Foster Care Supervisor (Saginaw)

About the role

The Foster Care Supervisor ensures foster care programs and services meet agency expectations and goals, working with other supervisors and staff to address the needs of children and families and managing program operations. The role directs, supervises, and evaluates program staff, including a case management team, and collaborates with agency staff, DHHS, and other entities to address system issues and concerns.

Responsibilities

• Establish and oversee administrative procedures to meet program goals and objectives set by the Director of Child Welfare Programs and the Leadership team.
• Establish and enforce norms and best practice models within the rules, regulations, and guidelines set by the State of Michigan’s DHHS, MCHS, and accrediting bodies.
• Establish and maintain department systems, records, and reports; recommend, develop, and implement new approaches, policies, and procedures for continued improvement of department services.
• Operate within the guidelines of the Employee Handbook, Programs Operations Manual, and DHHS Policies and Procedures.
• Assist in overseeing licensing renewals and rulings to ensure ongoing compliance with agency, licensing, accreditation, contractual, and legal obligations and requirements.
• Assist with foster care licensing/certification rules, re-licensing, complaints, and adverse rulings as needed.
• Assist with intakes as needed; review placements and referral paperwork as needed.
• Process cases overseeing children in foster care, including arranging visitations, counseling parents, supporting foster parents, attending court, contacting schools, attending school conferences, and ensuring medical appointments are kept.
• Assist Licensing with coordinating recruitment, orientation, and training of foster parents as needed.
• Collaborate with adoption and licensing teams, other departments within the agency, external governing agencies, and the community as needed.
• Ensure foster care staff operate within job duty requirements; provide guidance, training, assistance, and support to staff, including performance management, professional development, workload adjustments, and resolving complaints to foster teamwork and motivation.
• Develop, coordinate, and oversee the implementation of a formalized orientation for new hires; create a training program with core competencies, knowledge, and skills necessary for foster care staff success.
• Develop departmental structures and processes to hold staff accountable to standards established by state agency policy, practice, and programming.
• Work collaboratively with other supervisors to carry out the agency’s philosophy, vision, and mission.
• Operate programs in a fiscally responsible manner by adhering to budgets, controlling expenses, maximizing revenue, and complying with agency fiscal policies and procedures.
• Plan, organize, implement, manage, monitor, and modify short- and long-term program initiatives.
• Maintain essential records as needed.
• Ensure all programming, policies, and procedures comply with applicable laws and regulations.
• Represent the agency to outside groups and organizations, including businesses, the community, and volunteers as needed.
• Participate in regular agency-wide events and appropriate community-wide events and activities.
• Partner with the Director of Child Welfare Programs on operational and strategic issues; provide strategic recommendations based on child welfare analysis and projections.
• Demonstrate commitment to the social sector with a passion for MCHS’s mission and vision.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Child Welfare Programs and the Leadership Team.

Qualifications

• Masters degree in a human behavioral science such as Social Work or a related discipline where 25% of the course credits earned toward the degree are in human behavior science.
• Two (2) years experience as a case worker in a social services agency required.
• Child Welfare Training Institute required, with preference for CWTI Supervisory training completed.
• Must meet the State’s Moral Character standard.

Knowledge Requirements

• Computer and software applications (All MS Office, LMS and MiSACWIS).
• Principles and practices of social work, including the NASW Code of Ethics or related fields of study/profession.
• Policies and procedures related to child welfare.
• Family and child dynamics.

Skills and Abilities

• Effectively communicate verbally and in writing with agency staff and government officials.
• Demonstrate leadership and integrity.
• Motivate, develop, and direct people; identify the best people for the job.
• Manage time and multiple priorities; meet deadlines.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, other agencies, and the public.
• Handle sensitive and confidential situations and documentation.
• Be collaborative and flexible, with a strong service mentality.
• Attend training and travel offsite for meetings and seminars.
• Possess a high degree of personal accountability, responsibility, and independent decision-making abilities with the skills to plan, organize, develop, implement, and interpret programs, goals, objectives, policies, and procedures of the organization.
• Work flexible hours when needed, which may include some evenings and weekends.