Practice Specialist

Position Summary The Practice Specialist is an experienced child welfare professional who serves in an advanced practice and leadership role, supporting the development, performance, and practice quality of case management staff across teams. While maintaining a reduced caseload to remain actively engaged in field practice, this role partners closely with the Training Manager to coach and reinforce the Florida Child Welfare Practice Model. This position serves as a critical bridge between direct practice and organizational learning, providing mentorship, coaching, and guidance to case managers at all levels. The role requires strong critical judgment, advanced practice knowledge, and the ability to lead through influence, modeling, and collaboration. Essential Job Functions Consistent, high‑quality coaching and targeted support to case management staff across all teams, driving practice improvement and professional growth. All coaching notes and quarterly report entries completed accurately, thoroughly, and submitted within required timeframes in accordance with agency standards. Effective cross‑team collaboration across departments. Support the Training Manager in the delivery, facilitation, and reinforcement of case management training initiatives. Provide field‑based coaching and mentorship to case managers, modeling best practices in engagement, documentation, and service coordination. Support onboarding and development of new staff through guided shadowing, feedback, and structured skill‑building. Identify individual and systemic practice gaps and communicate findings to inform training priorities. Co‑facilitate team meetings, case staffings, and practice development sessions as assigned. Maintain a reduced caseload with full adherence to agency standards for quality, compliance, and timeliness. Develop and implement case plans that support timely permanency outcomes while coaching staff on effective case planning, goal setting, and permanency‑focused practice. Conduct ongoing case reviews to ensure assessments and documentation are current and aligned with the Florida Child Welfare Practice Model, building staff competency in applying these standards independently. Provide safety management services, including crisis response and resource coordination, while training staff to assess risk, respond appropriately, and coordinate support effectively. Prepare court‑related documentation, including Judicial Review Social Study Reports (JRSSR), and guide staff to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and courtroom readiness. Conduct functional assessments to inform case planning and service delivery, while developing staff proficiency in gathering, analyzing, and applying assessment findings. Facilitate active participation of parents, caregivers, and youth in case planning, coaching staff to apply effective engagement strategies and maintain accurate, comprehensive documentation of family voice in CCWIS documentation. Support reunification efforts while maintaining concurrent planning when appropriate, training staff to manage both with consistency and intentionality. Facilitate connections with kin, fictive kin, and natural supports to promote long‑term stability, building staff competency in identifying, engaging, and sustaining those relationships. Promote placement stability through consistent caregiver engagement, coaching staff on strategies that strengthen caregiver relationships, address concerns proactively, and reduce placement disruption. Collaborate with educational liaisons to ensure school stability and academic performance, building staff capacity to assess needs, coordinate support, and ensure educational outcomes are met. Coordinate with Peer Family Navigators and community providers to strengthen service access, modeling effective cross‑system collaboration to case managers. Connect families to community‑based resources, developing staff knowledge of available services and resource navigation. Support life skills development for older youth, coaching staff to deliver practical, youth‑centered engagement and intervention. Assist with adoption readiness and finalization processes, preparing staff to manage adoption‑related responsibilities with accuracy and urgency. Ensure all documentation meets CCWIS requirements, agency policy, and regulatory standards, reinforcing staff accountability for accuracy, completeness, and timeliness. Utilize required data systems, including CCWIS and Stabilify, to support service delivery and coaching, building staff proficiency in system use and documentation practices. Model and reinforce fidelity to the Florida Child Welfare Practice Model across all casework and coaching interactions. Maintain a reduced caseload with full adherence to quality, compliance, and timeliness standards, demonstrating expected practice performance. Participate in quality assurance and performance improvement activities, preparing staff to engage in continuous improvement efforts. Model professionalism, accountability, and ethical conduct, setting clear expectations for staff behavior and performance. Maintain flexibility to meet organizational and training needs, promoting adaptability within staff practice. Respond promptly to leadership direction and organizational priorities, reinforcing alignment across staff. Demonstrate and reinforce alignment with the organization’s mission, vision, and values. Perform additional duties as assigned. Qualifications Certification as a Certified Case Manager (CWCM) in good standing by an agency approved and recognized by the Florida Certification Board is required at the time of hire. Bachelor’s degree in social work, human services, or related field required; Master’s degree in social work or related field preferred. A