Director of Family Services for a Child Care Agency

General Summary:

Reporting directly to Nurtury’s Senior Director of Early Learning Centers (dotted line to VP, Business Development), the Director of Family Services develops, designs, and oversees standards and methods for delivery of behavioral health and social services to Nurtury Early Education’s children and families. Direct and assist in the integration of therapeutic and social/emotional programming within Nurtury programs, to include three early learning centers, and our family childcare (FCC) system. Provide direct supervision and support to the Family Services Assistant Director and Case Managers. Serve as a consultant to the Senior Directors, VP of Business Development, and Program Directors to assess service needs and establish goals for service plan implementation.

Essential Functions:

• Provide direct social service support, counseling and intervention to program families as indicated through the EEC contract, including families receiving childcare through the Department of Early Education & Care (EEC) Priority Populations services, as well as families identified for additional support by Nurtury staff.
• Oversee appropriate case management services for enrolled children and families, which may include, but not be limited to casework, parent groups, resource development, crisis intervention, Individual and family therapy, referral to outside sources and follow up.
• Encourage through personal example a positive and open style of leadership and communication. Develop and maintain open communications with Nurtury staff and external agencies.
• Design and oversee the establishment of program elements, standards, and methods for the delivery and evaluation of social work and other support services. Develop a systems model, which incorporates therapeutic components into a childcare setting.
• Stay abreast of national and local initiatives to develop and oversee standards and methods for delivery of behavioral health and social services for children and families within Nurtury. Conduct support service needs assessment of enrolled children and families.
• Create and implement processes and procedures for the Family Services Department in partnership with the Senior Director of Early Learning Centers and the Family Services Assistant Director.
• Provide consultation to Program Directors, Family Services Assistant Director and Senior staff for on-site delivery of support services.
• Develop orientation and training programs for Family Services Assistant Director and Case Managers related to family and clinical issues, legal mandates around child abuse and neglect, and preparing for new populations.
• Actively participate in Interviewing, hiring, and onboarding of the Family Services Assistant Director and Case Managers. Arrange and monitor social work and other student placements with Nurtury.
• Develop and maintain relationships with external agencies and service providers to assure the quality of services offered to children and families.
• Prepare and submit reports and other documents, proposals, and case outcomes, as well as the management of the department’s budget and expenditures.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Knowledge, skills and abilities required to perform the essential functions:

• Master of Social Work (MSW) or higher required
• LICSW preferred or relevant years of experience in supervision and training within the fields of Clinical Social Work, Human Services, and/or Early Childhood Education and Development.
• Experience in one or more of the following:
  • working with families of underprivileged socio-economic backgrounds
  • working with multicultural populations
  • meeting diverse family needs, stabilizing challenging circumstances, & supporting children and families who have experienced trauma.
• Strong leadership, administrative, and managerial skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to work in a collaborative environment
• Excellent time management skills in a fast-paced environment; attention to detail and strong organizational skills with the ability to meet deadlines
• Analytical problem-solving skills
• Sensitivity to and experience with handling confidential information and interactions, interacting in a culturally appropriate and responsive manner with a wide range of individuals, and navigating within and across different teams and levels of an organization.
• Strong capability to handle difficult conversations.
• Dual or multi-lingual preferred (Spanish/English/Haitian Creole)
• Strong computer skills, including the efficient use of MS Office, e-mail, web-based platforms & social media
• Experience with child evaluation systems such as: ASQ/ASQ-SE or Teaching Strategies Gold
• Some local travel required