Posting number: 26-00375
Department: Guardian ad Litem
Job classification: GUARDIAN AD LITEM CASE COORDINATOR
Posting type: Open
Categories: Court Administration, Social Services, Professional, Community and Social Services
Work Location: 1051 Manatee Avenue West, Bradenton, Florida 34205
Work Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30am – 5:00pm
Expected Starting Hourly Range: $17.36 - $21.70
This is a highly independent, responsible position focused on achieving the GAL Program's primary mission: advocating for the best interests of children involved in the dependency court system. In this position, you may work directly with children, as a Staff Advocate, or work with children though assigned volunteers, as a Volunteer Supervisor, or by a combination of the two roles.
Note: This position shall serve at the sole will and pleasure of the Guardian ad Litem Program Executive Director and may be terminated by the Executive Director or his or her managerial designee for any lawful reason including no reason.
Working Conditions
Indoor/outdoor situation.
Essential Functions
These are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position.
This is Para-professional work in advocating for the best interests of abused, neglected and abandoned children involved in dependency proceedings.
Responsibilities include requesting records from schools, doctors or social service organizations, inputting case related data into the GAL Tracker data base, following up on phone calls, tracking the status of referrals made by the Department of Children and Families or other contracted providers, updating and retrieving files for professional staff, functioning as a court liaison if applicable, and setting up meetings and conducting home visits.
Regular contact is made with the child, caretakers, schools, teachers, doctors, attorneys, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and a variety of other social service agencies and professionals to ascertain if the best interest of the child is being met.
Discretion must be exercised in dealing with confidential and extremely sensitive issues.
Performs other related duties as assigned, including participation in emergency or disaster response activities, as required and consistent with the employee’s qualifications, essential job functions, and applicable federal and Florida law.
Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university with a major in sociology, social work, psychology, child development, or a related social science.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Knowledge of social services available to children.
Knowledge of the operations of the Florida State Court System and the dependency system.
Ability to manage case loads.
Ability to maintain proper documentation on case activity.
Ability to communicate effectively with people from culturally and economically diverse backgrounds, and people involved in emotionally distressing situations.
Ability to maintain confidentiality concerning sensitive information.
Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with others.
Ability to utilize and effectively operate a personal computer, including using software programs such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
Manatee County Government has made quality customer service to you, our customers – Manatee residents, business owners and visitors – our top priority. The Bradenton area was recently named Florida’s “most satisfying” place to live. We couldn’t agree more. Our quality of life is second to none. We’d like to think part of that satisfaction is thanks to the friendly, customer service-driven government we’ve created at Manatee County. We live here. We work here. We’re your neighbors. We appreciate the honor and privilege to serve this great community!
Manatee County is located on Florida’s gorgeous Gulf Coast. It is bordered by Tampa Bay and St. Petersburg to the north, Hardee and DeSoto counties to the east and Sarasota to the south. The beautiful beaches of Anna Maria Island fade into the Gulf of Mexico to the west. The County seat and the largest municipality in Manatee County is Bradenton. Manatee County has five other municipalities, including the City of Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach, Holmes Beach, the Town of Longboat Key and Palmetto.
More than 400,000 people call Manatee County home, but our population increases considerably in the winter when high temperatures vary between 65 and 75 degrees. Many northerners, affectionately known as Snow Birds, have second homes or rent a winter home here. Our county employees are key to delivering services to all our residents including our seniors, children, families and those just starting out. From the Libraries to Forest Preserves, Beaches to Neighborhoods, new developments to individual residences, the services we provide touch everyone in the community in a positive way. As a county employee, you contribute toward that effort.
