Overview

Job Title: Licensing and Intake Specialist

Department: Foster Care

Reports to: Licensing and Intake Supervisor

Schedule: Full Time

Compensation: Salary / Exempt

Job Summary: The Licensing and Intake Specialist is responsible for various foster home licensing duties, including assessment and interviews with individuals and families who are in the process of becoming licensed foster parents. In addition, the incumbent will facilitate pre-service training sessions, oversee the pre-licensure (home study) process, and ongoing licensing and training needs of the agency’s licensed foster homes. Responsibilities also include assisting with intake, processing referrals, and the after-hours referrals on-call rotation.

Responsibilities

• Assists in the screening process of potential foster families.• Conducts interviews and orientation sessions with potential foster families.• Evaluates suitability, strengths and needs of potential foster families and foster family homes.• Establishes personal, working relationships with potential and licensed foster families. • Conducts background checks and verifies results.• Conducts reference checks and verifies results.• Works with foster parent applicants through the completion of comprehensive licensing, pre-service training, and the SAFE home study processes.• Maintains a caseload of licensed foster family homes.• Assists with monitoring the licensing needs and requirements of licensed foster homes on an ongoing basis and conducts the annual review and relicensure processes.• Coordinates and facilitates RAPT pre-service and ongoing foster family training.• Tracks required annual foster parent ongoing training hours and provides foster families with training opportunities.• Monitors performance and competency of foster family trainees.• Inputs and maintains foster home information in electronic database files and MaGik.• Conducts CPR and First Aid certification and recertification classes.• Verifies the agency’s licensed foster homes are in compliance with required documentation to meet licensing standards, policies, and contractual obligations.• Completes and maintains documentation that is accurate and legible.• Completes and updates licensure related items in a timely manner.• Assists with referral and placement coordination, including participation in the 24/7 on-call referral line rotation.• Assists in the completion of placement and intake processes of children and youth receiving foster home care and services with the organization.• Attends community events as an agency representative and represents the agency well.• Maintains professional, consistent and open communication (written and verbal) with agency staff, foster families, referral sources, external stakeholders and other service/community providers.• Interacts and collaborates with referral sources, foster families, service providers, youth, and the community in a courteous and respectful manner.• Promotes and utilizes fair and empathetic communication and collaboration, as well as demonstrates proficient negotiation skills.• Maintains consistent and frequent communication with direct supervisor and licensing staff.• Attends mandatory staff meetings, supervision and other meetings as assigned.• Completes and updates mandatory training and other licensure related items in a timely manner.• Takes pride and ownership in Damar’s facilities and assigned work areas.• Completes incident reports, including reporting any suspected exploitation, abuse, or neglect of a client.• Ensures the agency meets its quality improvement, evaluation and reporting requirements.• Actively participates in and/or oversees the data collection and the use of data to improve outcomes, practices and service delivery.• Utilizes data collection in relation to driving and tracking outcomes and achieving agency initiatives and goals.• Addresses needs and concerns in a proactive, timely and professional manner.• Respects the culture, diversity and rights of all foster parents, youth, staff, and community partners.• Maintains confidentiality in all aspects of client, foster parent, and employee information.• Takes initiative, with the ability to collaborate and take direction while also being able to work autonomously.• Prioritizes duties in a manner consistent with organizational objective, growth, and opportunity.• Ability to work some evenings and weekends and be on-call 24/7 as required for emergency needs.• Complies with all state policies, codes, and regulations pertaining to the program’s operations as an LCPA.• Adheres to all policies and procedures as defined in the Employee Handbook and Damar Operational Policies and Procedures Manual.• Takes pride and ownership in Damar’s facilities and the program’s work areas.• Acts as a good steward of Damar and/or program finances.• Performs other duties as assigned.

 

Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited school in Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, or in a related human services area of study is required.   

 

Experience:

• Minimum of 2 years of paid experience in a field related to social work preferred.• Previous experience in a therapeutic foster care placement and licensing organization and understanding of Indiana’s foster care system preferred.• Excellent communication and presentation skills required, including interpersonal and negotiation skills.  • Previous experience with public speaking, community engagement, and/or facilitating classroom training preferred. Experience training Indiana DCS RAPT training curriculum desired. • Previous experience with conducting SAFE evaluation processes and completing written home studies desired.• Confidence and skill in handling multiple duties simultaneously.  

 

 

Equipment Familiarity: Proficiency with MS Office applications including Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint. Ability to learn and navigate electronic platforms required.

 

Certifications, Licenses or Special Training:

• Minimum age of 21 per licensure requirements.• Ability to pass and maintain CPR Certification. • Certified to conduct SAFE evaluations and home studies as a practitioner required; SAFE certification preferred; if not certified in SAFE evaluations and home studies at time of hire, certification will be required after hire based on when the next session becomes available. • Certified to conduct RAPT pre-service training as a trainer of trainers required; if not a certified RAPT TOT at time of hire, certification will be required after hire based on when the next session becomes available. • Certified to conduct CPR and First Aid training desired; if not certified at time of hire, certification will be required after hire based on when the next session becomes available.• Must meet and maintain background screening requirements for all Damar Programs as detailed in policy 1.HR.02 Pre-Employment and Employee Background Checks. • Valid Indiana driver’s license and driving record that meets eligibility requirements of Damar’s insurance carrier (for all positions requiring driving). • Successful completion of pre-employment physical required.  

 

 

Abilities:

• Ability to follow and execute specific verbal and written instructions.• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, in a timely and responsive manner.  • Ability to promote and maintain positive interactions with all internal and external stakeholders.• Ability to convey enthusiasm, motivation and compassion to foster families and employees.  • Ability to work independently and be self-motivated.• Ability to be organized and manage and prioritize multiple assignments.• Ability to work under pressure and adjust to a diverse working environment. • Ability to maintain the confidentiality of highly sensitive and confidential information, as well as sensitive situations.  • Ability to be flexible in adapting to changes in priorities, assignments, and other interruptions, which may impact pre-established timelines and courses of action for completing projects and assignments.• Ability to identify information, materials, and resources needed to complete a project or assignment.• Ability to carry out a variety of critical and time sensitive projects without detailed instructions.• Ability to maintain accuracy and attention to detail when completing multiple assignments.• Ability to utilize technology efficiently, including, but not limited to, Microsoft Office programs, the internet, MaGIK, and the licensing and placement database utilized by Damar Foster Care Services.  • Ability to collaborate with members of a team.  • Direct relevant and applied experience in the field of child welfare and/or foster care, operating in accordance with state mandated policies and procedures.• Demonstration of leadership and administrative/managerial skills, as well as professional and clear communication skills.  

 

 

Essential Job Functions:

Physical: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office setting; to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight (up to 35lbs); to operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard; to travel to other locations using various modes of private and commercial transportation; and to verbally communicate to exchange information.

Vision: See in the normal visual range with or without correction.

Hearing: Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.