Social Services Director

This position will oversee OR, WA, CA, NY, NJ, PA offices and social workers as well as any branch assistant in those states.  The ideal candidate would be remote from one of those states, ideally.

DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

Holt International carries out child welfare, family preservation and family strengthening programs and domestic and intercountry adoption in over 15 countries throughout the world. The Programs and Services Department serves more than 1,000,000 children, family members and other individual with family strengthening services, orphans care and adoption services. There are approximately 110 children placed with international adoptive families each year. Managed by U.S. and in-country staff, these programs and services are carried out in close cooperation with partner agencies, orphanages and other child service providers, government child welfare agencies, local and regional officials, funding agencies, and others. The program continuously evaluates opportunities to expand or deepen program services in these countries while maintaining high standards of quality and transparency for sustainable development and child welfare impact.

Holt’s state offices provide services to children and families within a specified geographic area. A team of social workers located throughout the service area is led and supported by a Social Service Director and works in tandem with Holt’s headquarters office in Eugene, Oregon.  

POSITION SUMMARY:  

Ensures successful adoptive placement of children with families by overseeing the direct services provided to families and children within their service area. Responsible for the management of the state offices in service area, including setting objectives, supervising and motivating staff, and monitoring the budget. Social Service Director also provides direct services to adoptive families in their area.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

1.  Maintains an efficient adoption process by establishing expectations, policies and procedures and coordinating activities with the Eugene, Oregon office. Ensures state adoption requirements are met and successfully prepares for and completes state licensing renewal processes. Serves as primary contact for state licensing personnel and/or supervises local State Supervisor and Social Workers and serves as primary contact for state licensing.
2.  Ensures effective performance of state office staff by recruiting, hiring, evaluating and dismissing staff and recommending to Eugene, Oregon office appropriate compensation according to Holt procedure.
3.  Supervises and develops staff by providing ongoing performance feedback to staff that recognizes accomplishments and challenges, develops individualized training plans, solicits feedback, monitors goals and conducts performance evaluations in a timely manner.
4.  Assures consistent quality and accuracy of social work services by providing casework supervision, reviewing and approving home studies and post placement and post adoption reports and conducting in-service education and training.
5.  Achieves financial objectives by having a good understanding of the budget, monitoring revenue and expenses on a monthly basis, and initiating corrective action as needed.
6.  Recruits adoptive families and influences adoption policy and practice by responding to requests for local speaking engagements, representing Holt at adoption events and networking with local groups interested in supporting Holt’s mission.
7.  Provides supportive services to families by identifying and establishing relationships with legal, medical and counseling services within the service area and coordinating parent support groups.
8.  Coordinates coverage for direct services to social workers by assigning direct services geographically throughout service area and ensuring entire service area has staff availability.  
9.  Provides direct services to adoptive families by reviewing applications, conducting group meetings, completing home studies and post placement reporting as needed.
10.  Ensures successful adoptive placement by maintaining contact with family after home study and prior to placement, supervising and assessing family through post placement and post adoption process and referring family to support services when necessary.
11.  Minimizes effect of disruption or dissolution for child and family by ensuring adequate emergency and/or alternative out of home care for children and working with Supervisor, Adoption Director team and family’s social worker to make recommendations and coordinate transition plan for child.
12.  Serves as a liaison for social workers in service area and Holt’s headquarter office by ensuring social workers and staff receive relevant information related to policy and procedures, accurate program information, organizational news and timely communication.
13.  Contributes to the team effort by exhibiting cooperative and effective work relationships, such as responding positively to challenges, assignments, inter and intra departmental requests; seeing beyond own tasks to help fulfill the organizational goals.
14.  Contributes to a positive productive work environment by meeting attendance and punctuality guidelines and prearranging time off with appropriate notice; treating all people with dignity and respect, and exhibiting good judgment.

SUCCESS FACTORS: The successful Social Service Director is self-directed, able to build rapport with adoptive families and professionals, and network with community groups interested in supporting Holt’s mission. Maintains a team of qualified social workers that provide high quality direct services to adoptive families and children. Excels at making decisions that are focused on the best interest of the child. Maintains appropriate caseload levels for all social workers and adjusts caseloads and staffing as needed to maximize resources. Facilitates open communication within the team, with other state offices, and with staff in the Eugene, Oregon office. 

KNOWLEDGE (MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS): Master’s Degree in Social Work or related field plus five years of direct service experience in a social service setting. Must meet state requirements for education and/or licensure. Requires the application of clinical skills and knowledge to determine the appropriateness of an adoptive placement of a child and whether that placement is in the best interests of the child. Must have proven clinical and assessment skills and experience in adoption services and processes. Must have knowledge of family dynamics, child development, and cross cultural sensitivity. Organizational, management, and supervisory experience required. Note: Required to complete a minimum of 30 hours of training every two years on current and emerging adoption practice issues. 

INFORMATION PROCESSING: Manages information flow between state offices and Eugene, Oregon office. Submits written and statistical reports in prescribed format. Analyzes information to achieve objectives. Ability to set priorities and delegate responsibility appropriately.

SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITY:  

Other responsibilities include ensuring daily implementation of multiple tasks and plans necessary to the assessment and successful placement of children with families. Manages state offices’ compliance with Holt procedures and policies. Hires and directs local staff in a manner which ensures their productivity. Supervises all staff in service area. Develops, recommends and implements methods and activities to achieve objectives. Ability to work independently and geographically separated from direct supervision and Eugene, Oregon office.

INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION: Maintains effective communication between state offices and Eugene office. Trains others to achieve results. Ability to motivate and resolve conflicts within the staff. Ability to work cooperatively with professional community, Holt leadership and the general public. Public speaking skills.

IMPACT OF RESULTS: Directs daily implementation of state office to achieve objectives in identifying and assessing families for adoption readiness and ensuring each child’s successful adjustment within that family. Represents Holt within the assigned service area.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: Hires, trains and supervises service area staff  

CONTROLS: Reports to and is evaluated by the Senior Director, US Programs

NOTE: Some travel required