Description

• Provide on-the-job training, mentoring, feedback, coaching, and consultation to the staff within the Licensing Division Assessment program.
• Conduct on-the-job training and assistance with staff in formal training plans who are transitioning to fieldwork.
• Provide social services professional staff with guidance and direction.
• In conjunction with the supervisor, assign work, review work for efficiency, use data to identify trends, and review home study assessments and documentation for accuracy and compliance with policy.
• Responsible for reporting on strengths and areas needing improvement of employees to their direct supervisor, providing feedback for annual performance evaluations, and identifying training needs.
• Provide coverage of assigned caseloads in the absence of a social service specialist.
• In the supervisor’s absence, attend meetings and provide supervisory coverage.
• Serve as lead worker assigned the most complex cases as determined by the supervisor or Area Administrator.
• Participate in efforts to recruit foster families, including community presentations or meetings.
• Utilize Department databases to document licensure/home study activities and maintain provider records within program and manual standards.

• One year of experience as a Social Service Specialist 3

• Three years of experience as a Social Service Specialist 2.

• A Bachelor's degree or higher in a social services, criminal law/justice, or an allied field and four years of paid social service experience equivalent to a Social Service Specialist 2.

• A Master’s degree in social services, criminal law/justice or an allied field and two years of paid social service experience equivalent to a Social Service Specialist 2.

• Two years of paid social service experience assessing risk and safety to children and providing direct family-centered practice services.
• One year of paid professional experience assessing care or providing counseling to: 1) children in foster care; 2) behaviorally disturbed in a residential setting.
• One year of paid experience licensing or certifying foster homes, group homes, staffed residential homes or child placing agencies.

• The required experience noted above may be obtained concurrently.

• Proficiency with using Microsoft Office programs (Word, Outlook, Excel) and data input (keyboarding) skills.
• Previous program management experience in a regulatory or supervisory capacity for facilities providing care to children.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently to complete investigations/assessments in the homes and residences of individuals.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate through oral and written forms of communication, and comprehend, with diverse populations, management, peers, clients, community, colleagues and the public.
• Demonstrated ability and skill to interview and engage clients utilizing an interpreter or those with a mental or physical impairment/disability.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize, multi-task and organize workload and assist others in managing cases.
• Demonstrated ability to organize caseload priorities according to office policy, time-frames and workload expectations.
• Demonstrated ability to independently assess situations and utilize good professional independent judgment.
• Demonstrated skills and abilities to diffuse sometimes hostile situations and make decisions regarding personal safety.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain and update records and file case documents.

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• Transcripts