Program Specialist II

PLEASE ATTACH THE ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS LISTED AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE

Job ID: 30995
Agency: Department of Social Services - Division of Child Protection Services
Location: Pierre is preferred, location negotiable
Salary: $64,101.60 - $80,116.56, depending on qualifications
Pay Grade: K
Closing Date: 04/17/2025

This is a Full-Time position with the Department of Social Services. For more information on the Department of Social Services, please visit https://dss.sd.gov/.

Why the Department of Social Services?

At the Department of Social Services (DSS), family is everything. It’s the foundation of what we do every day through provision of services to strengthen and support the citizens of South Dakota. Our work is driven with our vision to build Strong Families, South Dakota’s Foundation and Our Future. We believe families have the right to be safe and secure. We also believe in respecting individual and cultural differences by treating people with dignity, fairness, and respect. And we believe in collaborative communications, teamwork, partnerships and trust for essential family services. Sound intriguing?

As a Department of Social Services employee, you will have a chance to experience:

• Creativity – We are always looking for innovative ideas to help us achieve improved outcomes.
• Making a difference – You will have an opportunity to make a difference in the life of fellow South Dakotans.
• Professional development – We provide valuable trainings to ensure well-trained staff that is competent, accountable and empowered and will assist you in reaching your career goals.
• Teamwork – In a team-oriented approach, you will have the ability to work cooperatively with others in a friendly work environment to achieve shared goals.

Who we want:

• a highly motivated and experienced person with a passion for serving the public and displays a high level of effort and commitment towards completing assignments and goals;
• a compassionate individual who listens attentively to others and clearly conveys information and ideas;
• an individual who is skilled in engaging others to build partnerships and cohesive working relationships;
• a dependable and organized individual who effectively plans and organizes work activities;
• a person who is dedicated and who will represent the Department of Social Service with integrity and enthusiasm; and
• an individual who works cooperatively with others and promotes a friendly work climate in order to achieve shared goals.

What you will do:

We are currently looking to hire one individual who is excited to serve the public.

This position is responsible for developing, implementing, administering, and interpreting changes for programs related to placement for children requiring group, residential, and psychiatric care. Other responsibilities include:

• Supervise a Child Protection Services (CPS) Family Services Specialist position with responsibilities to conduct on-site visits with children in CPS custody placed in group care and residential facilities out of state.
• Assist CPS staff with referrals to group, residential, and psychiatric care facilities recommended for children in CPS custody.
• Participate in a weekly State Review Team meeting with stakeholders to make recommendations for child placements in group, residential, and psychiatric care facilities.
• Coordinate and lead a weekly team meeting with CPS staff, group care providers, and in-patient adolescent substance and mental health treatment programs to appropriately match children with care and treatment to meet child needs.
• Prepare and monitor contracts with shelter care, group care, and residential treatment programs in and out of state as well as review service provision of contractors to ensure it meets goals of contract.
• Obtain necessary documentation from out of state facilities for yearly audits. Coordinate with the Out of State Facility Travel Family Services Specialist for on site facility audit portion of the yearly audit.
• Coordinate oversight of healthcare oversight for children in CPS custody, including psychotropic medication administration and trauma-informed care.
• Coordinate and lead quarterly meetings of the psychotropic medication oversight workgroup.
• Plan, direct, and develop initiatives and recommendations for program and budgetary modifications and/or pertaining to the departmental support/nonsupport for new federal and/or state initiatives and/or program revisions and proposals.
• Identify local, national, and international trends and assess its impact on or applicability to state programs, and research feasibility of implementation.
• Research and analyze information (reports, complaints, questions, etc.) from a variety of sources to identify need for expanding, improving, or reducing program services.
• Coordinate and lead teams comprised of agency staff, consumers, and stakeholders to implement state and/or federal initiatives.
• Offer technical support and guidance, analyze, and evaluate issues and proposals, develop recommendations, and direct the implementation of solutions.
• Develop rules and regulations for legislative dissemination.
• Provide technical expertise to program staff, other agencies and clients receiving program services to ensure programs operate within set standards and services are delivered efficiently and effectively.
• Manage a budget that utilizes funding to pay for youth in state custody’s tuition costs in a group or residential setting.
• Enforce rules and regulations as outlined in Administrative Rule South Dakota.

The Ideal Candidate Will Have:

• communicate effectively and efficiently;
• successfully plan and organize work activities, adjust to multiple demands, and prioritize tasks to complete assignments and meet schedules and deadlines;
• demonstrate compassion, respect, courtesy and tact when interacting with others;
• display confidence and innovation despite adversity;
• establish and maintain effective and collaborative working relationships with stakeholders;
• understand concepts related to client confidentiality;
• have the ability to comprehend, interpret and apply policies, procedures, laws and regulations;
• prepare clear and concise documentation, reports and correspondence that reflect relevant facts; and
• conceptualize needed change and initiate appropriate activities to move from concepts to implementation.

Equally important will be a strong work ethic and the comprehension of critical thinking and problem-solving techniques. If you believe in strengthening and supporting strong families and investing in South Dakota’s future, you may have found the dream job you’ve been waiting for!

Additional Requirements: To be considered, please attach your resume.

This position is eligible for Veterans’ Preference per ARSD 55:10:02:08.

Successful applicant(s) will be required to undergo a background investigation. An arrest/conviction record will not necessarily bar employment. Successful applicant(s) will undergo an abuse and neglect screening.

The State of South Dakota does not sponsor work visas for new or existing employees. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete an Employment Eligibility Verification, Form I-9. The State of South Dakota as an employer will be using E-Verify to complete employment eligibility verification upon hire.

The State of South Dakota offers $0 premium employee health insurance option plus eleven paid holidays, generous vacation and sick leave accrual, dental, vision, and other insurance options, and retirement benefits. You can view our benefits information at https://bhr.sd.gov/job-seekers/work-for-state-government/. This position is a member of Class A retirement under SDRS.

Must apply online: https://gen-stateofsouthdako-trn.inforcloudsuite.com/hcm/xmlhttp/shorturl.do?key=1ER
You must apply online, emailed resumes or submissions will not be accepted.
South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources
Telephone: 605.773.3148 Email: careers@state.sd.us
http://bhr.sd.gov/workforus
"An Equal Opportunity Employer"

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