Social Work Program Manager

Position Description

An employee in this class directly supervises all child welfare and adult services supervisors. The employee in this position must ensure quality services to children, families and adults who come to the attention of the agency through reports of abuse, neglect and/or dependency. Work involves developing and managing services that focus on safety, permanence, and well-being for children and adults. The employee must ensure that all activities/services/outcomes are in compliance with rule/law/policy. Work in this class involves high level administrative responsibilities and considerable involvement with the Director and Agency Attorney as well as external peers and professional entities in the community. The employee is responsible for scheduling, planning and implementation of service delivery, as well as continuous evaluation and program improvement. This position will require the employee to perform duties work outside of standard business hours. Work is performed independently under direct supervision of the agency Director.

Responsibilites

• Manages a complex child welfare system, assuring that programs meet all rules, regulations, mandates, and policies as established by law, state/local policy and guidelines, as well as North Carolina Administrative Rules.
• Ensures quality of practice by child welfare staff and supervisors through provision of training and guidance, reviewing records/reports, and monitoring court compliance.
• Analyzes statistical data and identifies staffing/ training and development/programmatic needs.
• Develop and implement programs/ functions/ activities to ensure quality of services and address service gaps.
• Generates new local procedures and protocols, as needed.
• Appropriate processing of cases, supported by necessary documentation and administrative process, to maximize revenues from funding sources.
• Constantly evaluates effectiveness and efficiency of the work Unit.
• Provide consultation, guidance, and support specifically to the Supervisors, to the entire Unit in group settings, and on an individual case(s) when the complexity/necessity requires.
• Evaluates risk of harm for children based on work with staff and notifies Agency Attorney and/or Director, when such is indicated.
• Monitors staff development and training, ensuring compliance with all state/legislatively-mandated requirements (including preliminary and ongoing), and develops local resources when needed.
• Provides focused, direct, hands-on training for supervisors, in addition to all other opportunities.
• Promotes education and learning, by ensuring that all staff have access, knowledge, and understanding of current/accurate processes, policies, and procedures.
• Communicates all practice changes and learning opportunities, and requires timely adjustment.
• Monitors staff development and training, ensuring compliance with all state/legislatively-mandated requirements (including preliminary and ongoing), and develops local resources when needed.
• Provides focused, direct, hands-on training for supervisors, in addition to all other opportunities.
• Promotes education and learning, by ensuring that all staff have access, knowledge, and understanding of current/accurate processes, policies, and procedures.
• Communicates all practice changes and learning opportunities, and requires timely adjustment.
• Coordinates work/activities for child welfare with other groups/units within and external to the agency.
• Represents child welfare in all community forums.
• Develops relationships with appropriate stakeholders, including but not limited to mental health, public health, law enforcement, civic groups, school system, court, Guardian Ad Litem, and Department of Juvenile Justice.
• Participates in community assessment activities and issues/problem-solving, bringing the interests of DSS and child welfare to the table.
• Prepares and present information about child welfare for various entities on various scales.
• Participates in state-level and/or local committee meetings, conference calls, workgroups, and peer trainings.
• Provide 24/7 after-hours/holiday supervision for on-call staff on a rotating basis.
• Performs related duties as assigned.
• In the event of an emergency, as determined by the County Manager or designee, participation in preparedness and response operations is expected. Employee is required to fill a temporary assignment in a role different from standard duties, work hours and/or work location in preparation for, during, and after the emergency. Employee is also required to participate in relevant exercises and regular preparedness training.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Considerable knowledge of practices and principles of social work.
• Considerable knowledge of child welfare rule/law/policy, juvenile statutes and NC Administrative Rules.
• Knowledge of personnel law and local personnel policy.
• Knowledgeable of community leaders and resources.
• Knowledge of social work principles, techniques, and practices must be demonstrated and applied to specific casework and community problems.
• Considerable knowledge of behavioral and socioeconomic problems and promising treatment techniques.
• Knowledge of government and local organization structure.
• Knowledge of federal/state/county funding streams and allocations and training resources.
• Must engage governmental/civic/private organizations.
• Understand laws, regulations, and policies which govern social work programs.
• Demonstrated skill in supervising, training, and coaching social workers, students, interns, or other child welfare support staff.
• Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely, and to plan and execute work effectively.
• Highly-developed skill set, including all facets of personnel management, social work knowledge, supervision, risk assessment, training, strengths-based engagement and trauma-informed practice.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, planning/evaluating, budgeting, presentations/public speaking.
• Ability to motivate families/staff/groups/community around child safety issues.

Required Minimum Education / Experience

• Master's degree from an accredited school of social work and three years of social work or counseling experience, two of which was in a supervisory capacity; or
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited school of social work and four years of social work or counseling experience, two of which were in a supervisory capacity; or
• Master's degree in a counseling field and four years of social work or counseling experience, two of which were in a supervisory capacity; or
• Four-year degree in a human services field or related curriculum including at least 15 semester hours in courses related to social work or counseling and five years of social work or counseling experience, two of which were in a supervisory capacity; or
• Graduation from a four-year college or university and six years of experience in rehabilitation counseling, pastoral counseling, or a related human services field providing experience in techniques of casework, group work, or community organization, two of which were in a supervisory capacity; or
• Equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Possess a valid NC Driver's License.