Continuous Quality Improvement Mgr. (Children/Youth Services)

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Program Manager will support the agency's focus on Continuous Quality Improvement.  Emphasis on Staff Training, Recruitment and Retention, Family Engagement Initiatives, and Community Connections that provide free or low-cost services will be the primary focus of this position.  CQI Program Manager will supervise Caseworker 3 positions to assist in the work and will report to the Administrator. 

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:

Essential Functions

The duties and responsibilities of this position include, but are not necessarily limited to:

Staff Training

• Oversee position that will:
  • Serve as a liaison to the State of PA Child Welfare Resource Center (CWRC); getting new hires scheduled for Foundations training.
  • Oversee all new hire agency orientation; expand and revamp orientation including arranging for new hires to visit community agencies including but not limited to:
    • BCYC – Berks County Youth Center
    • Reading Hospital
    • Hope Springs Club House
• Provide or coordinate Motivational Interviewing training to all staff.
• Promote trauma-informed practices and training.
• Routinely schedule
  • Conquering the Court Room training/VOCE. VOCE holds a contract with the Office of Children Youth and Families to provide training and Adoption/Permanency Services
  • Safety Training via CWRC
  • Other training as identified
• Assume responsibility for onboarding new staff, including assisting with completing 30-, 60-, 90-, and 6-month evals in partnership with assigned supervisor. 
  • Coordinate monthly staff meetings and regular mini meetings based on staff need, inspection results, and disciplinary issues. 
• Oversee the implementation of Accenture: Virtual Reality /simulation training program +Heads sets.
• Assure assignment of the “Advisor” role for all new hires during Foundations and communicate regularly with assigned supervisor.

Recruitment and Retention 

• Assume primary responsibility for recruitment and retention activities by: 
  • Reviewing employment applications, participating in interviews.
  • Conducting stay surveys and exit conferences.
  • Serving as the lead for monthly Recruitment and Retention meetings. 
• Assure ongoing contact with local colleges and universities. 
  • Coordinate speaking engagements to the above. 
  • Serve as the single point of contact with all colleges and universities who have students needing internships. Interview all student intern applicants and work with agency staff to ensure availability of mentoring /internships.
• Strengthen support systems for supervisors to enhance support for frontline workers and develop support groups to help employees manage stress. 
• Address turnover rates. 

Family Engagement / Families First Implementation 

• Lead all agency initiatives for Family Engagement work to include serving as a liaison to vendors who provide Family Group Decision Making services, Crisis Rapid Response Services, Family Finding, and any other services that we may determine necessary. 
• Assist in the process of creating pathways for diversionary services for Evidence-Based Programs. 
• Develop the infrastructure for referral and monitoring of these services.
• Partner with Juvenile Court Judges around Family Engagement strategies. 
• Enhance compliance with federal expectations pursuant to Families First legislation and benefit from these funding streams.

Community Liaison 

• Oversee and strengthen relationships with resource development and increase our connection to community-based agencies, particularly free ones. (Focus will be on early learning programs, housing, food assistance, and Mental Health supports). 
• Serve on or assign a subordinate to participate in Community-Based Program Advisory boards as needed.
• Participate/schedule or assign to staff to requested speaking engagements.

Screening Oversight 

• Oversee the Screening Department, which includes, but is not limited to, ensuring Screening is fielding all reports of alleged child abuse and/or neglect via telephone. ChildLine and/or in-person walk-ins. 
• Monitoring that reports obtain pertinent information related to the six domains of child abuse, which is documented in alignment with regulatory requirements and internal policies. 
• Facilitate and maintain connections with community partners to assist clients with community resources that may divert agency involvement. 
• Process truancy referrals and participate in truancy-related meetings according to agency policy.             

Management Responsibilities

• Serve on the Petition Review team.
• Serve on the Agency Advisory Board.
• Serve as the primary liaison for yearly licensing and inspection, gathering information that will assist the agency in the goal of Continuous Quality Improvement. 
• Advise on program needs and participate in agency meet/greets for service providers. 
• Participate in Monthly Admin meetings and ACM.
• Participate in the completion of the yearly Needs-Based Plan and Budget process. 

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Master’s degree in Social Work, Social Welfare, Public Administration, or closely related field preferred. Requires a Bachelor’s Degree in a Social Welfare-related field.
• Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in the field of social services or child welfare, with administrative or supervisory experience in a children and youth social services program agency.
• Any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.
• Valid Pennsylvania driver’s license.
• State police, FBI, and ChildLine clearance.

MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of state, federal, and county standards, regulations, and policies governing the children and youth social services program.
• Knowledge of the principles of program interpretation and implementation.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of administration, supervision, and community organization.
• Knowledge of Family First, Crisis Rapid Response, Family Finding, and other programming related to Family engagement. 
• Knowledge of individual and group behavior with special emphasis on children and youth needs and behavior patterns.
• Knowledge of the policies and operations of Juvenile Courts and probation and parole agencies.
• Knowledge of the basic principles of grant writing and budgeting.
• Knowledge of current case management and social work principles, practices and methodology.
• Ability to exercise judgment in interpreting and implementing state, federal, county and departmental program policies and procedures, including Child Protective Services Law, Juvenile Act.
• Ability to plan, organize, and direct children and youth agency unit and evaluate staff and program effectiveness.
• Ability to analyze, interpret, and evaluate case records or case presentations to recommend sound courses of action.
• Ability to prepare comprehensive reports and to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Ability to handle stress.
• Physical presence in the office is required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Work involves standing, walking, sitting, lifting, carrying, talking, hearing, using hands to handle, feel objects, tools, or controls, and reaching with hands and arms.  Vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds a distance of fifteen feet or less.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

Normal office environment 

This position description serves as a guideline for communicating the essential functions and other information about the position to the applicant/employee. It is not intended to create a binding employment contract nor cover every detail of the position and may be changed where appropriate.