What are the responsibilities and job description for the Foster Care Licensing Specialist position at Benchmark Family Services?
Principal Duties/Responsibilities:
- Recruit, train, and license prospective foster parents and those who may be interested in fostering/adopting.
- Conducts interviews necessary to collect all needed data and to assist in finding the most appropriate foster home for the child.
- Assists foster families with all pre-certification and post-certification services.
- Works with foster parents to ensure compliance with state child services department rules and with agency policies.
- Refers prospective foster parents to orientations/trainings needed to become certified. Keep appropriate documentation of trainings.
- Works with persons seeking to adopt a child, including but not limited to completing home studies on prospective foster applicants and completing pre-certification assessments.
- Works with the custodial and other involved agencies to ensure a smooth transition for the child and the adoptive family.
- Completes all necessary paperwork including, but not limited to, home studies, annual reviews/recertification, foster parent bios, training logs, letter of concerns, corrective action plans, and updating Benchmark and State systems with needed information.
- Assist with other miscellaneous duties as assigned.
Education, Knowledge and Skills:
- IN: Undergraduate degree in social work or a related human services field. Also must meet all requirements of state, licensing, and contract expectations.
- Job experience – must meet all requirements of the state, licensing, and contract expectations.
- Interpersonal skills necessary for effective communication and interaction with referral sources, clients, prospective foster parents, foster families, outside agency personnel, and other care providers when gathering and exchanging information. This level of interpersonal skills requires a great deal of tact and diplomacy. Being able to openly discuss sensitive subjects with prospective foster parents and current foster homes in order to effectively address, assess, and intervene as necessary to maintain the viability of the home for placements.
- Effective presentation/public speaking skills.
- Effective writing skills which include, but not limited to, descriptive and grammatically sound summaries that provide an accurate assessment and qualities of the home and those who reside therein.
- Ability to be candid and assertive in addressing situations/issues with families in order to provide valuable feedback as well as promote changes/corrections while maintaining the viability of the home.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: From $40,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Schedule:
- 8 hour shift
- Monday to Friday
Supplemental pay types:
- Bonus opportunities
Work Location: In person