Job Details: Job Location: Doral 5605 NW 82ND Avenue - Doral, FL, Position Type: Full Time, Education Level: 4 Year Degree, Salary Range: $31.23 - $31.25Hourly, Job Category: Nonprofit - Social Services, Position Summary: The Practice Specialist is an experienced child welfare professional who serves in an advanced practice and leadership role, supporting the development, performance, and practice quality of case management staff across teams. While maintaining a reduced caseload to remain actively engaged in field practice, this role partners closely with the Training Manager to coach and reinforce the Florida Child Welfare Practice Model. This position serves as a critical bridge between direct practice and organizational learning, providing mentorship, coaching, and guidance to case managers at all levels. The role requires strong critical judgment, advanced practice knowledge, and the ability to lead through influence, modeling, and collaboration. Essential Job Functions: Consistent, high-quality coaching and targeted support to case management staff across all teams, driving practice improvement and professional growth. All coaching notes and quarterly report entries completed accurately, thoroughly, and submitted within required timeframes in accordance with agency standards. Effective cross team collaboration across departments. Support the Training Manager in the delivery, facilitation, and reinforcement of case management training initiatives Provide field-based coaching and mentorship to case managers, modeling best practices in engagement, documentation, and service coordination Support onboarding and development of new staff through guided shadowing, feedback, and structured skill-building Identify individual and systemic practice gaps and communicate findings to inform training priorities Co-facilitate team meetings, case staffings, and practice development sessions as assigned Maintain a reduced caseload with full adherence to agency standards for quality, compliance, and timeliness Develop and implement case plans that support timely permanency outcomes while coaching staff on effective case planning, goal setting, and permanency-focused practice Conduct ongoing case reviews to ensure assessments and documentation are current and aligned with the Florida Child Welfare Practice Model, and build staff competency in applying these standards independently Provide safety management services, including crisis response and resource coordination, while training staff to assess risk, respond appropriately, and coordinate support effectively Prepare court-related documentation, including Judicial Review Social Study Reports (JRSSR), and guide staff to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and courtroom readiness Conduct functional assessments to inform case planning and service delivery, while developing staff proficiency in gathering, analyzing, and applying assessment findings Facilitate active participation of parents, caregivers, and youth in case planning, while coaching staff to apply effective engagement strategies and maintain accurate, comprehensive documentation of family voice in CCWIS documentation Support reunification efforts while maintaining concurrent planning when appropriate, and train staff to manage both with consistency and intentionality Facilitate connections with kin, fictive kin, and natural supports to promote long-term stability, while building staff competency in identifying, engaging, and sustaining those relationships. Promote placement stability through consistent caregiver engagement, while coaching staff on strategies that strengthen caregiver relationships, address concerns proactively, and reduce placement disruption. Collaborate with educational liaisons to ensure school stability and academic performance, while building staff capacity to assess needs, coordinate support, and ensure educational outcomes are met. Coordinate with Peer Family Navigators and community providers to strengthen service access, while modeling effective cross-system collaboration to case managers Connect families to community-based resources, and develop staff knowledge of available services and resource navigation Support life skills development for older youth, and coach staff to deliver practical, youth-centered engagement and intervention Assist with adoption readiness and finalization processes, while preparing staff to manage adoption-related responsibilities with accuracy and urgency Ensure all documentation meets CCWIS requirements, agency policy, and regulatory standards, and reinforce staff accountability for accuracy, completeness, and timeliness Utilize required data systems, including CCWIS and Stabilify, to support service delivery and coaching, and build staff proficiency in system use and documentation practices Model and reinforce fidelity to the Florida Child Welfare Practice Model across all casework and coaching interactions Maintain a reduced caseload with full adherence to quality, compliance, and timeliness standards, demonstrating expected practice performance Participate in quality assurance and performance improvement activities, and prepare staff to engage in continuous improvement efforts Model professionalism, accountability, and ethical conduct, setting clear expectations for staff behavior and performance Maintain flexibility to meet organizational and training needs, and promote adaptability within staff practice Respond promptly to leadership direction and organizational priorities, reinforcing alignment across staff Demonstrate and reinforce alignment with the organization’s mission, vision, and values Perform additional duties as assigned Qualifications: Essential Qualifications: Certifications/Licensures: Certification as a Certified Case Manager (CWCM) in good standing by an agency approved and recognized by the Florida Certification Board is required at the time of hire Education: Bachelor's degree in social work, human services, or related field required Master's degree in social work, or related field preferred Experience and Competencies: A minimum of three (3) years of related experience providing case management and/or training, coaching and mentoring preferred Minimum of two years of direct services experience with children, youth, and families Physical required prior to hire; paid by agency Bilingual preferred Valid Florida driver’s license Must have familiarity of Miami Dade County Must have reliable transportation Must have availability to work a flexible schedule including evenings and weekends Maintains confidential files and records Ability to identify and describe key signs, symptoms, impact and manifestations of adverse experiences Ability to prioritize and organize competing consumer and family needs Ability to use trauma informed care principles including ensuring consumer safety, preventing/avoiding triggering past adverse experiences, maximizing trustworthiness, enhancing consumer choice, maximizing