Job Description
Job Description
Company Overview: Founded as an orphanage in 1831, Rising Ground has been at the forefront of evolving community needs. Driven by the belief that each of us can thrive when life has hope and opportunity, Rising Ground provides caring support and proven paths to positive change, helping children, adults, and families rise above adversity, and each year, Rising Ground is a positive force in the lives of more than 72,000 individuals annually. We do this through 101 programs across 138 sites, throughout New York City and Westchester. Our strong belief and commitment to diversity is shown not just through our work with supported persons but is integral to the building of a strong staff that reflects the communities we serve. Rising Ground is headquartered in New York City
Job Summary: The primary responsibility of the Social Services Director is to oversee the provision and coordination of all services for JYF Youth and Families in the Close to Home Programs. The Social Services Director ensures that all needed services for youth and family are met. He / She ensures that all programs/services meet all ACS, OCFS, courts and additional funders mandates. The Social Services Director provides direction, information, training, evaluation, and instruction to their respective division while also supporting larger department initiatives. The Social Services Director will work closely with divisional leadership to ensure continuity of services between residential and community programs as well as develop emerging leaders and ensure best practices continue across all programs.
This position requires a motivated, energetic individual that will oversee the quality of services to children and families both in residential and the community. The ideal candidate must demonstrate problem solving and critical thinking skills as well as a strong sensitivity to cultural differences. The Social Services Director will ensure that all the programs are committed to providing evidence-based, culturally sensitive, trauma-informed therapeutic services to young persons, ages 12-24, and their families to prevent further involvement in the juvenile and criminal legal systems in New York City. The Social Services Director is a critical part of the department leadership team and must be able to work in a multidisciplinary team.
Job Responsibilities: Provide leadership, direction, supervision, and support to Supervisory staff to enhance program services, planning and communication; and ensure an integrated delivery of quality service and compliance with City and State mandates. Review and evaluate each unit’s progress and results to ensure achievement of objectives, plans and standards. Actively review performance evaluations
· Ensure that Rising Ground mission is promoted and implemented at all sites and services provisions.
· Represent agency to external constituents as needed as it relates to all mental health, social service and clinical support for JYF.
· Collaborate with 29i regarding coverage for all facilities MH clinicians and develop appropriate support when vacancies are present.
· Work with the Clinical Director to maximize encounter-based billing opportunities for the 29i.
· Utilize clinical approaches to supervise direct reports and enhance social services team approach through a clinical/trauma focused lens.
· Oversee required documentation of all services provided per requirements of regulatory agencies.
· Develop, monitor, and maintain relations with community providers for related services to support youth.
· Manage the day-to-day operations of the social service and aftercare.
· Oversee hiring, training and supervising all direct reports.
· Assurance of quality, management of records, compliance with mandates for regulators, budgeting and billing, service coordination, and contracting/linking with external resources.
· Lead and spearhead all Clinical Rounds presentations for JYF division.
· Review all intake referrals for appropriateness of placement and services are met.
· Maintain documentation of supervision through the completion of agency supervisory logs.
· Review FASPS, court reports, transition summaries, and treatment plan tools.
· Update placement module for all internal and external transfers.
· Review electronic case records and input supervisory notes in Connections as needed.
· Set high expectations and enforce strict deadlines to direct reports to ensure excellence in all areas.
· Ensure compliance with ACS and OCFS requirements in the provision of social services within JYF; work with QI department to ensure that JYF meets all requirements that are measured in the ACS Juvenile Justice PAMS reviews.
· Represent the agency in meetings with ACS and OCFS, including monthly provider meetings.
· Attend weekly treatment team meetings, red flag meetings, discharge meetings at minimum 1x per month for each house.
· Monitor aftercare and fair futures spending for all client activities and family needs.
· Have a presence in the facilities to support youth related release decisions by building relationships with facility leadership/staff and youth.
· Collaborate with the Director of Operations regarding transfers and placement of youth.
· Other related task that may be assigned by VP of JYF.
Qualifications
· MSW or equivalent degree required. LMSW required within the first 6 months of employment. LCSW preferred.
· Minimum 5 years’ experience in the provision of youth development and activities programming.
· Minimum 5 years’ experience in program development, implementation, and management.
· Strong knowledge of city, state, & agency regulations around juvenile justice and child welfare.
· Significant experience as a supervisor in juvenile justice and /or child welfare.
· Strong knowledge of city and state education mandates
· Knowledge of Connections
· Strong writing skills and comfort with public speaking
· Experience working with youth involved in juvenile court system or who present challenging behaviors.
· Working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel)
· Bi-lingual (English/Spanish) a plus.
Supervisory Responsibility: Yes, The Social Services Director will provide oversight and supervision to: 1 Case Planner supervisors, Fair Futures Program Manager, Aftercare Case Planner and facility case planners.
Work Environment: The Social Services Director will maintain an office at one of the residential sites and or a shared space at one of our hub locations to be determined. The Social Services Director will be expected to travel between and perform services at JYF sites.
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work: This is a full-time position. Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, 35 hours per week. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand and the needs of the program change. We are looking for a flexible candidate who can support programs and at untraditional hours. This position will have up to; 2 remote days available at the approval of the JYF VP. This is subject to change based on Rising Ground’s remote work policy and/ or the needs of program. This is a 24- hour on call position.
Travel (if required): JYF programs provide services to youth families who reside in NYC. On occasion travel will be required for meetings, supervisions and visits etc.
Physical Requirements: The Social Services Director must be able to become compliant with Safe Crisis Management.
Other Duties: Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT: It is the policy of Rising Ground that the Agency wholly complies with equal treatment of all employees and applicants for employment without unlawful discrimination as to an individual’s perceived or actual race, creed, color, national origin, alienate, citizenship status, gender identity, age, disability, marital status, partnership status, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, or veteran status in all employment decisions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, compensation, training and apprenticeship, promotion, upgrading, demotion, downgrading, transfer, layoff and termination and all other terms and conditions of employment.