Essential Job Functions:

The Court Advocacy Manager is a licensed attorney responsible for improving and overseeing all court-related functions within the foster care case management program. This role ensures consistent court coverage, legal compliance, and strong advocacy practices that drive timely permanency outcomes. The Manager will supervise court advocacy staff, collaborate with case management teams, and serve as a legal quality assurance (Legal QA) resource. This position also plays a critical role in monitoring performance metrics, minimizing court delays, supporting the Director of Court and Permanency Services, and ensuring strong coordination with stakeholders such as Florida Foster Care Review, Guardian ad Litem, and dependency court personnel.

Essential Qualifications:

Court Oversight and Advocacy

• Monitor all dependency court dockets and calendars to ensure daily and long-term hearing coverage.
• Assign advocacy staff to courtrooms and hearings, ensuring appropriate preparation and representation for each case.
• Staff cases in advance of court dates to verify readiness, coordinate with case managers, and align on recommendations.
• Attend hearings as needed and provide legal guidance, representation, or coaching to advocacy staff.
• Reduce resets and continuances through proactive planning, preparation, and follow-up.
• Ensure high-quality documentation and presentations are submitted on time and reflect permanency progress.

Florida Foster Care Review (FFCR)

• Monitor and ensure attendance and preparedness for all Citizens Review Panel (CRP) hearings.
• Ensure that required documents, updates, and participants are ready in advance of FFCR reviews.
• Partner with FFCR staff to address barriers to permanency identified during reviews and track follow-up.

• ermanency Staffings

• Facilitate and/or monitor permanency staffings to ensure they are purposeful, solutions-focused, and advancing the child’s permanency plan.
• Collaborate with case managers, CLS, Guardian ad Litem, and other stakeholders to develop and track action steps resulting from staffings.
• Ensure that delays are escalated, barriers are identified, and cross-agency collaboration is maintained to resolve issues.

• Leadership & Supervision

• May be asked supervise or lead specialists and other assigned legal support staff.
• Provide coaching on courtroom procedures, legal writing, and permanency-focused advocacy.
• Collaborate with the Director of Court and Permanency Services on strategic planning, staffing, and system improvements.

• Compliance & Performance Monitoring

• Monitor legal and permanency-related metrics such as:
•  Number of resets or continuances
•  Timeliness of hearings (judicial reviews, permanency hearings, CRPs)
•  Case progress toward permanency goals
• Serve as a Legal QA lead, identifying compliance issues, coaching staff, and implementing solutions.
• Adjust team practices as needed to meet contract requirements and state expectations.

• Collaboration & Communication

• Work closely with case managers, supervisors, CLS attorneys, Guardian ad Litem, FFCR, and the judiciary.
• Coordinate with the internal Quality Assurance team to align advocacy and permanency practices with broader program goals.
• Serve as a liaison between legal stakeholders and case management staff, clarifying court expectations and legal mandates.
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Certifications/Licensures:

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school
• Active member in good standing with The Florida Bar
• Minimum 3 years’ experience in dependency court or child welfare legal practice
• Supervisory or team leadership experience preferred
• Knowledge of Chapter 39, Florida Administrative Code, CFOP 170-9, and FFCR/CRP process
• Proficient in FSFN or equivalent child welfare systems

  Experience and Competencies:

• Strong leadership, coaching, and team-building abilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to build and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage competing priorities.
• Analytical thinker with sound judgment and problem-solving capabilities.
• Commitment to child and family well-being, equity, and timely permanency.
• Experience working within a community-based care (CBC) model.
• Familiarity with case management systems and court tracking databases.
• Possess a current Background Clearance Screening Letter as required by DCF.
• Valid Florida driver’s license and ability to obtain and maintain WestCare’s vehicle

• insurance is required;

• The ability to identify and evaluate an individual’s strengths, barriers, problems, and

• needs for the development of a Wellness and Recovery Plan

• The ability to write assessments, progress notes, discharge summaries, and other consumer related data
• Knowledge of the inter-relationship among substance use, mental health, and primary care disorders
• Knowledge and application of developmental theories
• The ability to evaluate the impact of substance use and mental health problems on the

• consumer’s functioning in major life area

• The ability to coordinate and integrate multiple services, as well as interface and communicate with internal and external providers
• The ability to provide information to individuals and families concerning alcohol or other drug abuse, mental health problems, and the available services and resources
• The ability to identify the needs of a consumer that cannot be met by the counselor or agency and to assist the consumer/family to utilize the support systems and community resources available
• The ability to identify crises when they surface; mitigate or resolve the immediate problem; and de-escalate the situation, including the ability to develop Safety Plans, as needed
• 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
• Understanding of the relationship among mental health, substance use, physical health, and medication use on daily functioning
• 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 professional ethics, consumer rights, and professional responsibilities
• Ability    to    communicate    appropriately    and    effectively    with    members    of    a multidisciplinary team
• Ability to organize, interpret, and communicate data in a comprehensive and effective manner
• Ability to handle multiple tasks and effectively prioritize
• Ability to network with internal and external departments and agencies
• Understanding of issues related to cultural identity, ethnic background, age, developmental level, gender and sexual orientation in prevention, intervention and treatment.
• Understands that different cultural and ethnic groups have different perceptions of health
• Understands that different cultures define and perceive family and its importance differently.
• Ability to use trauma informed care principles including ensuring consumer safety, preventing/avoiding re-traumatization, maximizing trustworthiness, enhancing consumer choice, maximizing collaboration, and emphasizing empowerment
• Ability to identify and describe key signs, symptoms, impact and manifestations of trauma
• Aware of the differences between trauma informed and trauma-specific services
• Understands the bidirectional relationships among substance use and mental disorders and trauma
• Understands the differences among various kinds of abuse and trauma, including: physical, emotional, and sexual abuse; domestic violence; experiences of war 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 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 leadership and team management abilities.
  • Extensive knowledge of child welfare systems, case management, and regulatory compliance.
  • Experience in program development, quality assurance, and staff supervision.
  • Excellent communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
  • Ability to develop and maintain collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
  • Strong organizational and project management skills

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    Working Conditions:

  • Work is primarily performed in an office or outpatient treatment setting.
  • Some outdoor activities may be required.

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    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. Appropriate personal protective equipment will be readily available to every employee.

  • 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.

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