FAMILY CARE COUNSELOR - Alachua County
Position: Full Time
This is a case management position for a child welfare agency, working in conjunction with the Department of Children and Families. We are looking for a self motivated person who has good verbal skills and is able to write documents that will be used as a part of a legal record. We are looking for someone who is able and willing to make a commitment to our agency.
This job consists of attending court, home visits and timely documentation of all case management tasks.
Why You Should Work With Us:
Competitive salary, strong benefits package, generous Paid Time Off (ability to accrue 21 days during the first year, plus up to 17 paid holidays), flexible work schedules, and internal advancement opportunities are all a priority at JFCS. We provide free clinical supervision for anyone working towards licensure.
The LJD Jewish Family & Community Services (JFCS) provides quality social and community services across the life spectrum to enhance the lives of children, adults, seniors and families coping with challenges that arise throughout the lifecycle. Programs include direct client services, emergency assistance, counseling, adoption assistance for birth mothers and families, child safety and prevention support, senior services, education and outreach, dropout prevention for middle school students, and much more. While our quality programs may be diverse, they are unified by our guiding mission: to help people help themselves.
Job Summary:
Responsible for monitoring children, parents and caregivers who are involved with the dependency system, including scheduled visits with all parties, written documentation of all contacts, court work and coordination of services from other agencies.
Minimum Qualifications:
Education: Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university in Counseling, Social Work, or a related field.
Experience: 6 months experience in counseling/case management preferred.
Licensure, Certification, and/or Registration: Meet training requirements stipulated by the Florida Certification Board (FCB) for a Child Welfare Case Manager.
Essential Job Functions:
- Manage case load of 17 to 19 children. Subject to change based on distribution of cases to the Service Center Model.
- Manage a caseload of children in Foster Care/ Protective Supervision/ Adoption.
- Responsible for taking a child/family through the entire dependency system regardless of permanency goal.
- Commitment to family preservation and reunification, when safe to do so.
- Conduct face-to-face contact with children, parents, and caregivers in home or school environment.
- Observe and document home conditions and child’s behavior/feelings about the living situation.
- Interact with family members and provide culturally competent services.
- Conduct family functioning assessments and safety plans regarding child’s placement.
- Provide conflict resolution and crisis intervention services to families.
- Coordinate available community services, to include making referrals.
- Provide education for family members about available services, parenting practices and the dependency system.
- Complete documentation of all case activities in case file and FSFN.
- Assist parents with Case Plan tasks (includes setting up appointments, providing transportation, etc.)
- Provide written court reports (quarterly)
- Staff cases for Permanency.
- Detain children when living conditions are deemed unsafe.
- Attend court proceedings relating to case, including providing court testimony.
- Produce initial, 6-month, and termination summaries for all families.
- Update Case Plans and other court documents.
- Work cooperatively as part of a team.
- Staff cases with Supervisor.
Complete other duties as assigned.