minimum of three (3) years of related experience providing case management and/or training, coaching and mentoring preferred. Minimum of two years of direct services experience with children, youth, and families. Physical requirements prior to hire; paid by agency. Bilingual preferred. Valid Florida driver’s license. Must have familiarity with Miami Dade County. Must have reliable transportation. Must have availability to work a flexible schedule including evenings and weekends. Maintains confidential files and records. Ability to identify and describe key signs, symptoms, impact and manifestations of adverse experiences. Ability to prioritize and organize competing consumer and family needs. Ability to use trauma‑informed care principles, ensuring consumer safety, preventing/avoiding triggering past adverse experiences, maximizing trustworthiness, enhancing consumer choice, maximizing collaboration, and emphasizing empowerment. Aware of the differences between trauma‑informed and trauma‑specific services. Knowledge of Trauma‑Informed Care and the inter‑relationship between substance abuse and mental health disorders. Ability to assess the individual’s growth and development relative to normative development for his/her chronological age, including physical, emotional, cognitive, educational, and social development. Ability to conceptualize cases within a developmental framework for the purpose of service planning, therapeutic intervention, and discharge planning. Ability to coordinate and integrate multiple services, and interface and communicate with internal and external providers. Ability to identify and evaluate an individual’s strengths, barriers, problems, and needs. Ability to identify crises when they surface; mitigate or resolve the immediate problem, and de‑escalate the situation, including the ability to develop, change, and update Safety Plans as needed. Ability to identify the needs of a child and family that cannot be met by the agency and to assist the child/family to utilize the support systems and community resources available. Ability to provide information to individuals and families concerning alcohol or other drug use, mental health problems, and the available services and resources. Ability to provide service planning through the identification and prioritization of problems needing resolution, the development of goals and objectives for the consumer expressed in behavioral and measurable terms, and the ability to negotiate goals and objectives with the consumer and the family. Understanding and application of federal, state, local and agency confidentiality rules and professional standards of conduct. Understanding of family dynamics, family roles, and family structure. Understanding of issues related to individuals with varied identities in prevention, intervention and treatment. Understands that individuals with distinct community backgrounds have different perceptions of health. Demonstrates respect for individuals with varied identities when conducting assessments, developing Wellness and Recovery Plans, and providing services. Understands that individuals with distinct community backgrounds define and perceive family and its importance differently. Demonstrates ability to work effectively with individuals with distinct community backgrounds. Understands the bidirectional relationships between substance use and mental disorders. Understands the differences among various kinds of abuse and adverse experiences, including physical, emotional, and sexual abuse; domestic violence; experiences of veterans and survivors of war; natural disasters; and community violence. Knowledge of WestCare Mission, goals, and values. Knowledge of Incident Reporting, HIPAA, Professional Ethics, Consumer Rights and Confidentiality. Familiarity with WestCare services and programs. Demonstrates a high degree of dependability, good attendance, flexibility, and responsiveness to supervisor requests. Works independently with minimal supervision; exhibits integrity and a positive attitude toward work. Maintains a safe working environment, adheres to agency safety procedures, and demonstrates appropriate use of Incident Reports. Exhibits professional demeanor and maintains a positive personal image. CPR Certification, First Aid Certification, and an annual Tuberculosis test required. Ability to utilize Microsoft Office Software Suite. Ability to provide an Affidavit of Good Moral Character. Clearance in Pre‑Employment Drug Testing and Criminal Records Checks as required. Strong knowledge of the Florida Child Welfare Practice Model and related statutes. Excellent communication and collaboration skills with diverse stakeholders. Commitment to evidence‑based programs. Ability to manage a case load and coach and mentor staff. Working Conditions Work is primarily performed in an office or residential treatment setting; some outdoor activities may be required. Physical and Mental Demands Requires mobility and physical activity: adequate range of motion, standing, walking (even and uneven surfaces), sitting for extended periods, bending, twisting, reaching, balancing, and occasional lifting up to 50 pounds. Requires use of computer and telephone systems, including typing, writing, and file management. Requires the ability to defend oneself and clients in physically abusive situations using approved de‑escalation techniques. Requires speaking and hearing skills for clear communication. Requires vision sufficient to complete paperwork and observe client behavior. Requires the ability to collect and analyze complex data, work under stress, and collaborate with diverse stakeholders. Requires the ability to work in mentally or verbally abusive situations using approved mental/verbal de‑escalation techniques. #J-18808-Ljbffr VILLAGE SOUTH INC