Placement Specialist

Do you enjoy helping others? Would you like a career that provides you an opportunity to help families and to make a difference in the lives of children? Join us in creating a brighter future for children and their families.

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.

As the initial point of contact with KCI, the Placement Specialist is responsible for the timely and accurate intake, assessment and coordination of out-of-home care for children at Kids Central Inc, operating within Florida Statute, Florida Administrative Code, and KCI operating procedures.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Ensure children receive timely, accurate and complete assessments so they can be matched and maintained in the most appropriate setting (foster care, residential and acute care behavioral settings)
• Ensure all services identified by Protective Investigator and/or Case manager are appropriate and are delivered, authorizing all initial services and requests.
• Assist Protective Investigator and/or Case Manager in developing initial plan of action make referrals based on established criteria and standards
• Routinely attend and participate in Children Medical Assessment Team (CMAT), disruption and multi-disciplinary staffing’s
• Assist with the integration and stabilization of level of care of children into therapeutic care, medical care and children with disabilities
• Act as liaison between foster parents, case management agencies and Department of Children and Families staff to ensure appropriate placements are maintained.
• Communicate, counsel and de-escalate crisis calls from foster parents, including arranging for respite care; resolve foster parent payment issues with Accounting
• Complete over capacity waivers including medical, physical and/or mental health needs of the child and appropriate support services are considered prior to recommendation to review committee.
• Identify additional placement capacity needs.
• Ensure accurate and timely placement data information is entered into FSFN for proper payment to foster homes and group homes
• Provides routine overnight coverage (from 5:00 pm to 8:00 am) and occasional weekend coverage (5:00 pm Friday to 8:00 am Monday) in the placement of children
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor

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

Two years of child welfare experience and/or Bachelor’s degree in human services, behavioral health or related field from accredited institution, and one year of experience in human services or child welfare are preferred.

• Other Requirements

Certification as Child Protective Professional preferred

Current Background Clearance Screening Letter

Valid Florida driver’s license

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Ability to meet Organizational Required Competency standards
• Knowledge of child welfare system
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, negotiation and conflict resolution skills
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Ability to multi-task and problem solve
• Ability to work routinely covering overnight shift, and occasional coverage of weekend shift
• Ability to safely operate motor vehicle
• Ability to assume on-call responsibilities outside normal working hours

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS

This job regularly operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.

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 hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must frequently lift and/or move objects up to 5 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move objects up to 10 pounds.

ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILE

Our mission is, “Protecting Children, Supporting Families, and Engaging Communities”. Kids Central, Inc. is the lead Community Based Care agency for child welfare in Circuit 5, which encompasses Marion, Lake, Hernando, Sumter, and Citrus Counties. We maintain a system of care for children and families that have experienced or are at-risk of experiencing child abuse or neglect. Kids Central, Inc. does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, creed, disability, or veteran status as those terms are defined under applicable law. Kids Central is a Drug-Free Workplace, Equal Employment Opportunity and E-Verify Employer.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Kids Central, Inc. provides a comprehensive compensation package including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401(k) with company match, and a generous paid time off allotment.

Employer is an Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V