Director of Foster Care

MCHS Family of Services•Redford, MI

13d

About The Position

The Director of Foster Care (DFC) is responsible for ensuring foster care, adoption, Independent Living Program (ILP), and Young Adult Voluntary Foster Care (YAVFC) programs and services meets the agency expectations and goals. The DFC works with other Program Directors, Supervisors, and staff to address the needs of children and families and to manage and direct program operations. The DFC directs, supervises and evaluates program staff, and directly supervises the Foster Care Supervisor. The DFC works with DHHS to address system issues and concerns.

Requirements

The Director of Foster Care will be a seasoned and mature leader with broad child welfare experience, ideally beginning in foster care and/or licensing, followed up with knowledge and understanding of other child welfare programs and services offered throughout Michigan.
Master’s degree in a human behavioral science such as Social Work or a related discipline where 25% of the course credits earned toward the degree are in human behavior science.
Five (5) years’ experience as a supervisor in a social services agency required.
Child Welfare Training Institute Supervisory training required in Foster and Adoptions. Licensing Certification and Complaint Training required.
Must meet the State’s Moral Character standard
Computer and software applications (All MS Office, LMS and MiSACWIS).
Principles and practices of social work, including the NASW Code of Ethic or related fields of study/profession.
Policies and procedures related to child welfare.
Family and child dynamics.
Communicate verbally and in writing with agency staff and government officials.
Demonstrate leadership and integrity.
Motivate, develop, and direct people as they work; identify the best people for the job.
Manage time and multiple priorities; meet deadlines.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, other agencies and the public.
Handle sensitive and confidential situations and documentation.
Be collaborative and flexible, with a strong service mentality.
Attend training and travel offsite for meetings and seminars.
Possess a high degree of personal accountability, responsibility and independent decision making abilities with the skills to plan, organize, develop, implement and interpret programs, goals, objectives, policies and procedures of the organization.
Work flexible hours, when needed, which may include some evenings and weekends.

Responsibilities

Establish and oversee administrative procedures to meet the program goals and objectives set by the Senior Director.
Establish and enforce norms and best practice models that operate within the rules, regulations and guidelines set forth by the State of Michigan’s DHHS, MCHS, and accrediting bodies. DFC will establish and maintain department systems, records and reports as well as recommend, develop and implement new approaches, policies and procedures for continued improvement of department services.
Operate within the guidelines of the Employee Handbook, Programs Operations Manual, and DHHS Policies and Procedures.
Act as program expert for the department; interface with other Program Directors and Supervisors regarding Foster Care, ILP, and YAVFC, licensing renewals and rulings to ensure ongoing compliance with all agencies, licensing, accreditation contractual and legal obligations and requirements.
Ensure that both the Placement and Transitional Living Services departments interface and have a collaborative, cooperative working relationship with other departments within the agency and external governing agencies and the community.
Oversee supervisors and staff to ensure that they are functioning within the requirements of their job duties, provide guidance, training, assistance and support to staff when needed, including planning, staffing, performance management, professional development, adjusting workloads as necessary and addressing and resolving complaints to create a climate of teamwork and motivation.
Develop, coordinate, and oversee the implementation of a formalized program orientation of new hires; develop a training program with a curriculum that includes core competencies, knowledge and skills that are necessary for the child welfare staff to be successful in their roles.
Develop departmental structures and processes to hold staff accountable to standards established by state agency policy, practice and programming.
Work in communication and collaboration with other managers in carrying out the philosophy, vision and mission of the agency.
Oversee the development of and annual update of the Program Operational Manuals for the Foster Care, ILP and YAVFC; ensures that all staff are operating within the guidelines of the manual.
Operate programs in a fiscally responsible manner by adhering to budgets, controlling expenses, maximizing revenue and complying with all agency fiscal policies and procedures.
Plan, organize, implement, manage, monitor and modify short and long term program initiatives.
Maintain essential records as needed.
Ensure that all programming, policies and procedures comply with all applicable laws and regulations.
As needed, represent the agency to outside groups and organizations, including businesses, community, and volunteers
Fully participate in regular agency-wide events and appropriate community-wide events and activities.
Partner with the Senior Director on all operational and strategic issues as they arise; provide strategic recommendations to the Senior Director based on child welfare analysis and projections.
Demonstrate commitment to the social sector with a passion for MCHS’s mission and vision.
Perform other duties as assigned by the Senior Director and the Executive Leadership Team.