collaboration, and emphasizing empowerment Aware of the differences between trauma informed and trauma-specific services Knowledge of Trauma-Informed Care Knowledge of the inter-relationship between substance abuse and mental health disorders The ability to assess the individual’s growth and development relative to normative development for his/her chronological age, including physical, emotional, cognitive, educational, and social development The ability to conceptualize cases within a developmental framework for the purpose of service planning, therapeutic intervention, and discharge planning The ability to coordinate and integrate multiple services, as well as interface and communicate with internal and external providers The ability to identify and evaluate an individual’s strengths, barriers, problems, and needs. The ability to identify crises when they surface; mitigate or resolve the immediate problem; and de-escalate the situation, including the ability to develop, change and update Safety Plans, as needed The ability to identify the needs of a child and family that cannot be met by the agency and to assist the child/family to utilize the support systems and community resources available The ability to provide information to individuals and families concerning alcohol or other drug use, mental health problems, and the available services and resources The ability to provide service planning through the identification and prioritization of problems needing resolution; the development of goals and objectives for the consumer which are expressed in behavioral and measurable terms; and the ability to negotiate goals and objectives with the consumer and the family Understanding and application of federal, state, local and agency confidentiality rules and professional standards of conduct Understanding of family dynamics, family roles, and family structure Understanding of issues related to individuals with varied identities in prevention, intervention and treatment Understands that individuals with distinct community backgrounds have different perceptions of health Demonstrates respect for individuals with varied identities when conducting assessments, developing Wellness and Recovery Plans, and providing services Understands that individuals with distinct community backgrounds define and perceive family and its importance differently Demonstrates ability to work effectively with individuals with distinct community backgrounds Understands the bidirectional relationships between substance use and mental disorders Understands the differences among various kinds of abuse and adverse experiences, including physical, emotional, and sexual abuse; domestic violence; experiences of was for both combat veterans and survivors of war; natural disasters; and community violence Knowledge of WestCare Mission, goals and values Knowledge of Incident Reporting Knowledge of HIPAA, Professional Ethics, Consumer Rights and Confidentiality Familiarity with WestCare services and programs Demonstrates a high degree of dependability. Maintains a good attendance record Observes working hours Shows flexibility and is responsive to requests from supervisor Works independently with minimal supervision Exhibits characteristics of good workmanship, and integrity on the job Work time is always productive Demonstrates ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with consumers, co-workers, external partners, and regulatory agencies Is courteous to consumers, staff, and all others. Demonstrates tact at the appropriate time. Cooperates with others both within and outside WestCare. Works well with supervisor; accepts direction and supervision Maintains a positive attitude toward work Ensures and maintains a safe working environment. Work area is clean and orderly Verbalizes, understands and adheres to agency safety procedures Demonstrates appropriate use of Unusual Incident Reports, in accordance with the Center’s reporting procedures Presents a positive personal image Dresses and maintains a professional demeanor CPR Certification, First Aid Certification and an annual Tuberculosis test Ability to utilize Microsoft Office Software Suite Ability to provide an Affidavit of Good Moral Character Clearance in Pre-Employment Drug Testing and Criminal Records Checks, as required Strong knowledge of the Florida Child Welfare Practice Model and related statutes Excellent communication and collaboration skills with diverse stakeholders Commitment to programs built on proven methods that ensure effective treatment Ability to manage a educed case load and coach and mentor staff Working Conditions: Work is primarily performed in an office or residential treatment setting; and Some outdoor activities may be required Essential Physical and Mental Demands of the Job The employee must be able to perform the following essential duties and activities with or without accommodation: Physical Demands: Requires mobility and physical activity: Having an adequate range of body motion and mobility to work in an office, residential, or outdoor environment including standing and walking (even and uneven surfaces), sitting for extended periods of time, bending, twisting, reaching, balancing, occasional lifting and carrying of up to 50 pounds. Use of computer and telephone systems is required which includes coordination of eye and hand, and fine manipulation by the hands (typing, writing, and working with files). Requires the ability to defend oneself and clients in physically abusive situations through the use of approved physical de-escalation techniques. Requires talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Talking is required to impart oral information to employees, clients, patients, and the public, and in those activities in which the employee is required to convey detailed or important spoken instructions to others accurately, loudly, or quickly. Requires hearing: Hearing is required to receive and communicate detailed information through oral communication Requires seeing: Clarity of vision at 20 inches or less and at distance. This factor is required to complete paperwork for many of the employee’s essential job functions and to observe client behavior and activities in and out of the facility The normal work routine involves no exposure to human blood, body fluids or tissues. However, exposure or potential exposure may be required as a condition of employment Mental Demands: Requires the ability to collect and analyze complex numerical and written data and verbal information to reach logical conclusions Requires the ability to work and cooperate with clients, co-workers, managers, the public and employees at all levels in order to exchange ideas, information, instructions and opinions Requires the ability to work under stress and in emotionally charged settings The ability to defend oneself and clients in mentally/verbally abusive situations through the use of approved mental/verbal de-escalation techniques