Family Services Supervisor - Foster Care

The Family Services Supervisor assigned to the Charlottesville Department of Social Services Foster Care Division performs difficult and complex professional work supervising a team of Family Services staff performing program/casework services, which may involve abandoned, abused, or neglected children, adults, foster care, or youth in the juvenile justice system. Normally completes work with substantial discretion and within broad parameters. Reports to the Deputy Director for Family Services.

This position may be eligible for a hybrid (partial telework) schedule following successful completion of a 6-month probationary period; however, this is not a fully remote position and regular in-person attendance for meetings, trainings, and operational needs is required.

The preferred hiring range for this position is between $75,286.10 - $96,455.35 annually, with starting pay based on applicable education, experience, and internal equity. This full-time, exempt position offers a comprehensive benefits package, health insurance with employer contribution, employer-paid life insurance, gym membership reimbursement, tuition assistance, and professional development opportunities. This position is also eligible for the following leave and retirement benefits:

• Vacation Leave: 3.09 hours accrued bi-weekly (increases with YOS).
• Sick Leave: 4.62 hours accrued bi-weekly, approx. 120 hours per year with no limit on accumulation.
• 13 Paid Observed City Holidays
• 1 Floating Holiday which must be taken during the fiscal year (July 1 - June 30)
• Choice of retirement plan: 
  • Defined Benefit Pension Plan: Provides a monthly benefit upon retirement, calculated using a defined formula based on earnings history, years of service, and age. The plan includes a 5-year vesting period and requires an employee contribution of 5% of salary.
  • Defined Contribution 401a Plan: Employer makes fixed contributions to an individual account, which are invested, and returns are credited to the account. The account balance is used to provide retirement benefits. Vesting occurs at 33% after one year, 67% after two years, and 100% after three years of service. No salary contribution is required.
• Voluntary 457 Deferred Compensation Plan
• Eligibility to purchase prior service credit under the Defined Benefit Plan

The City of Charlottesville manages its own retirement system and does not participate in VRS; however, a Portability Agreement is available for eligible employees. For additional details, please refer to the “Benefits” tab within this posting or visit the City’s Employee Benefits webpage. 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations will be considered to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The essential functions of the job are not limited to those listed in the job description.  The City retains the discretion to add to or change the duties of the position at any time.

• Provides supervision, direct oversight and management for assigned team.
• Oversees casework, assigns cases, monitors for quality and compliance and of documentation to ensure established deadlines are met.
• Responsible for program advocacy on agency, community and state levels.
• Provides clinical and/or non-clinical knowledge and skills to support staff in assessment, intervention and service planning. May participate in more difficult or complex cases when necessary.
• Supervises, coaches, trains, motivates, assigns, and monitors work activities of employees within assigned unit. Interviews and hires new staff, sets work objectives and goals, evaluates performance and administers disciplinary action in accordance with established personnel policy and procedures.
• Implements State and Departmental policies, procedures, standards and regulations and ensures compliance with any local court protocols.
• Collects and disseminates statistical information on team and department dashboard measures and benchmarks.
• Applies specialized knowledge of client population, concurrent planning and other related codes, regulations, policy and funding sources. Coordinates work of unit with that of others in the department or outside agencies as appropriate.
• Plans, facilitates, and participates in staff meetings, leadership meetings, and/or community partnership meetings as necessary and assigned.
• Provides trauma-supportive and appropriately responsive service.
• Handles and listens to first level of appeals and grievances for clients and employees.
• Works with community partners to facilitate access to services for target population.
• Represents the Department on various workgroups or committees.
• May be responsible as an on-call supervisor on a rotating basis.
• Required to respond upon activation from the City Manager of the Continuity of Operations Plan and/or Emergency Operations Plan. Must have the ability to be contacted and respond based on Department guidelines.
• Responsible for appropriate use and maintenance of City equipment, tools and other resources, including work time. 
• Regular and reliable attendance.

Other Duties

• Performs additional duties to support operational requirements as apparent or assigned.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in a Human Services field such as Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, or similar field AND 5 years progressively responsible work experience related to human services or social services programs.

• Bachelor’s degree in any field AND 5 years progressively responsible work experience in a Human Services related field; as mandated in Section 22VAC40-670-20 of the Administrative Code of Virginia and implemented by the Virginia Board of Social Services may be substituted as equivalent.

