Deputy Director Children Youth and Families

County of Chester•Government Services Center - Westtown, PA

About The Position

The Deputy Director assists with the daily operations of Children, Youth & Family Services. This position will assist with the administration and management of the county's mandated Child Welfare Agency (this is accomplished through the State Department of Human Services (DHS), Federal Regulations and applicable laws. A person in this position is expected to demonstrate the System of Care Practice Model which maximizes all resources around an individual or family. This system of care includes child and adult serving agencies and community partners that join with an individual or family to meet their goals. The Department of Children, Youth and Families comes under the provisions of the Child Protective Services Law. This job requires the following documents to be obtained, reviewed as acceptable by the supervisor and re-obtained every five years: PA Child Abuse, PA Criminal History and FBI Criminal History.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university plus three years (3) of paid experience in the field of public or private social services, including one year working with children and youth in an management or supervisory capacity.
Ability to plan, organize, direct and evaluate the work of others.
Ability to exercise judgment and discretion in interpreting and implementing departmental, state, federal and local policies and procedures.
Ability to coordinate children and youth programs with the juvenile court and probation office.
Ability to establish and effective working relationships with agency staff, county commissioners, court officials, state program and administrative staff and the general public.
Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
Knowledge of basic social, economic and health problems and available resources as related to children and youth.
Knowledge of the principles of public administration.
Knowledge of basic and modern principles, practices and current developments in the field of children and youth.
Knowledge of the basic principles and practices of supervision, administration and community programs.
Knowledge of basic fiscal and programmatic principles and practices.
Knowledge of basic needs and behavior patterns of children and youth.
Valid driver's license and use of a private vehicle.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Social Science or related field
Seven years of paid social services experience with progressively responsible positions.
A minimum of three years of paid management experience
A minimum of three years of paid experience with budgeting and contract management.
Strong working knowledge of Child Protective Services Law, Juvenile Act and Adoption.
Strong working knowledge of Managed Care regulations, policies and procedures.
Strong working knowledge of federal, state and county laws, policies and procedures governing child welfare in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Strong time management skills.
Excellent customer service skills.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Strong working knowledge of budgets, spreadsheets and interpreting audits.
Effective negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
General understanding of Department of Human Services Merit System and County of Chester Human Resource guidelines.
Juvenile court experience with knowledge of Juvenile Act.
Strong professional ethics and image.
Ability to coordinate and direct work assignments.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Accurate and detail-oriented.
Ability to make firm, unbiased decision.
Demonstrates integrity and honesty.
Ability to work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.
General knowledge and understanding of County of Chester policies and procedures.

Responsibilities

Directly supervise Intake and In-Home Unit Managers
Oversee all aspects of Prevention, Intake and In-Home Services
Provide oversight and support to Management Staff to ensure the provision of services and implementation of laws, codes, programs and policies prescribed by legislative bodies.
Administer all child welfare services provided by the Agency.
Interpret, clarify and implement applicable federal, state or municipal laws, regulations, policies and procedures.
Review official directives and correspondence to determine changes prescribed in agency programs, policies, and procedures, and new assignments or responsibilities delegated.
Inform supervisory personnel of changes or interpretations of laws, codes, programs, policies, or procedures.
Facilitate biweekly meetings that will provide opportunity for discussion and feedback regarding regulatory compliance.
Evaluate current programs and provide recommendations for new program development.
Conduct periodic and ongoing needs assessment for long-range planning and program development activities.
Provide direct supervision and training of Unit Manager/Quality Assurance Manager/Employee Relations Administrative Officer positions.
Manage departmental personnel functions (e.g., interviews, evaluations, hiring, disciplinary actions) adhering to Department of Human Services Merit System and County Human Resource practices.
Oversee department budget, income, and expenses, and maintain guidelines as set by the County of Chester.
Review and signoff of all agency vendor contracts.
Approve vouchers, contracts, authorization of all financial reimbursements, adoption agreements, approve final adoption for the termination of parental rights, and authorize contracts in accordance with State Department of Human Services (DHS) and regulations.
Plan and develop new programs and services for abused and neglected dependent children, identify gaps in services, and develop a system to resolve these issues.
Prepare and/or direct preparation and release of reports, studies, and other publications relating to program trends and accomplishments.
Responsible for handling administrative issues in the Executive Director's absence.
Perform other duties, tasks and special projects, as required.