SUMMARY

This position is responsible for supervising the Family Connections Unit. The position monitors and implements all family engagement services in accordance with state law, best clinical practice and agency practice and assures that quality child welfare services are provided to County residents, within budgetary, regulatory and legal directives.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Orientation and training of new staff, specific to service functions;
• Direct supervision of staff via regularly scheduled conference to provide direction and support and structure designed to enable casework staff to carry out job responsibilities efficiently.  Maintain Supervisory Log Books;
• Personnel management activities including performance appraisals, authorizing leave time and overtime in conjunction with administration and HR. enforcing accountability requirements and handling other personnel related matters and/or problems;
• Assignment of work tasks and appropriate delegation;
• Enforcement of policies and procedures as defined under statute, regulation and agency policy and procedure;
• Supervise management and maintenance of family and child(ren) case data, records, actions, events, etc. via the automated case management program.  Must have thorough knowledge of computer use including case management programs, Word, Outlook, Excel. etc.;
• Conduct regularly scheduled unit meetings;
• Monitor and assess practice to ensure consistency with program design and effectiveness in attainment of goals;
• Participate in regular meetings of Intake Management Team;
• Participate in program evaluation and development in conjunction with Department Administrator;
• Complete assigned statistical reports on designated basis;
• Participate in agency management meetings;
• Provide support and back-up for other Intake Unit caseworkers.  Provide regular back-up for absent workers or vacant position in work unit;
• Provide direct and or back-up supervision to the after-hours caseworker regularly as scheduled;
• Other duties assigned by Department Administrator.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

• Knowledge of crisis-intervention, clinical intervention and contingency planning;
• Knowledge of child welfare, counseling child development and family dynamics theory and practice;
• Knowledge of child welfare regulations, juvenile law, child protection law, and family and adoption services law;
• Knowledge of agency mission, goals, objectives and all related policies, procedures and programs;
• Managerial and supervisory skills including providing direction, support, guidance, limit setting, feedback and constructive criticism;
• Clinical assessment, information gathering, service planning and decision making skills;
• Time management skills;
• Ability to deal with the public in a professional manner;
• Ability to work in high stress environment, and to deal effectively with emotional and hostile clientele, often under emergency circumstances;
• Ability to work as a team member in accomplishing service unit, divisional and agency goals;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and interactive communication skills;
• Knowledge of issues of cultural diversity;
• Long and short-term planning skills and organizational abilities;
• Leadership abilities and ability to motivate, empower and encourage professional growth of staff;
• Ability to gather, assemble and analyze information and to implement decisions under difficult conditions;
• Public relations skills.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING:

• Two years of professional experience in public or private social work and a bachelor's degree with major course work in sociology, social welfare, psychology, gerontology, criminal justice, or other related degree; OR any equivalent combination of experience and education which includes 12 college credits in sociology, social welfare, psycholog , gerontology, criminal justice, or other related degree field;
• This position is subject to mandates requiring Child Abuse, Criminal History, and FBI Clearances for employment;

• Pennsylvania residency is a requirement for this position.  

   

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to:

• Sit, stand, walk, stoop or kneel and climb stairs;
• Talk, hear and see to access and communicate;
• Use hands to handle or feel objects, tools or control and reach with hands or arms;
• Must transport client children and families as needed;
• Complete visits within County, out of County and out of State home and placement visits in accordance with regulatory requirements;
• Have scheduling flexibility to work before or after regular work hours, including occasional evenings and weekends;
• Apply decision making techniques and make sound judgment related to child safety and wellbeing;
• Complete required documentation of Casework Supervisor duties;
• Lift approximately 30 pounds 5% of the time including infants, children, car seats, case records and a child's belongings. 

*EQUIPMENT NEEDED:  *Must have automobile in good working condition with Pennsylvania driver's license and adequate insurance coverage.