Licensing and Home Study Manager

Amara is committed to positive long-term outcomes for children and families. We drive systemic change, promote healing, and advance racial and LGBTQIA+ equity by offering programs and services to families engaged in the child welfare system.

At Amara, we believe that a supportive, equitable and inclusive workplace, where everyone feels valued, trusted, and nurtured, is key to shaping organizational culture and investing in underrepresented communities. Amara believes that a diverse workforce and inclusive workplace enhances our ability to fulfill our mission. We strongly invite candidates from diverse backgrounds, including communities of color, the LGBTQ+ community, veterans, and people with disabilities to apply.

We are seeking to hire a Licensing and Home Study Manager. The Licensing and Home Study Manager will be responsible for managing all licensing work for families licensed through Amara. This includes both kinship and traditional foster families. The licensing work includes home studies and initial licensing, license renewals, modifications, and maintenance, and license investigations. This position is a combination of direct service, and managing others as required to meet programmatic needs.

Position Summary: The Licensing and Home Study Manager will be responsible for managing all licensing work for families foster or kinship licensed through Amara. This includes both kinship and traditional foster families. The licensing work includes home studies and initial licensing, license renewals, modifications, and maintenance, and license investigations. This position is a combination of direct service, and managing others as required to meet programmatic needs.

Management

• Manage licensing and home study services at Amara.
• Manage a team of Specialists across Amara’s licensed caregiver service area to meet programmatic need.
• Manage, support, and develop the Licensing and Home Study team, including recruitment and retention, hiring, orientation, supervision, evaluation, and promotion of staff.
• Provide one-on-one and group supervision, utilizing reflective supervision skills. Develop clinical knowledge and skills, promote self-awareness, encourage collaboration amongst team members, and ensure consistent communication between staff and leadership.
• Assess the strengths and needs of staff; support and facilitate ongoing professional development. Monitor professional practices, ensuring compliance with local jurisdiction and agency goals, values, policies, and procedures.
• Monitor, manage and assign staff caseloads ensuring that services provided are high quality, consistent, and responsive to child and family needs.
• Review, assess, and edit work products such as home studies, home study updates and amendments, license renewals/modifications created by Specialists.
• Identify, recommend, and implement program and process improvements in concert with team feedback/guidance.
• Provide ad-hoc consultation to members of the Licensing and Home Study team as needed.
• Attend and participate in staff meetings and training as required, including in-person meetings in either Pierce County or King County offices
• At the direction of the Director of Resource Care:
  • Support the development of the Resource Care annual budget and provide ongoing monitoring of identified budget items.
  • Review, allocate, and approve program-related expenses
  • Complete data-tracking metrics and reports and highlight successes and challenges as identified.
• Maintain strong ethical boundaries and ensure staff are adhering to their professional code of conduct.

Direct Service

• Complete initial home studies and required documentation to license kinship and foster families.
• Conduct licensing investigations regarding Amara licensed families
• Complete tasks associated with license renewals, modifications, and maintenance in collaboration with the Foster Care Placement team members
• Guide kinship and foster families through the home study process. This includes writing home studies and licensing new families as time allows
• Meet requirements for timely, accurate, and thorough documentation for case files

Partnership/Engagement

• Inform and Facilitate family workshops, information meetings, support groups, and community events as needed
• Collaborate with staff and managers in other Amara programs as needed to ensure appropriate cross-program referrals and consistent service delivery
• Be an active participant on the Resource Care Leadership team; inform and enact the effective implementation of Amara’s Foster Care programming

Competencies: To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following

• Initiative in identifying areas of program growth/improvement, advocating for and implementing needed changes
• An ability to elicit ideas/feedback from others for clinical staffing and personal growth; contributes ideas in group settings; demonstrates awareness of others’ participation in ratio to their own
• Able to critique one’s own work and utilize colleagues and supervisor as check to ensure ethical decisions are being made
• Generates a positive work environment and helps to motivate others
• A team member with a respectful and accessible approach to their work who is comfortable with situations of ambiguity and able to relate to a wide range of clients and team members
• A highly competent team player who is energized by Amara’s mission and the array of expanded services that the organization is providing

Qualifications: The requirements listed below 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.

• A BSW or equivalent (social services, human services, behavioral science, or allied field) is the minimum requirement with an MSW or equivalent preferred
• Experience writing pre-placement reports/home studies or other similar types of reports required
• Three years of direct service experience (which can include internship experience) is required
• Two years of paid experience providing clinical supervision is preferred
• Strong knowledge of the WACs related to foster licensing is preferred
• Outstanding written and oral communication skills; experience communicating through verbal and written formats with a wide variety of stakeholders while balancing responsiveness, empathy, and directness
• Professional and/or lived experience in foster care, child welfare, or social services is preferred
• Strong interpersonal skills, high level of professionalism and ability to work independently
• Ability to demonstrate initiative, discretion, maturity, flexibility, and independent judgment
• Ability to flex hours to accommodate clients and staff needs on an occasional basis
• Cross-cultural responsiveness relative to age, race, ethnicity, belief systems, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and economic circumstances
• Broad use of clinical skills in writing, advocacy, communication, assessment, training
• Highly organized and detail-oriented
• Ability to successfully manage competing priorities, triage tasks, and effectively utilize time with colleagues and with clients
• Ability to confidently navigate complex conversations with staff and families
• Ability to professionally and knowledgeably represent the Resource Care team within Amara, and represent Amara in our community
• Strong familiarity with resources in King and Pierce Counties
• Ability to work both in-office and remotely as needed. Travel between our King and Pierce County offices, to client homes, and community partners (DCYF offices, court, etc.) is required.
• Must be at least 21 years old, and have a valid Washington State driver’s license, reliable vehicle, and proof of auto insurance
• Provide evidence of COVID-19 vaccination

Supervisory Responsibilities: This position will directly oversee any Home Study and Licensing Specialists that are programmatically necessary.

Salary and Benefits

This is a full-time position with a rate of pay between $72,100-$87,548.97 annually, depending on experience. The final salary offer will be commensurate with the selected candidate's experience, qualifications, and demonstrated abilities. Amara offers a generous leave and benefits package including 10 company holidays, 4 personal days, sick leave, and 15 days of vacation per year. Competitive health, dental and vision insurance rates, a 401k with a company match, life, disability insurance and a paid sabbatical. Amara supports a hybrid work schedule with some flexibility to work from home. 

Criminal Background Check

Amara conducts background checks appropriate to the contractual requirements of the position. A previous conviction will not necessarily bar individuals from employment at Amara. For specific requirements please feel free to contact the hiring manager or human resources.

Vaccination Requirement:

Amara requires that all employees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This requirement is designed to prioritize the safety of the children and families we serve. Exemptions may be sought only for documented medical or religious accommodation.

To Apply

To express your interest in this position, please submit your resume and one-page cover letter indicating why this position is the right opportunity for you. Resumes submitted without a cover letter will NOT be considered. 

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.