Licensing Representative

Job Description Summary

Coordinate Foster Family Home Licensing and Recruitment efforts and provide direct service to prospective and licensed foster parents/homes, operating under the supervision of the Vice President of Child Welfare Services

Reporting Relationship: NONE

Reports To: Vice President of Child Welfare Services

Essential Responsibilities & Duties

• Performs the full range of licensing duties relating to both routine and highly complex cases.
• Monitors all recruitment efforts and hosts Foster Parent Recruitment Events
• Provides support and advocacy for Foster Parents.
• Maintains updated listing of current openings in foster homes
• Maintains foster parent files with proper documentation.
• Evaluates foster homes every six months.
• Provides re-licensure study every four years.
• Reviews and approves all written correspondence mailed by licensing staff
• Report current status on each prospective and current Foster Parents to manager and performs formal recordkeeping functions required by agency.
• Coordinates and facilitate monthly Foster Parent Training and recordkeeping.
• Collaborates with manager/consultants and specialists regarding specific services and Foster Parent concerns. Facilitates and/or participate in Foster Parent Meetings.
• Represents the agency to community and to other social service organizations.
• Investigates community resources as related to the licensing program and provides guidelines for caregiver plans
• Provides expertise and technical support to licensing and case management staff regarding program services.
• Responsible for reviewing intake requests and other agency needs as designated.
• Responsible for reviewing placement disruption requests and other needs as designated
• Conducts in-service and participates in agency seminars and professional group meetings.
• Maintains knowledge current in the field, including, but not limited to attendance at seminars, workshops, etc.
• Attend team meetings, division meetings and agency in-services.
• * Performs other administrative assignments as requested.
• * Responsible for responding after hours placement requests
• Performs other duties as assigned by Manager.
  
  

Ada Core Competencies

• Teamwork Is an effective team player who adds complementary skills and contributes valuable ideas, opinions and feedback. Communicates in an open and candid manner and can be counted upon to fulfill any commitments made to others on the team. This is distinctly different from those who withhold ideas and opinions, offer ideas or opinions that rarely add value to team discussions, have established a track record with many unmet commitments, and/or have not contributed skills that complement the skills of others on the team.
• Innovation Looks out for new and innovative approaches that will improve efficiency. Embraces and champions new ideas and encourages others to do likewise. Recognizes and rewards people and teams who are creative and innovative. This is in sharp contrast to those who tend to embrace the status quo, struggle with new approaches and discourage others when they are creative and innovative in the pursuit of increased efficiency or effectiveness.
• Excellence Has established a track record of producing work that is highly accurate, demonstrates attention to detail and reflects well on the organization. Is personally committed to high quality work and encourages others to have similar standards. This differs from those who cannot be relied upon to produce high quality work, pay little attention to detail, show little pride in a job well done and/or set a poor example for co-workers or direct reports
  
  

Child Development & Youth Services Essential Competencies

Adaptable: Adjust to new conditions, changes, challenges, and experiences.

A Person Who Is Adaptable

• is open-minded and self-aware: recognizes, appreciates and is open to different ideas and approaches.
• believes, embraces, and actively participates in change processes.
• is flexible and seeks to identify multiple ways to solve problems; and
• is optimistic.
• Effective Communicator: Is understood by others (both verbally and in writing) and understands the ideas and perspectives of others.
  
  

A Person Who Is An Effective Communicator

• delivers messages with clear, thoughtful, and concise information.
• actively listens by checking for understanding and is open to understanding others’ viewpoints.
• responds to questions and requests in a timely manner regardless of who they are coming from.
• accurately document interactions / meetings / action steps, commitments, etc.; and
• shows empathy and compassion for people and their circumstances.
• Uses a Growth Mindset: Embraces their potential to learn and grow and views successes and failures as development opportunities.
  
  

A Person Who Uses a Growth Mindset

• uses challenges, mistakes, and obstacles as opportunities for growth, and learn through effort.
• is honest, open-minded, and accountable to self and others about their own growth and learning needs.
• seeks out and utilizes feedback and other resources for learning and development; and
• is curious and open to new ideas and experiences.
• Has Integrity: Honesty, trustworthiness, ownership, accountability, and respect are hallmarks of integrity.
  
  

A Person Who Has Integrity

• is honest and fair with others.
• follows through on promises.
• treats clients, coworkers, and others with dignity and respect.
• produces high quality work to benefit the organization, peers, colleagues, and those we serve (regardless of personal gain); and
• exhibits strong moral principles by doing the right thing.
• Collaborator: Cooperates and works well with peers, colleagues and team members by giving and receiving ideas, comments, and feedback with an open mind.
  
  

A Person Who Is a Collaborator

• contributes ideas, resources, and information with others.
• demonstrates capacity to understand and relate to others’ feelings and circumstances without judgment.
• is willing to help out others and take accountability for their share of the work.
• works to resolves disputes or conflicts and compromise when it makes sense to do so; and
• displays a positive attitude and demeanor when engaging with others.
  
  

Requirements

• BA/BS in related field plus two to four years related experience and/or training or equivalent combination of experience or education.
• Must pass DCFS required exams: Rule 402 Licensing Standard for Foster Family Homes and Child Care Act.
• Background must be free of any child related criminal activity.
• Must have a reliable automobile with maintained liability insurance.
  
  

Mental/Physical Demands: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Have the ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations. Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos. Ability to write simple correspondence. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to clients, and other employees of the organization. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Environmental Conditions: The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate; Work is performed in either an office or home environment.

This description documents the general contents and requirements of the job. It is not to be construed as an exhausted statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.