Find & Apply For Case Worker Jobs in Kissimmee, Florida

Duties and Responsibilities:

This is professional work protecting children, working with families and conducting investigations of alleged abused, abandoned, neglected or exploited children. This position will assume an individual contributor role and be a model of child protection practice to other Child Protective Investigators (CPIs).

• Conducts investigations regarding allegations of abuse, neglect, abandonment and/or special conditions for children;
• Collects information through interviews with the children, parents, relatives, neighbors, and other parties associated with the case;
• Engages families, identifies needs and determines the level of intervention needed to include voluntary services or court ordered dependency services; provides services linkages to agency and community resources based on needs assessment. Provides recommendations for development of case plan to Case Manager.
• Conducts initial/ongoing child Present and Impending Danger assessments;
• Develops with the family a signed Present Danger Plan and a signed safety plan for any identified threats and interventions;
• Arranges emergency placement for any child that cannot safely remain in the home;
• Notifies state attorney, law enforcement, child protection team and other required individuals as appropriate;
• Schedules and gathers information for and participates in case staffing;
• Prepares appropriate reports/documentation in coordination with Children's Legal Services and provides testimony in court;
• Maintains thorough documentation in the client records/appropriate information system(s) and maintains organized client files;
• Reports indication of abuse, neglect and/or abandonment to the Florida Abuse Hotline;
• Provides subject matter expertise to help less experienced CPIs build increased capacity in investigative skills;
• Provides case consultation and advises and/or co-investigates complex cases with other CPIs to assure appropriateness, clarity, quality, and thoroughness;
• Establishes and maintains cooperative working relationships with organizations and other agencies involved with child protective investigations such as community based providers, Children's Legal Services, law enforcement, medical personnel, schools, and other community/agency resources;
• Ensures effective communication with deaf or hard-of hearing Customers or companions in accordance with the ADA and/or Section 504 and shall manage service records and report this data and any resources and/or training needs to their designated program point of contact.

The position will perform all job tasks in accordance with laws, rules, regulations, policies, and requirements applicable to state and federal laws or procedures.

Minimum qualifications:

• Current valid State of Florida driver's license; and
• A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• Current Florida Child Welfare Certification from the

Florida Certification BoardPreferences:

• Bachelors or Masters degree in social work, behavioral science, criminal justice, nursing or education field.