IFST Case Manager

General Purpose of the Job

To serve children and families with early engagement intensive case management while partnering with the Department of Children and Families investigator. An upfront collaborative team approach is utilized to engage families early in the investigative process with the focus of serving the family in their home during case management. The IFST Case Manager will strive to improve the social and behavioral functioning of the family to maximize protective capacity of the parents and overall well‑being of the children. The purpose is to evaluate, coordinate, and ensure that the necessary service delivery and treatment are provided; complete required family assessments and ongoing documentation; assist individuals and families by teaming with them to identify goals to maintain and strengthen the family unit. Participate in staffings to ensure parental progress and to maintain child safety and well‑being.

Child Welfare Case Manager Responsibilities

• Oversight of all child welfare related tasks with families
• Development of safety plans and subsequent monitoring
• Continuous assessment of family’s treatment progress and behavioral change
• Attend regular staffing meetings with community providers and family supports to discuss progress
• Provide documentation and data on child welfare case activities
• Conduct frequent home visits to ensure engagement and progress of child/families
• Adherence of all data collection into FSFN
• Produce periodic reports as requested

PNA’s (Parent Needs Assistance Referrals)

• Respond to PNA Special Condition Referrals (calls received from a parent/legal custodian seeking assistance for themselves that does not meet the criteria for child abuse, abandonment, or neglect)
• Review family history with DCF (in FSFN) and any available criminal history, and contact CPI and CPI supervisor to discuss prior involvement
• Contact parent/legal custodian and any collateral sources available to obtain all necessary information regarding their current crisis and/or relevant historical information
• Assess family’s needs – any information to help the family’s crisis or needs will be provided to the parent/legal custodian and any necessary referrals made
• Consult with Behavioral Health Specialist when the crisis relates to parent or child’s mental health, including existing family providers
• Complete all documentation within 2 business days in FSFN and complete overall assessment within the required timeframe of no greater than 30 calendar days
• Any information that causes suspicion of abuse, abandonment, or neglect must be reported to the Hotline immediately
• If no intervention is available for the family’s crisis, a multidisciplinary staffing is required
• Other duties may be assigned as special projects may be requested

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Must be able to drive and have reliable transportation to perform required field‑based activities. Perform other duties as assigned to support departmental and agency goals, as needed and appropriate to the position.

Working Hours

Children’s Network of Hillsborough’s standard business hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. This position is an in‑office based position with fieldwork requirements that averages 40 hours per week. Work hours may vary outside of these standard hours, including evenings and weekends, as needed to meet operational demands. All hours worked will be compensated in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and agency policies, including applicable overtime and other compensation requirements.

Travel

Travel within and outside of Hillsborough County is required. The employee must be able to drive and have reliable transportation to perform the essential functions of the position.

Training

All employees are required to complete fifteen (15) hours of training annually, which may be completed online or in a classroom setting. Employees who hold a credential or license relevant to their position must ensure that all training and continuing education requirements are met to maintain their credential or licensure.

Education and Experience

• A bachelor’s degree from a four‑year accredited college or university with a minimum of two (2) years of child welfare related experience OR an advanced degree in social work or a comparable human service field.
• Official transcripts are a mandatory requirement.
• Must have a working knowledge of community services in the local area. Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships is also a must.

Skills and Abilities

Exceptional leadership and communication skills, fostering collaboration across all organizational levels. Possess a strong aptitude for analytical thinking and data-driven decision-making, excelling at solving complex problems and implementing effective solutions. Proficient in project management, adeptly handling multifaceted initiatives, ensuring deadlines are met and budgets are maintained. Highly adaptable to fast-paced and dynamic environments, prioritizing tasks efficiently while leveraging operational software and tools to enhance productivity. Strategic planning expertise and a commitment to fostering teamwork enable them to drive organizational success.

Pre‑employment Requirements

• Valid driver’s license, clean driver’s license check, and proof of insurance
• No special certification or registration is required for this position
• Criminal background screening (fingerprinting) (Local Law Enforcement and FBI/FDLE)
• Drug screening is a requirement
• Children’s Network participates in E‑Verify

Other Requirements

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, board of directors, clients, customers, and the public
• Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals; compute rate, ratio, percentages; and interpret bar graphs
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form; be proactive and handle problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations

Physical Demands

The job requires the ability to sit for extended periods; walk; stand; use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel or crouch; talk and hear. This job requires visual acuity sufficient to read and to operate standard modern office machines. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Work Environment

This is administrative work in an indoor office environment with a moderate noise level (business machines, printers, computers, telephones).

ADA

Children’s Network of Hillsborough County, LLC will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

EEO

Children’s Network of Hillsborough County, LLC does not discriminate based on race, national origin, gender, religion, veteran status, or disability in employment, in provision of services, or in access to programs.

Drug‑Free Workplace

Children’s Network of Hillsborough County, LLC is a Drug‑Free Workplace.

Note: If you are currently an employee of Children’s Network of Hillsborough Florida, LLC, or one of our Case Management Organizations, it is necessary that you notify your current supervisor prior to applying.