Case Planning & Sociotherapist Director

JOB TITLE: EFFC Case Planning & Socio-therapist Director

DEPARTMENT: Enhanced Family Foster Care

LOCATION: Queens/Brooklyn/Long Island

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Ensures unit compliance with all rules and regulations of the Agency, NYC Children’s Services, NYS Office of Children and Family Services and all other regulatory and accreditation bodies, as it relates to foster care and adoption. Ensures adherence to the Agency’s mission, values, Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct. Works cooperatively with all other Agency departments to achieve common goals.
• Supervises Case Planning Supervisors and Socio-therapist Supervisors to ensure they:

o Hold interdisciplinary treatment teams every 30 days for the first 90 days of placement to assess the child’s adjustment and progress on the child and family reaching the goals related to the treatment and services provided. After the initial 90 days, the treatment team should meet at a minimum quarterly to assess progress towards treatment goals and/or to identify additional treatment needs. Assess parent’s progress in the treatment plan and update/adjust the treatment plan, as needed.

o Assess the child’s needs and foster home characteristics to collaborate with homefinding and intake department to match children when placement or transfers are needed.

o Finalize individual treatment plans for children after discussion with child, family, and case planning staff, and update treatment plans, as needed.

o Review all FASPs, Progress Notes, Court Reports, correspondence and other documentation, ensuring quality and timely submissions.

o Facilitate case planning meetings that include family, case planners, and clinical staff

o Provide coverage for Case Planners during PTO or when there are multiple vacancies.

o Meet with Case Planners and Socio-therapists one-on-one supervision at minimum on a bi-weekly basis to discuss safety, permanency, and well-being issues on all assigned cases.

o Attend all required trainings including Supervisory Core Training and TRIPP. Supervisors should be aware of any significant changes in the field and be willing to attend outside trainings, seminars, and workshops, as needed for professional development.

o Complete staff evaluations, resolve and address staff issues, participate in hiring, and disciplinary actions.

• Fulfills duty of Mandated Reporter, which entails reporting any suspected instances of child abuse or maltreatment.
• Meets with Supervisors one-on-one supervision at minimum on a monthly basis to discuss safety, permanency, and well-being issues on all assigned cases.
• Assess child needs and foster home characteristics to collaborate with homefinding and intake department to match children when placement or transfers are needed.
• Participate in interdisciplinary treatment teams and collaborate on finalizing treatment plans.
• Collaborate closely with Case Planning Directors.

FUNCTION OF THE POSITION: The Case Planning and Socio-therapist Director will provide leadership,

supervision, and support to all program staff. The Case Planning and Socio-therapist Director will oversee both

case planning and socio-therapist teams and comply with all ACS, OCFS, and SCO policies to ensure safety,

permanency, and well-being to all children and youth.

REPORTS TO: Vice President of Family Permanency and Support Services

SUPERVISES: EFFC Case Planning Supervisors and Socio-therapist Supervisors

• Participate in case conferences, family team conferences, and meetings with clients, foster parents and other stakeholders, as needed.
• Provide coverage for Supervisors in event of PTO, a schedule conflict or vacancy.
• Provide leadership in the recruitment and retention of foster and adoptive parents.
• Ensures the maintenance of complete, accurate and organized case records as well as program and office activity records, such as time and attendance, petty cash funds, caseload composition and assignments, placement date, child movements and discharge grants.
• Attends all required trainings including TRIPP. Directors should be aware of any significant changes in the field and be willing to attend outside trainings, seminars, and workshops, as needed for professional development.
• Complete staff evaluations, resolve and address staff issues, participate in hiring, and disciplinary actions.
• Participate in monthly and quarterly incident reviews and develop PDSA’s, as needed.
• Participate and testify in court hearings, as needed.
• Participate in the reviews of the certification process of foster homes and address the training needs of foster and adoptive parents.
• Timely respond to all hotline and emergency calls, including nights and weekends.
• Perform all other duties as assigned by the Vice President.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree required, MSW degree preferred and a minimum of two (2) years in child welfare management.
• Approved background clearances and fingerprinting are required.
• Excellent oral and written communication
• Proficiency in computer skills, including Microsoft Office, Excel and Connections.
• Bilingual abilities are strongly encouraged.
• Valid NYS Driver License is required

In addition, all EFFC employees should possess the following characteristics:

• Be team players. Maintain a constructive, cooperative, and positive atmosphere.
• Demonstrate commitment to the Agency’s mission and values.
• Be able to empathize and provide quality services to children and families that have histories of chemical dependency, mental illness, neglect, physical, sexual and/or emotional abuse.
• Be willing to work closely with children, families, and staff from different cultural and religious backgrounds, as well as from varying socio-economic statuses.
• Work competently, compassionately and without judgment with individuals who may identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or may be in different stages of discovering or disclosing their sexual orientation or gender identity.
• Possess a strong belief in people’s ability to grow and change; forge a mutually respectful partnership with persons served and their families.
• Be flexible in their ability to work extended hours or irregular schedules in response to the program’s needs. Be willing to travel between the various EFFC offices and other agency sites, as required.
• Demonstrate an ability to set limits and maintain the helping role of practitioner, as well as to intervene appropriately.