ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL SERVICES (CHILD WELFARE) - 40001275

About the role

This position serves as one of two Assistant Directors responsible for overseeing and leading the Child & Family Services Division. The purpose of the division is protection, safety and well-being of vulnerable children. Families and children served in this Division receive mandated services through Child Protective Services Investigative Assessments, Child Protective Services In-Home/Prevention, Child Placement/ Permanence, LINKS and Foster Care 18-21 program. This position will have assigned programmatic and administrative focus areas but will also be knowledgeable in all areas of services provided in the division.

Responsibilities

• Aid in the development of an overall strategic plan for the Child & Family Services Division.
• Ongoing collection of data and statistical analysis.
• Collaborate with the DSS Board, County Commissioners, funders and other community service providers to obtain needed client resources and services where they do not exist or are inadequate.
• Develop and implement plans to ensure adequate staff resources are in place with respect to staffing levels and competencies.
• Establish and maintain open lines of communication with all community agencies that provide or refer to services to protect vulnerable children and their families.
• Identify and implement creative strategies to ensure the highest level of interagency cooperation.
• Direct the work of the division primarily through oversight of the two program managers.
• Make recommendations to the DSS Director regarding needed organizational changes (policies, procedures, workflow, programmatic) that will improve the overall functioning of the Division.
• Ensure program credibility and accountability to all stakeholders including citizens and elected officials.
• Design and implement techniques to ensure progress toward objectives, both in the programmatic and operational areas.
• Using a system of formal and informal reporting, this position assesses progress, determines causes for significant deviations from planned objectives and implements strategies to correct identified problems.
• Conduct performance appraisals, including development of individualized work plans.
• In consultation and collaboration with the section managers, develop strategies to promote and maintain positive staff relations, including productive work teams.
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Master's degree from an accredited school of social work and four years of social work or counseling experience, two of which were supervisory;
• or bachelor's degree in social work and five years of social work or counseling experience, two of which were supervisory;
• or bachelor's degree in a human services field or related curriculum including at least 15 semester hours in courses related to social work or counseling and six years of social work or counseling experience, two of which were supervisory;
• or an equivalent combination of training and experience

Skills

• Thorough knowledge of methods and principles of casework supervision and training.
• Thorough knowledge of social work principles, techniques and practices and applications to casework and community problems.
• Considerable knowledge of social and economic factors in the community, and local agencies and resources.
• Considerable knowledge of the laws, regulations and policies which govern social services programs.
• Considerable knowledge of the principles and techniques of public administration, including personnel administration, budgeting and office management.
• Skill in directing a large staff of social workers and supervisors and related professionals and students engaged in a variety of services.