Permanency/Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) Specialist

Permanency and Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) Specialist

Join our team at FSS and enjoy comprehensive benefits including but not limited to:

• Tuition Reimbursement
• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Well-Being Program
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Bereavement Leave
• 12 Paid Holidays
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Short & Long-Term Disability Coverage
• Employee Discounts
• 401k Plan with 3% Employer Contribution

The mission of Family Support Services is to be the leader in providing safety, stability, and quality of life for all children by working with the community to strengthen the family unit.

Job Summary:
Schedule, facilitate, monitor, document, and track the Multidisciplinary Team process as outlined in section 39.4022, Fla. Stat. (2021) and schedule and facilitate Case Staffings to address permanency, safety, and well-being of children and youth to include thorough documentation in the Case File/FSFN. This position will provide qualitative reviews of case files and support case management to bring files into compliance. This includes coordinating and facilitating staffings that may result in competing opinions and recommendations from those who must or may be invited to the staffing who are involved in the life of the child. Utilize a trauma-sensitive, strength-based approach to engaging families and youth in the staffing process. Mediate disagreements during staffings to ensure effective communication between participating individuals and identify strengths within the family when determining and establishing goals for the child. Responsible for drafting written reports for the court that outline the positions of the team and the overall decision and will testify, as necessary, before the court. The person in this position would develop a broader understanding of other departments within FSSSC by building relationships and collaborating on other assignments. Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with organizations and other agencies involved with the child welfare system.

Essential Duties:

• Coordinate and facilitate specialized staffings (in person or virtually) and send notifications to all participants who are required to attend;
• Timely develop and draft written reports for the court regarding the outcomes of the staffing related to placement, permanency, and transition plans;
• Establishes and maintains relationships with organizations and other agencies involved with child welfare such as DCF, CMOs, ASA, GAL, schools, clinical professionals, and other community partners;
• Maintain an organized tracking system to account for multidisciplinary staffings and confirm participation of required attendees and document the outcome in FSFN;
• Participate in ongoing cross-program training, team meetings, and planning;
• Other duties as needed

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university.

Experience: Three or more years of child welfare experience. Experience in Facilitation/Mediation a plus.

Licensure, Certification, and/or Registration: Valid drivers license. Florida Child Welfare Certification.

Ability to:

• Work collaboratively with community members, peers and supervisors.
• Maintain high organizational, leadership and communication skills.
• Be detail-oriented.
• Utilize networking skills.
• Interpersonal skills of communication, facilitation, collaborative problem solving and planning, consensus building, and conflict resolution.
• Communicate and express ideas effectively with staff and clients.
• Write reports and correspondence.
• Speak effectively before small and large groups, as well as in courtroom settings.
• Solve problems and deal with a variety of variables while working collaboratively to develop placement and transition plans.
• Think critically and see future consequences of decisions.
• Utilize trauma sensitive, strength-based approaches such as motivational interviewing and family engagement strategies.
• Solicit and empower youth voice and perspective.
• Comprehend, collect and analyze data before and during facilitation regarding child safety factors and recognizing risk to children.
• Understand impact of bonding and attachment during critical developmental periods.

Knowledge of:

• Florida's official electronic system of record, Florida Safe Family Network (FSFN).
• Family and group dynamics with a range of intervention techniques.
• Social Worker principles, techniques, and practices and their application to complex case work, group work, and community problems.
• Florida Statutes, DCF Operational Procedures, Administrative Rule and policies.
• Child Protection and child development issues.

Skills:

• Excellent analytical and problem solving skills. Organized and detail oriented.
• Ability to align parties to a common goal utilizing facilitation and consensus building strategies.
• Experience in Microsoft office, and computer proficiency.

Other Requirements:

• Clear a Level II background screening.
• Clear an E-Verify check to substantiate that the successful candidate meets the Department of Homeland Security authorization requirements to work in the United States (for more information visit www.dhs.gov/e-verify).
• Clear a reference check
• Clear a local background check from the County in which you reside.
• Clear a substance abuse screen.
• Provide a copy of all degrees prior to your first day of employment.

FSS is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. FSS is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. If you require a reasonable accommodation in completing an application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to Human Resources at c6.hr@fssnf.org.