Family Support Worker - 60074913

Family Support Worker - 60074913

This is an open competitive Career Services employment opportunity with the Florida Department of Children & Families. We have excellent benefits including affordable health insurance & options. Current employees will be compensated in accordance with the DCF salary policy.

Location: This position is based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Evening Shift: 3:00 PM - 12:00 AM

Are you looking for a rewarding career? The Florida Department of Children and Families is looking for energetic, compassionate, and dedicated individuals to fill an important role in the community. The Family Support Worker position is open to all individuals who are willing to make a difference in the lives of vulnerable children and families.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assists investigators in maintaining caseload of families receiving social services;
• Assists clients in completing forms for services and benefits;
• Assists individuals and/or families in providing and arranging for social, medical, education, employment and training, day care services and housing;
• Provides materials to individuals and/or families about nutrition, infant development and parenting skills;
• Ensures immunizations and well-baby visits are received in a timely manner;
• Assists individuals and/or families in learning how to access community services;
• Works with family to develop family support plan;
• Conducts interviews to collect general household data in order to assist household members;
• Coordinates necessary transportation for families;
• Maintains and updates client files;
• Participates in trainings;
• Makes referrals for emergency and ongoing services within the agency and to other agencies;
• Maintains liaison with community agencies and service organizations to determine the results of services rendered to individual clients; and
• Performs related work as required. Provides phone and client contact support. This employee functions on an independent level while performing a variety of duties, which require initiative and sound judgment.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of basic childcare and practices.
• Knowledge of principles and techniques of effective communication.
• Knowledge of community resources.
• Knowledge of program objectives.
• Knowledge of basic arithmetic.
• Skill in basic counseling techniques.
• Ability to assist clients in accessing community resource services.
• Ability to understand and apply methods and practices used in medical, nursing, nutrition, child development or childcare settings.
• Ability to interview clients to identify needs.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work activities.
• Ability to establish and maintain working relationships with others.

Preferred Qualification:

• A high school diploma and/or its equivalent.
• Ability to speak/read/write Spanish/Creole is preferred.
• A basic understanding of vehicle/safety maintenance is preferred.

Licensure/registration/certification requirements (if applicable): Incumbents in this job may be required to use a state vehicle to conduct field investigations, field visitation, or transportation of clients, and must maintain a valid Florida driver’s license, vehicle registration, and appropriate automobile insurance. Incumbents will receive a Vehicle Insurance Allowance if required to use a personal vehicle. See CFOP 40-4 Vehicle Insurance Allowance For Selected Child Welfare Services Staff for additional information related to this job requirement.

Background screening requirement: It is the policy of the Florida Department of Children and Families that any applicant being considered for employment must successfully complete a State and National criminal history check as a condition of employment before beginning employment, and, if applicable, also be screened in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, F.S., and Chapter 408, F.S. No applicant may begin employment until the background screening results are received, reviewed for any disqualifying offenses, and approved by the Agency. Background screening shall include, but not be limited to, fingerprinting for State and Federal criminal records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and may include local criminal history checks through local law enforcement agencies.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

Veterans' Preference. Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans' Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply. Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements. Candidates claiming Veterans' Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code. Veterans' Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here.