Family Services Program Manager

Virginia Department of Social Services•Suffolk, VA

About The Position

Under limited supervision, evaluates the effectiveness of all family services programs offered by the City Social Services Department, recommending changes, and for preparing various reports and statistical records. Work includes developing and implementing operating policies and procedures within the framework of departmental/divisional goals and objectives, ensuring compliance with all Federal, State, and Local policies, procedures, and practices, and conducting internal quality assurance reviews of program cases. Employees are responsible for supervising new family services staff (prior to the transfer to intake and/or ongoing units) and implementing an efficient delivery system for provision of competency-based skills, policy, and professional development training for local social services staff and community partners. Employees are also responsible for overseeing program implementation, directing the resolution of service delivery problems, identifying issues and concerns and providing consult in the development of strategies to enhance and improve the quality and array of agency programs and services. Reports to the Assistant Director for Social Services. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description.

Requirements

Minimum of a Bachelor's degree in a Human Services field or minimum of a Bachelor's degree in any field with a minimum of two years of appropriate and related experience in a Human Services area (Section 22VAC40-670-20 of the Administrative Code of Virginia).
Considerable experience (typically nine to twelve years) in multiple VDSS family services program areas and completion of required training programs.
Supervisory experience or work experience in a leadership role.
Equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.
Requires a valid driver’s license.
Knowledge of the philosophical and legal basis for public assistance and entitlement programs.
Knowledge of local, State and federal laws, ordinances, rules and regulations governing administration and provision of public assistance and entitlement programs.
Knowledge of the programs, policies, procedures, rules and regulations of the State and City Social Services programs.
Knowledge of the organization and structure of local, State and federal government, and volunteer agencies, particularly regarding human services.
Knowledge of the principles, practices, and techniques of social work.
Has considerable knowledge of the principles of supervision, organization and administration.
Knowledge of the social and economic factors in the community and the impact of economic change on people and communities.
Knowledge of the literature, trends and developments in the field of human services administration.
Ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural, or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.
Ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes giving assignments and/or directions to subordinates or assistants. Includes receiving instructions from immediate supervisor.
Ability to read a variety of correspondence, reports, budget summaries, invoices, annual audits, minutes and related departmental records and reports.
Requires the ability to prepare memoranda, reports, correspondence, policies, budgets, etc., using prescribed formats and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style.
Requires the ability to speak before groups of people with poise, voice control and confidence.
Ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagrammatic form; to deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
Ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions.
Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety of technical or professional languages, including counseling, custody, adoption and personnel terminology.
Ability to utilize mathematical formulas, to add and subtract, multiply and divide.
Must be able to utilize decimals and percentages, understand and interpret graphs.
Ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.
Ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress when confronted with persons acting under stress.
Ability to plan, develop, coordinate and supervise the work of a subordinates.
Ability to use standard office machines and is familiar with and able to use Microsoft Office Programs, including e-mail and word processing features.
Ability to compile technical information from a variety of sources and prepare clear and concise reports.
Ability to exercise considerable initiative and independent judgment in analyzing and applying standards to a variety of situations.
Ability to effectively express ideas orally and in writing.
Is able to make oral presentations before large groups of people.
Ability to exercise tact, courtesy, firmness and fairness in contact with department program clients and the general public, and in the application of program regulations and guidelines.
Ability to exercise considerable discretion in handling confidential files and cases.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.
Must be physically able to operate a variety of automated office machines which includes computers, calculators, etc.
Must be able to exert a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.
Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using automated office equipment.
Requires the ability to handle a variety of items, office equipment, control knobs, switches, etc.
Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.
Requires the ability to talk and/or hear.

Nice To Haves

Possession of a MSW degree and a Commonwealth of Virginia Social Worker license are highly desirable.

Responsibilities

Develops, revises, and implements operating plans and procedures for family services programs in accordance with overall departmental/divisional goals and objectives
Collaborates with Family Services Supervisors and the Assistant Director of Social Services, and works closely in the development of local best practices for family services regarding program policy implementation
Develops internal training for all family services program areas, planning and directing ongoing administrative support for the delivery of training, courses and special events, and implements ways to communicate with program units regarding training needs, training schedules, course availability, and course location
Reviews individual program cases and provides best practice guidance regarding difficult or complicated cases; interprets policy and advises departmental leadership and/or family services workers.
Documents findings in case studies; conducts special studies; maintains records and reports as required by local, State and federal governing agencies.
Supervises of new family services program hires until they complete internal program training and transferred to ongoing and/or intake service units and participates in the performance and co-appraisal of interim subordinate staff
Ensures that new family services program hires receive orientation and training required for assigned positions, including training as new policies and procedures are adopted and established; provides training in policies and procedures of all family service programs to agency personnel
Ensures the response to after-hours complaints and reports, both by schedule assignment and response necessitating supervisory input and recommendation.
Serves as a liaison between VDSS program office, SDSS Administration, and SDSS Program Staff
Serves as a consultant to program Assistant Director, Program Supervisors, and Program Staff regarding all family services program and policy inquiries and interpretation
Coordinates activities for undergraduate and graduate interns.
Evaluates effectiveness of programs and services offered; recommends changes.
Interprets programs to other agencies and the public; resolves conflicts between workers and customers and public.
Reviews expenditures of programs; develops performance standards; develops policies and specifications for family services programs including developing local policies and procedures.
Develops, writes, and administers grants when appropriate.
Prepares special reports and regular reports on program activities.
Serves as the organization’s representative regarding all family services program audits and responding to all family services program audit inquiries
Attends various meetings, workshops, conferences, etc. makes oral presentations before groups; maintains knowledge of profession and trends in family services.
Represents the agency and division on various committees, work groups, and organizations; attends meetings and participates in related group activities.
Establishes and maintains effective relationships with professional groups and human services organizations for the purpose of sharing information and coordinating efforts to provide services to the community; maintains current knowledge of developments in the field.
Participates in emergency/disaster related incidents up to and including sheltering of individuals and families as well as acting as a Shelter Manager.
Serves as an acting supervisor over Family Services units as needed.
Participates in shared weekly on-call rotation as needed.
Performs other related duties as required.
Employee must be willing to work disaster related assignments, including emergency shelter duty, in the event of a natural disaster or emergency.