Preferred:

• Master’s degree in Social Work or related field.
• 2 years of lead or supervisory experience.
• Licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in the state of Virginia.
• Ability to communicate in a second language.

Certifications/Licenses/Other Requirements:

• Valid Virginia Driver’s License and acceptable driving record OR must be able to provide own transportation to and from job, meetings, and related job sites.
• Required to successfully pass a pre-employment background check and pre-employment drug screen.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics 
Job Knowledge

• Thorough knowledge and complete comprehension of eligibility requirements for public assistance, principles and practices of child welfare, substance abuse, employment services, family services and/or protective service work and state and federal procedures and legal terminology to solve common and unusual problems, advise on technical matters, and serve as a resource for others.
• Thorough and comprehensive knowledge related to complex laws, policies and procedures governing public assistance and of the philosophy, objectives, practices and techniques of social work and counseling.
• Applies specialized knowledge of client population, regulations, policy and funding sources to identify potential problem situations and strategies or policy for resolution.
• Knowledge of human behavior and of current social, economic, and health problems of the community served and available resources.

Reading

• Advanced: Ability to read, investigate, research, analyze, and understand complex written materials such as regulations, policies, professional journals, financial reports and/or legal documents.

Writing

• Intermediate: Ability to organize data, maintain case records, and write clear and concise reports and prepare explanations and summaries with proper format, punctuation, spelling, and grammar, using all parts of speech. Ability to design and develop highly specialized programs.

Math

• Intermediate: Ability to work with, understand, and apply simple formulas to process financial documentation related to client services, reimbursements, and prepare statistical reports. To monitor expenditures in local programs and to recommend spending adjustments as needed.

Communication Skills

• Intermediate: Establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, families, co-worker’s city staff, other agencies, and the public. Provide and receive standard to more complex information. May include interactions that involve stressful, negative situations requiring significant tact and the ability to diffuse aggressive behavior and reach consensus. Requires recognizing different points of view to ensure understanding and appropriate response. Elements of persuasion may be necessary to gain cooperation and understanding.

Independence and Decision-Making

• Requires Administrative Direction: normally completes work with substantial discretion and within broad parameters defined by general organizational requirements and accepted practices. Resolves complex and difficult cases and situations.

Technical Skills

• Skilled: comprehensive, knowledge of techniques for interviewing, counseling and investigating problems; of family services programs and systems. Uses analytical judgment to develop comprehensive courses of action for families. Applies understanding of individual and group behavior and social, economic and health problems. Skill in the use of Microsoft Office applications and department software. 
• Directs the development and implementation of new resources.

Fiscal Responsibilities

• Assists in overseeing resource development and authorization of funds. May recommend and assist in budget allocations, monitoring, implementing, and needs.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Supervises and directs the work of two or more employees. Manages a recognized organizational unit on an on-going basis. Makes decisions, or input carries substantial weight on hiring, discipline, work objectives/goals, performance evaluation and work assignments. Provides specialized expertise and mentoring to others.

Other Characteristics

• Organization and time management skills, sometimes under strict time constraints.
• Constant interruptions and requests for service.
• Performs multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Works effectively with sensitive and confidential issues and information.
• Requires dealing with angry, frustrated and/or upset individuals.
• Required to be on-call and respond within certain timeframes.
• May be required to work additional hours outside of normal schedule.

Physical Demands:

• Light work: Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects
• Remains in stationary position most of the time.
• Must occasionally move about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc. Must constantly position self to maintain files in file cabinet.
• Must be able to communicate information and ideas so others will understand. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
• Ability to observe details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Machines, Tools, Equipment, Software and Hardware:

• Typically requires use of standard office equipment and telephone, and related software and hardware; and any other equipment as appropriate or as assigned.  

Work Environment:

• Work is performed in an office environment where there may be exposure to computer screen for extended periods of time, monitor glare and dust.  
• Work may involve threatening and potentially dangerous settings and disturbing circumstances.
• The noise level is typically moderate.

A pre-hire background check will be conducted on all candidates who are selected for employment with the Department of Social Services. It will include a criminal record check and a child abuse/neglect registry search. Additionally, a driving record check and education verification may be conducted if applicable.

Please note: The Charlottesville Department of Social Services is unable to hire any applicant, intern, or volunteer if the criminal record check reveals a conviction for, or arrest awaiting final disposition of a barrier crime as set forth in § 63.2-1719 of the Code of Virginia. Please click here for the list of barrier crimes: http://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/63.2-1719/