed and appropriate transition of children.
• Participates in community outreach as needed, such as partner parent and group home visits, pre-service panel presentation, and partner parent appreciation functions.
• Provides placement coverage when a Placement Specialist is out of the office.
• Ensures timely and accurate data entry of all placements with supporting documentation is entered into the PSF data system.
• Evaluates separated siblings, placements outside of home County, and group home data to formulate a plan to keep siblings together, maintain a child in their home county in the least restrictive placement, and to minimize the number of movements a child has while in care.
• Gathers and evaluates documents and information prior to recommendation to review and approve in initial contract and services agreement activities with potential placement providers.
• Participates in the quality improvement process.
• Displays understanding of, and sensitivity to, service population’s cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.
• Performs other related job duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services or related field or equivalent; Master’s degree preferred; and two (2) years of relevant experience in the child welfare field or related social service field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience in lieu of the education. 

Special Qualifications:

Certification as a Child Welfare Case Manager or Protection Professional or certification eligible.

Possession of a valid, State of Florida driver’s license to operate the motor vehicle operated.  Requirement exists at the time of hire and as a condition of continued employment.