Assistant Program Director of Foster Care

CHRISTIAN SOCIAL SERVICE OF ILLINO•Glen Carbon, IL

6d•Onsite

About The Position

Welcome to your opportunity to change the world! If you have a servant’s heart and want to be part of something truly special, then Caritas Family Solutions needs you. We have been serving the people of Illinois since 1947 and have over 500 committed and mission-driven team members. At Caritas, we do not hire people for jobs, we find new team members for rewarding and life-changing careers that make the world better. If you are kind, patient, and ready to make a difference, we would love to meet you! Full-time employees are offered the competitive benefits outlined below: Generous Paid Time Off Paid training Health Insurance Dental and Vision Life insurance 403(b) with company contribution 5% Tuition reimbursement We know great candidates bring a wide range of experience. If you believe you can be successful in this role, we encourage you to apply — even if you don’t meet every qualification listed.

Requirements

Master's Degree of Human Service (Related fields will be considered.)
Child welfare and foster care practice
DCFS policies, procedures, and licensing standards
Permanency planning and child safety
Staff supervision and performance management
Child and Family Team Meeting facilitation
Quality assurance and regulatory compliance
Program operations and contract management
Trauma-informed care
3 or more years of progressive experience in child welfare, foster care, case management, or related human services programs
Prior supervisory or leadership experience
Demonstrated leadership, staff supervision, coaching, employee development, performance management, and conflict resolution skills. Ability to support supervisors, develop staff, evaluate performance, and address employee relations concerns while fostering a positive and accountable work environment.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, documentation review skills, organizational abilities, attention to detail, and critical thinking. Ability to interpret and apply agency policies, DCFS regulations, accreditation standards, and contractual requirements.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, children, families, foster parents, DCFS personnel, attorneys, service providers, community partners, and agency leadership. Demonstrates professionalism, collaboration, diplomacy, and effective interpersonal communication skills.
Ability to evaluate complex case situations, identify barriers to permanency, assess risk factors, exercise sound judgment, and make timely decisions that support child safety, permanency, and well-being. Ability to respond effectively to staff concerns, program challenges, and crisis situations.
Proficient Computer Skills In: Outlook, Word, Excel, electronic case management systems, database management software, reporting systems, and virtual communication platforms.
Ability to manage staffing resources, case assignments, caseload ratios, referrals, workloads, program performance measures, and operational priorities while ensuring compliance with agency and contractual expectations.
Ability to review and approve assessments, service plans, case records, permanency documentation, quality assurance reviews, corrective action plans, and regulatory reports. Ability to monitor compliance with agency, DCFS, COA, and contractual requirements.
Must display a willingness to adopt trauma-informed interventions, principles, and practices and demonstrate a commitment to ongoing professional development in trauma-informed care. Recognizes the impact of trauma on children, families, foster parents, staff, and communities and incorporates trauma-informed principles into supervision, program management, permanency planning, and family engagement activities.
Access to reliable transportation: Required.
Access to a reliable automobile: Required.
Proof of continued insurance: Required.
Valid driver’s license: Required.
Child Welfare Employee License

Nice To Haves

Experience overseeing foster care operations and staff supervision
Experience with DCFS contract compliance, accreditation standards, and quality assurance activities
Child Welfare Child Protection Certification or additional child welfare leadership training
Expert Computer Skills In: Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Word, Excel, electronic case management systems, and reporting platforms.

Responsibilities

Supervise a team of Foster Care Supervisors and Lead Visitation Supervisors.
Ensure Foster Care teams are adhering to current DCFS policy and procedure.
Responsible for agency compliance of DCFS Foster Care Contracts, COA, and other accrediting entities.
Provides oversight on implementation of Child and Family Team Meetings.
Guide their office toward the agency and DCFS permanency goals.
Communicate and collaborate with DCFS APME monitoring and other entities.
Provides necessary program evaluations and reports as required.
Review client records of Foster Care Case Managers to ensure compliance with quality assurance standards.
Ensure daily service hours, expense sheets and itineraries are accurate and consistent.
Create plan for support in caseload ratios, referrals, and managing the work within their respective offices.
Provides oversight on office hiring needs, interviewing, and selecting candidates, as well as oversight of staff corrective action.
Perform additional duties as assigned.