Assistant Director of Social Services
About The Position
The Assistant Director of Social Services provides programmatic and administrative leadership to the Social Services Department within the Residential Treatment Center (RTC). The Assistant Director assists in overseeing case planning, permanency planning, family engagement, discharge planning, documentation, regulatory compliance, and supervisory functions to ensure the delivery of high-quality, trauma-informed, family-centered services that support positive outcomes for youth. The position works collaboratively with Residential, Medical, Behavioral Health, Quality Improvement, and external stakeholders including OCFS, ACS, Family Court, and community providers.
Requirements
- MSW required with a minimum of 2 years of supervisory experience with some knowledge of child welfare, preferably in congregate care setting.
- Valid NYS Driver's license preferred.
- Mature, professional, leads by example, with a strong sense of purpose and performance expectations/service excellence.
- Fidelity to trauma informed care when engaging with resident population and staff alike.
- Strong writing and communication abilities.
- Proven supervisory success and basic child welfare knowledge.
- Must be high energy with a bias for action.
Responsibilities
- Assist in directing the day-to-day operations of the Social Services Department.
- Provide supervision and guidance and support to Social Services staff to ensure quality case practice.
- Promote practices that advance positive outcomes in permanency, well-being, and safety for youth.
- Ensure comprehensive assessments, service plans, progress notes, and case documentation are completed timely and meet agency, ACS, and OCFS standards.
- Review and approve Family Assessment and Service Plans (FASPs), Permanency Hearing and Court reports, discharge plans, and other required documentation.
- Support staff in managing complex behavioral, family, permanency, and crisis situations.
- Promote trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and family-centered practice.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to address the individual needs of youth and families.
- Monitor permanency outcomes and ensure timely movement toward reunification, kinship, adoption, APPLA, or other approved permanency goals.
- Ensure meaningful family engagement throughout placement.
- Monitor visitation plans and family contact.
- Participate in permanency conferences and Family Team Conferences.
- Remove barriers delaying permanency.
- Ensure compliance with NYS OCFS regulations, ACS Quality Assurance Standards, Medicaid/29-I documentation requirements (if applicable), Justice Center and Critical Incident reporting requirements, Agency policy and procedures, and COA Standards.
- Monitor case records for quality and timeliness.
- Prepare for internal and external audits.
- Assist in corrective action planning.
- Supervise designated staff, which may include Case Planner, MST and Fair Future Supervisors and their direct reports in their absence, and other assigned personnel.
- Responsibilities include performance evaluations, coaching, training, scheduling, staff development, progressive discipline, and hiring participation.
- Participate in agency committees.
- Assist with departmental scheduling and coverage.
- Participate in hiring.
- Assist in budget oversight.
- Conduct case conferences.
- Participate in executive meetings.
- Represent the agency/department during internal and external reviews and convenings.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
