Position Summary:

The Intake/Placement Specialist collaborates with internal teams to assess and meet children's placement needs. They facilitate placement stabilization, address safety concerns, and maintain professional relationships with foster parents and community stakeholders. The specialist supports crisis interventions, participates in quality improvement programs, and provides after-hours support as needed. They ensure all placements comply with state and agency guidelines.

 

Essential Job Functions: Supports the organization's mission, vision, and values by exhibiting the following behaviors: excellence and competence, collaboration, innovation, respect, commitment to our community and clients, accountability and ownership. Respond to all placement inquiries from Intake staff, FCMAs and Department of Children and Families Protective Investigation staff, including after hours and on weekends Ensures the effective and efficient gathering of critical information to appropriately assess each child’s placement needs, identifying the least restrictive placement options and accessing the needed placement within a multidisciplinary team approach. Confirms if the foster home has any licensing restrictions that would contraindicate the placement of the child(ren) being considered due to age, gender, presenting symptoms and/or level of needed supervision.  Ensure appropriate documentation on all secured placements are relayed to Citrus FCN and all other pertinent individuals via email once a placement has been identified. Ensures the timely and efficient tracking of placement data to include but not limited to movements, waivers and requests for placements. Ensure appropriate submission of placement waiver and supporting documentation to Manager in a timely manner. Ensure timely entry (within 8 hours) of all secured placements in FSFN. Timely completion and submission of daily, weekly and monthly statistical reports. Compliance with established placement procedures, in collaboration with the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and pursuant to state and federal guidelines Participates in regular supervision, department and multidisciplinary meetings to ensure efficient and effective team work, collaboration and solution-oriented approach to addressing barriers and challenges to accessing or stabilizing needed placements for children.  Schedules and participates in placement stabilization staffing(s) in collaboration with assigned Manager, FCMA, Behavioral Health and licenses caregivers. Ensures any concerns or incidents reported related to a foster home or child(ren) in foster placement potentially impacting child well-being and/or child safety are addressed timely to the as required by established procedure. Ensure daily work practices are aligned with the expectations Quality Parenting Initiative (QPI). Develops and maintain a professional, collaborative relationship with children/youth, Citrus FCN licensed foster parents, residential providers and community stakeholders. Engages newly licensed and current foster families, ensuring that they have necessary supports when children are placed in their homes. Ensures concerns related to a licensed foster home are addressed and brought to the attention of the Placement Manager and Citrus FCN Licensing Department in a sensitive manner for resolution. Works in collaboration with DCF and Citrus Intake Department to assess child(ren)’s placement needs to identify appropriate placement at the on-set of a removal, including licensed and treatment or specialized settings, as needed, for dependent children.  Collaborates with internal departments such as Behavioral Health, and Quality Assurance (QA) to formulate action plans to support /stabilize placements and/or identify placement options to provide the identified level of care needed for children. Participates in the Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement Program. Participates in supervisory review and assessment of child welfare certification tests and ensures certification remains active. Displays understanding of and sensitivity to service population’s cultural and socioeconomic characteristics. Assists in crisis intervention with children and foster parents, as needed and deemed appropriate. Must be available for consultation after hours and on weekends. Provision of services during flexible hours and during assigned on call scheduled. Respond to all calls to the (agency) Intake line in a courteous and professional manner. Provide requested information or route calls as needed. Gather required information on all new intakes received and confirm receipt of access to the referring agency’s intake report. Review intake report and any supplemental data to ensure all relevant information is included. Complete the (agency) intake receiving form and attach to case file. Inform case management unit supervisor of new case assignment. Provide intake report and all supporting documentation. Ensure timely and accurate entry of new client cases into (agency) client database and update as needed. Responsible for timely submission of data for monthly statistical reports. Escalate issues to Intake Manager per (agency) and Intake Department policy and procedure. Attend all trainings, conferences, and agency events as required. Other duties as assigned.