Case Manager

Alright, let's get straight to it. This isn't a desk job where you just push paper. You're going to be in the middle of some tough situations, working directly with kids and families when they need someone the most. The work is demanding, but if you're built for it, there's nothing more real.

What You'll Be Doing

You'll manage a caseload of child welfare cases from start to finish. That means you're the main point of contact, the planner, and the person making sure things move forward.

• You meet with children and parents quickly after a case is assigned; we're talking within 2 business days for the kids.
• Putting together a family assessment is one of your first big tasks, and you have 15 working days to complete it.
• A huge part of this is building the case plan itself. You don't do this alone. You'll work with parents, foster parents, Guardian Ad Litem attorneys, and others to create a roadmap aimed at reuniting the family or finding another permanent home for the child.
• You visit each child in their primary home at least once every 25 days. One visit every three months needs to be unannounced.
• A lot of your day involves documentation. Every case activity gets logged into the state's Florida Safe Families Network (FSFN) database within 48 hours.
• You'll manage the entire electronic case file, keeping everything organized and chronological.
• Connecting families with help is key. You'll submit service requests to our lead agency and make referrals for everything from counseling to emergency housing.
• You need to know what's out there; community resources, who to call, what the waitlists are like.
• Court is a regular part of life here. You prepare all the documentation on time, attend hearings, and testify when necessary.
• Conducting safety assessments for children and developing safety plans for families falls on you.
• If there's an immediate risk, you arrange for emergency placement, medical care, or other urgent services.
• Sometimes you have to track down missing parents or family members through diligent searches, documenting every step.
• You'll evaluate potential placement homes by conducting home studies.
• Planning and supervising visits between parents and their children is part of the process.
• Transporting kids to appointments or visits happens regularly.

The Day to Day Reality

This role requires you to wear a lot of hats and keep a lot of plates spinning. It isn't a standard 9 to 5.

• Your schedule has to be flexible. Irregular hours are normal because families don't only have crises during business hours.
• You'll be on a rotating on call schedule. When you're on call, you carry your cell phone and respond immediately.
• The job requires local travel throughout Tampa, FL to meet with families, go to court, and visit placements.
• A valid driver’s license is non negotiable. So is auto insurance that meets our requirement: $10k/$20k liability coverage minimums must be listed on your policy declarations page as proof before we can hire you (we will verify).

The Must Haves

A Bachelor’s degree in a Human Services field. Think social work, psychology, criminal justice, or something similar. A degree specifically in Social Work gives you a leg up.
A minimum of one year working directly with children. Relevant experience is key; we need someone who already understands some of the dynamics at play.
The commitment to get certified. You must obtain your Florida Child Welfare Certification after you start. We provide all mandated training, but completing it successfully is required.

The Person Who Thrives Here