At Kids Central we believe every child deserves to grow up in a safe and loving home that provides a path to a bright future. However sometimes children, and their families, need additional support to ensure their safety and well-being. That is where we step in.

The Director of Prevention Services directs and controls the activities of Safety Management Services, Level I Licensing, Case Transfer Staffings, Multidisciplinary Staffings for children transitioning in licensed care, Permanency Roundtables, Human Trafficking, Missing Children, the Family Resource Center, the Kinship Care Program, which provides case management for non-dependency cases, and provides resources and information to dependency and non-dependency family caregivers; directs the Education program, which assists youth educational advocacy. Manages and coordinates all direct services related to prevention.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Oversees the coordination and facilitation of case transfer, local review team, permanency roundtables and multidisciplinary staffing’s in person or remotely and send notifications to all participants who are required to attend.
• Ensures staff provide consultation to child protective investigators for cases in which children are safely prevented from entering the dependency system while achieving intensive and timely service provisions.
• Oversees the staff responsible for coordination and facilitation of Multi-Disciplinary Staffing in accordance with policy, administrative code and statutes.
• Ensures staff promote provider agencies participation in discussion and recommendations during staffing.
• Ensures staff mediates disagreement of MDT staffing to ensure effective communication between participating individuals by using conflict resolution and collaborative problem- solving skills to ensure that the child and family remain the primary focus of each MDT staffing.
• Compliance with all human trafficking policies and procedures.
• Ensures notification to the courts through Children’s Legal Services and DCF Regional staff within 48 hours after the conclusion of the staffing when all parties could not reach a unanimous consensus.
• Ensures that staff develop written reports for the court that outline the overall decisions of the multidisciplinary staffing’s and the feedback of each individual participant. The court will be notified if the parties are unable to reach consensus during the staffing.
• Ensures department representation at all circuit Domestic Violence meetings.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with organizations and other agencies involved with child welfare such as community-based care providers, Children’s Legal Services, Guardian ad Litem, schools, clinical professionals, Department of Juvenile Justice, and other community agency resources.
• Serves as the point of contact for the Crossover Youth Project.
• Maintain an organized tracking system to account for all staffings and confirm participation of required attendees.
• Ensure outcomes of multidisciplinary staffing’s are documented in the Florida Safe Families Network (FSFN) System.
• Use strength-based approach when working with families and Kids Central’s partner agencies.
• Provides direction and leadership to all programs within line of authority.
• Provides direction and leadership to the Education Program, including the intake, assessment and coordination and monitoring of services.
• Creating, developing, and managing community awareness of Kids Central through community education.
• Share in knowledge dissemination, reporting, and communication of programs.
• Manages staff including recruitment, development and performance management under Prevention Services.
• Monitors performance within line of authority.
• Contribute to the development of Kids Central’s strategic goals and objectives as well as the overall management of the organization.
• Maintain continuous lines of communication, keeping Sr. Director informed of all critical issues.
• Selects and maintains qualified personnel in all departmental positions. Directs, monitors and appraises the performance of each direct report, handling difficult personnel situations in a timely manner.
• Attends community events and speaks publicly regarding Kids Central prevention programs.
• Ensures regular team and departmental meetings are hosted to share knowledge and update the group on objectives and progress.
• Undertake special projects, as requested.

This list of functions is not intended to be exhaustive. Kids Central reserves the right to revise this job description as needed to comply with actual job requirements.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education/Experience

Bachelor’s degree in social work or related field and five years of directly related experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Other Requirements

Ability to pass a Level II Background Check.

Valid Florida driver’s license and insurable by agency’s current insurance carrier.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Ability to meet Organizational Core Competency standards.
• Effective supervisory skills
• Strong analytical, problem solving, time management and organizational skills.
• Excellent communications skills (verbal and written)
• Ability to deliver effective presentations and speak publicly.
• Excellent knowledge of the Florida child welfare system
• Ability to travel up to 60%.
• Ability to safely operate a motor vehicle.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is generally in an office environment, but may also be required to visit other settings such as court or other agencies. The noise level is usually moderate.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or listen. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and to reach with hands and arms. The employee must also frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. The employee is regularly required to bend, stoop and kneel. Repetitive motion is also required. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.