Alternative Response Program Specialist VI

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • Galveston, TX

33d

About The Position

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) works to build on strengths of families and communities to keep children and vulnerable adults safe, so they thrive. We do this through investigations, services, and referrals.

What You Get Beyond Your Paycheck
When you join the State of Texas, your monthly paycheck is just one part of your real income. Our benefits provide extra value that many private employers simply don’t match—often adding hundreds of dollars each month to what you take home or save.

Here’s what you get as a full-time employee:

100% paid health insurance for you, and 50% paid for eligible family members—saving you hundreds every month in out-of-pocket medical costs
Retirement plans with lifetime monthly payments after five years of state service, plus options to save even more with 401(k) and 457 plans
Paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave so you can recharge and take care of life outside work (that’s time off you’re actually paid for)
Optional dental, vision, and life insurance—at rates much lower than most private plans
Flexible spending accounts for added tax savings on health and dependent care
Employee discounts on things like gym memberships, electronics, and entertainment

You also might qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness, which could help you pay off federal student loans faster.
You can see all the details here: ERS recruitment brochure

Brief Job Description:
Performs highly advanced (senior-level) consultative services and technical assistance within Child Protective Investigations. Work involves planning, developing, and implementing changes to the program and providing consultative services and technical assistance to program staff, governmental agencies, community organizations, or the general public. May serve as a lead worker providing direction to others. Works under minimal supervision, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Requirements

• Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws and regulations relevant to state government agencies and public social services.
• Knowledge of DFPS and CPI programs and practices.
• Knowledge of program planning and implementation.
• Knowledge of related state and federal laws, regulations, policies, rules and requirements.
• Knowledge of process improvement or quality assurance systems.
• Knowledge of project management.
• Knowledge of the principles of leadership and how to effectively interact with various leadership styles.
• Skill in written and verbal communications.
• Skill in revising and editing written communications.
• Skill in working collaboratively on a workgroup.
• Skill in developing PowerPoint presentations.
• Skill in public speaking.
• Skill in identifying problems, evaluating alternatives, and implementing solutions.
• Skill in working collaboratively and cooperatively with diverse groups.
• Skill in managing multiple projects and competing priorities.
• Skill in demonstrating leadership.
• Skill in the use of computers, spreadsheets, databases, and Microsoft Office applications.
• Skill in program management.
• Ability to coach staff using a person-centered coaching model.
• Ability to gather, assemble, correlate, and analyze facts.
• Ability to prepare clear and concise reports.
• Ability to represent the agency effectively with key stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to make independent judgments.
• Ability to manage resources and establish priorities.
• Ability to make decisions and solve problems effectively.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of agency staff, and external agencies and organizations.
• Ability to work effectively and efficiently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to implement and use new technology and work processes.
• Ability to clearly articulate facts and ideas.
• Ability to direct and organize program activities.
• Ability to establish program goals and objectives that support project management.
• Ability to plan, assign, and evaluate the work of others.
• Ability to effectively manage and motivate staff.
• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in social work, counseling, psychology, criminal justice, early childhood education, criminal justice, elementary or secondary education, or a related field is generally preferred; 5 years of child welfare experience with 2 years of full time experience as a Child Protective Investigations Traditional or Alternative Response Supervisor.

Nice To Haves

• LMSW preferred but not required.
• Preferred experience two years supervising Alternative Response.

Responsibilities

• Attends work on a regular and predictable schedule in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned.
• Plans, prioritizes, and performs a variety of technical, training, research, planning, policy, program assessment, and administrative activities for assigned program(s) including overseeing the delivery of services and providing high-level technical assistance for a program; creates efficiencies where opportunities occur.
• Utilizes advanced project management skills to support the continued development and implementation of policy and best practices within Child Protective Investigations
• Develops training curriculums and delivering trainings to staff
• Coordinates the collection, organization, analysis, and preparation of materials in response to requests for program information and reports.
• Leads the data collection, analysis, development and preparation of documentation for program reports and responding to information requests.
• Completes and monitors required administrative and performance reports, studies, and specialized projects; and recommends appropriate changes to programs.
• Implements program processes that will improve child protective services policy and practice based upon program feedback
• Develops processes that will provide outcome results to determine the effectiveness of the program and areas needing improvement
• Ensures compliance with program policies and procedures, statutes, and rules; and takes corrective action(s) as needed.
• Leads the data collection, analysis, development and preparation of documentation for program improvement.
• Provides high-level advice and counsel by interpreting policies, procedures, rules, regulations, and standards related to the program.
• Provides guidance to external and internal requests for interpretation of policy, procedures, and requirements of program.
• Assists management with developing program policies, procedures, standards, and manuals; and planning program activities in accordance with program objective and goals.
• Speaks to community and professional groups to coordinate, improve, and stimulate interest in the program(s) and to secure support for the child protective services program(s).
• Consults with public and private agencies involved in the programs to resolve problems, identify training needs, and discuss program effectiveness.
• Consults with vendors to provide training opportunities and continued advancement of the institute
• Supports the Alternative response program as needed with sustainability of the program through coaching, policy development, planning leadership conferences and writing curriculum for training and delivering training
• Prepares and evaluates program budget requests.
• Evaluates data to develop and provide yearly strategic plans including program budget
• Assists management with developing and implementing effective techniques for evaluating agency programs, identifying the need for new programs, and providing guidance to staff in the development and integration of new methods and procedures.
• Implements program and procedural improvements based upon program feedback
• May serve as a lead worker providing direction to others.
• Supports the Alternative response program as needed to maintain sustainability of the program through policy development, planning leadership conferences and writing curriculum for training and delivering training
• May serve as the lead on implementation and ongoing management of complex program initiatives.
• Performs related work as assigned.

Benefits

• 100% paid health insurance for you, and 50% paid for eligible family members—saving you hundreds every month in out-of-pocket medical costs
• Retirement plans with lifetime monthly payments after five years of state service, plus options to save even more with 401(k) and 457 plans
• Paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave so you can recharge and take care of life outside work (that’s time off you’re actually paid for)
• Optional dental, vision, and life insurance—at rates much lower than most private plans
• Flexible spending accounts for added tax savings on health and dependent care
• Employee discounts on things like gym memberships, electronics, and entertainment
• You also might qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness, which could help you pay off federal student loans faster.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees