Licensing Specialist

The Licensing Specialist is responsible for licensing, training, and supporting families throughout the licensing process. This position reports to the Licensing Supervisor.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Assess prospective foster and kinship families to determine eligibility for licensure.
• Conduct home studies, family assessments, interviews, and background checks in accordance with state licensing regulations, agency policies and timeframes.
• Educate and prepare foster parents on the responsibilities, expectations, and requirements of foster care licensing.
• Facilitate pre-service training and other required training for potential foster families.
• Review and verify required documentation to ensure compliance with licensing standards and regulatory requirements.
• Perform initial and ongoing home visits to evaluate safety, suitability, and quality of care provided in foster homes.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential records within agency databases.
• Stay current on child welfare laws, foster care regulations, best practices, and agency procedures.
• Prepare detailed reports, correspondence, and licensing recommendations for management and regulatory review.
• Ensure all foster homes meet health, safety, and child welfare standards prior to licensure and throughout the licensing period.
• Promote diversity, cultural competency, trauma-informed care, and child-centered practices in all licensing activities.
• Maintain professional relationships with foster families while upholding ethical standards and regulatory requirements.
• Uses a variety of questioning techniques to elicit information needed in order to form conclusions or make decisions.
• Fits pieces of information into a coherent whole or summary.
• Understands different views, expertise, and experience of others; understands the perspectives and limitations of other individuals and systems.
• Enters each home-study with an understanding of what must be accomplished to reach objective.
• Composes comprehensive foster home studies based on the strengths and needs of the prospective families.
• Prepares in advance for situations (i.e., home-visits, Pre-service training class, rehearses presentations).
• Thoroughly documents issues, questions, or concerns directly related to licensing foster homes.
• Displays understanding of, and sensitivity to, service population’s cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.
• Perform additional duties as assigned to support foster care licensing and child welfare program objectives.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work, or a closely related field.
• Child Protection Professional (CPP) certification or CPP eligible.
• Possession of a valid, State of Florida driver’s license to operate the motor vehicle operated. Requirement exists at the time of hire and as a condition of continued employment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in psychology, social work, or closely related field.
• Two (2) years of child welfare experience preferred, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.

Special Qualifications:

• Must obtain a Child Protection Professional (CPP) certification within twelve (12) months of appointment.