Children's Services/ICW Program Manager - Child Placing Agency

Puyallup Tribe of Indians•Tacoma, WA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is responsible for the day-to-day oversight of the Child Placement Agency within Children’s Services. Under the general direction of the Director of Children’s Services, this role acts to certify potential homes as Washington State licensed foster care homes and to coordinate the placement of children while being culturally sensitive to the needs of the child, family, and community. The Program Manager works cooperatively and directly with the multi-disciplinary team to consider the needs of children requiring foster care, provides training to potential and current foster homes and department staff, and is responsible for the culturally appropriate placement of Tribal children in licensed and certified foster homes. This position supervises staff within the Child Placement Agency program, including Case Aides and Caregiver Support Specialists, carrying out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, training employees, planning, assigning and directing work, appraising performance, rewarding and disciplining employees, and addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree (B. A.) from four-year college or university in Social Work or a related field is required and a minimum of four years of experience in licensing foster homes or other satisfactory related experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
A program manager must also have supervisory abilities that promote effective staff performance, and relevant experience, training and demonstrated skills in each area that he or she will be supervising or managing.
Must demonstrate a thorough knowledge and understanding of WACs, RCWs and ICW relating to the Child Placement Agency.
Must demonstrate ability to maintain LD licensing requirements for the Child Placement Agency within Children’s Services.
Must demonstrate a thorough understanding of LD reporting and auditing requirements and processes.
Must demonstrate strong interpersonal skills to develop and maintain positive government-to-government relationships between the Puyallup Tribe and other Puyallup Tribal Departments, other Tribal governments and state/federal agencies.
Must maintain strict confidentiality at all times.
Ability to read, analyze and interpret contracts, WACs, RCWs, MOUs, etc. accurately and explain complex and technical issues as they relate to departmental issues.
Ability to write reports, business correspondence and procedures.
Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from those working with the department and the Agency with courtesy and tact.
Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
Ability to solve practical problems, define situations and issues, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.
Ability to interpret WACs, RCWs, MOUs, etc. to ensure that the Agency is in compliance.
Must have valid and unrestricted Washington State driver’s license and proof of insurance. Driver’s License must not contain any restrictions that would otherwise prevent the employee from complying with the Tribe’s Vehicle Use Policy or operating a GSA vehicle.
Must pass a Washington State DSHS criminal history and CPS background inquiry upon hire and every two years thereafter unless otherwise indicated.
Must successfully pass a TB (tuberculosis) test upon hire.
Willing to attend trainings ongoing for professional development.
Must be 21 years old or 18-20 if enrolled in a BSW program.
Adheres to the Child and Family Protection Code; Duty to Report Child Abuse and Neglect.
Knowledge of child safety.
Knowledge of Native American family dynamics.
Sensitive to and familiar with the social/cultural needs of Tribal children and their families.
Must maintain a strict level of confidentiality at all times.

Nice To Haves

Current First Aid and CPR certification and HIV/AIDS training.
First Aid and CPR certification must obtain within the first 30-days of hire.
HIV/AIDS certification must obtain within the first 30-days of hire.
BBP (Blood Borne Pathogens) certification must obtain within the first 30-days of hire.
Mandated Reporting training must obtain within the first 30-days of hire and annually thereafter for all PTCS staff.

Responsibilities

Collects and maintains all necessary documentation in a thorough and organized manner in compliance with Federal, State, and Tribal Laws.
Ensures that all foster home licenses are compliant with child placing agency contractual obligations.
Coordinates foster home placements with caseworkers, ICW Liaisons and CPS investigators.
Assists caseworkers in recruiting and licensing or certifying potential Tribal and/or relative care givers.
Coordinates and/or provides training, consultation and support to new and current foster and adoptive homes.
Monitors these homes for licensing compliance and provides re-assessment when necessary.
Maintains knowledge of all children in home and secures over-capacity requests when necessary and able to do so.
Provides emergent placement assistance when necessary to case worker and CPS staff.
Prepares monthly CPA payment invoices, ensures payments are entered accurately and conducts follow-up with DCYF as necessary to correct fiduciary errors.
Collaborates with PTCS staff in Tribal Waiver process that includes background check committee that will evaluate waivers that address negative actions.
Conducts all foster licensing background checks through LD in compliance with CPA contract.
Conducts CJIS/NCIC background checks through PTCS contract for FBI fingerprint background checks for certified and relative caregivers.
Performs home studies to determine the suitability of the family in becoming foster parents, including the preparation of detailed and comprehensive home studies and licensing reports.
Assists foster parents in locating and completing required training hours for licensing compliance.
Collaborates with other Washington State Department of Licensing Resources offices for purposes of foster home licensing.
Coordinates recruitment events which require exceptional abilities to make written and oral presentations in a group setting.
Develops a pre-service training manual and curriculum to be used in the licensing process in coordination with the Director and takes the lead in assuring that foster families receive training.
Assists the Director in providing guidance and training in CPA processes and practices to new staff.
Works with Director to establish programmatic guidelines such as policies and procedures, new employee orientation and corresponding handbook, Memorandums of Understanding (MOU's) and 7.01 plans with Children's Administration.
Establishes and maintains essential government to government relationships with DCYF to assist in obtaining services that are critical to Indian families.
Maintains thorough and accurate files of all (licensed, certified and relative) foster homes.
Responsible for staffing all homes and files on a monthly basis with Director and/or Assistant Director.
Conducts CPS investigations in conjunction with LD, on allegations against licensed homes and provides thorough and complete findings of referral to all parties (i.e. Director, CW, DCYF, LD, etc.)
Complete Rate Assessments when children come into care and every six months. Rate assessments include reviewing medical documents for diagnoses and interviewing tribal Case Worker to obtain most up to date information that the rate assessment tool takes into consideration.
Responsible for providing ongoing support and oversight of the Caregiver Support Specialist positions.
Must review and approve all Caregiver Support Plans.
Review and approve Case Aide service referrals.
Responsible for maintaining case aide schedule.
Attend CPA meetings with DCYF.
Document and maintain employee files and foster home files in accordance with CPA requirements for CPA audits.
Occasionally acts as backup for departmental staff in their absence.
Performs other duties as assigned.