Job Responsibilities

Under administrative direction of the Area Administrator, serves as Permanency Team Supervisor; plans, supervises, reviews, and coordinates the activities of a team of professional caseworkers engaged in providing child welfare services to children and families; provides technical direction and guidance on caseloads; explains, monitors, and enforces compliance with the provisions of all applicable state or federal laws and Department rules and procedures; serves as working supervisor; refers instances requiring potential disciplinary action to Area Administrator; establishes and maintains effective linkages with appropriate community and contracted service providers to ensure the provision of services; establishes and implements a team-based program of staff development and training.

1.  Serves as Permanency Team Supervisor; plans, supervises, reviews, and coordinates the activities of a team of professional caseworkers engaged in providing child welfare protective services to clients; meets with staff on a regular basis to provide technical direction and guidance on caseloads; monitors progress in meeting case goals and objectives; establishes and implements a system for ensuring direct regular clinical review of services is being provided to children and families; coordinates and participates in the provision of clinical consultation to staff on individual cases; recommends changes in service plans; explains, monitors, and enforces compliance with the provisions of all applicable state or federal laws and Department rules and procedures; develops, implements, and enforces team-specific operational procedures; provides assistance to caseworkers in the development of services and service plans for clients; monitors development of service plan agreement; drives to field locations to conduct on-site reviews.

2.  Serves as working supervisor; assigns and reviews work; provides guidance and training to assigned staff; counsels staff regarding work performance; refers instances requiring potential disciplinary action to Area Administrator; reassigns staff to meet day-to-day operating needs; establishes annual goals and objectives and evaluates same; approves/disapproves time off requests; prepares and signs performance evaluations.

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3.  Establishes and maintains effective linkages with the appropriate community and contracted service providers to ensure the provision of child-centered, family focused, community-based services to the maximum extent possible; maintains regular communication with the appropriate service providers concerning such information service providers may need to provide resources to Department clients; maintains effective linkages and coordination with the appropriate service providers for supporting the involvement of DCFS staff with the service providers to ensure access and delivery of behavioral health services at individual case level; verifies that caseworker staff are aware of pre-screening requirements for psychiatric hospitalization through the SASS network; manages and supervises the process of referrals of cases to the service providers.

4.  Establishes and implements a team-based program of staff development and training for subordinate staff; monitors to ensure staff attend Department-sponsored training sessions; conducts an annual assessment of the training needs of subordinate staff, both on an individual and collective basis; evaluates group and individual effectiveness, independently acting to improve both; devises and implements revised methods and procedures for appropriate case control; provides input to management in use of volunteers, students, and other resources available to the team; arranges and conducts orientation and training programs for staff development; teaches social work principles, work methods, and procedures; provides on-the-job learning experience for staff.

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5.  Explains and enforces agency policies, procedures, state and area statutes, and requirements; reviews recommended and/or newly enacted policies and procedures, providing input and discussing effects of such action with Administrators; monitors to ensure team is functioning as a Local Quality Improvement team and that a Local Quality Unit binder including minutes, action plans, agendas, etc. is maintained; monitors to ensure that the team participates fully in all Regional Quality Council requirements; monitors to ensure staff organization and arrangement of all case files in AP5 order; monitors to ensure case confidentiality.

6.  Attends technical staff conferences to assess needed services; serves as liaison with other agencies and community resources; explains agency services to clients, team staff, public officials, and community organizations; identifies and communicates to next level of management, on a regular basis, program or service deficits which are negatively impacting services to children and families; provides input for reducing or eliminating such deficits.

7.  Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

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8.  Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Requires an MSW from a recognized college or university and three years administrative child welfare experience
2. OR a master’s degree in an acceptable human services field from a recognized college or university and four years administrative child welfare experience.

Specialized Skills:  Of the previously noted years of experience, requires that the experience include at least 2 years in the administration of substitute care services

Employment Conditions

1. Requires ability to pass a background check
2. Requires ability to travel and possession of a valid driver’s license