Assistant Director of Social Services NSP - Good Shepherd Services

Good Shepherd Services is a leading multi-service agency with more than 85 programs that serve over 30,000 youth and families each year – and builds on their strengths to help them gain skills for success.  At Good Shepherd we respect the dignity and worth of every person and reject intolerance, inequity and injustice in whatever form it may take. Voted one of the top 100 places to work in NYC by Crain’s New York, Good Shepherd Services offers a fantastic work environment, a collaborative team dedicated to fulfilling our mission, and an amazing array of benefits. Join our team and help make a difference! 

As part of New York’s Close to Home initiative, Good Shepherd Services operates small, community-based residential Non-Secure Placement (NSP) programs in Brooklyn for court-involved youth that utilize the Missouri approach to group treatment and the Sanctuary model of trauma-informed care. The Assistant Director supervises the social services unit serving these programs to ensure effective and efficient clinical services to the adolescents in care and their families and to insure the integration of social services into the overall program. Social service delivery is to be consistent with the philosophy of Good Shepherd Services, the function and task of the programs and in compliance with City and State mandates, and must promote safety, permanency and wellbeing.

Reports To: Director of Non-Secure Placement and Aftercare , 

Location: 480 Vermont St, Brooklyn, NY 11208 & 480 Shepherd Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11207

Hours: 35 Hours/Week; Exempt

Major Duties:

• Supervise social service staff (including social workers, case planners and vocational/educational specialist) and provide weekly individual and group supervision, including clinical supervision, and on call availability.
• Transmit to all social services staff agency directives and contractual mandates and ensure that such directives and regulations are being met. Ensure social service staff has appropriate external supports and supplies necessary to effectively execute tasks.
• Ensure all the Division of Youth and Family Justice (DYFJ) of ACS standards to promote community re-entry, permanency, safety and well-being are met.
• Lead the implementation of CFTS services and the transition to Medicaid Managed Care in collaboration with treatment team, health services, PEP and other GSS departments.
• Oversee maintenance of and approve case records and appropriate statistics in conformity with all mandates.
• Lead program efforts to maintain high PAMS ratings.
• Collaborate closely with the Senior Program Director, Site Directors, treatment team members and Program Care Manager to ensure close communication and collaboration among all disciplines within the team, including with psychiatry and DOE teachers.
• Convene, participate in/chair treatment team and other meetings as required.
• Participate in Service Plan Reviews and Family Team Conferences as required to provide comprehensive, inclusive, holistic, and integrative assessment, treatment and re-entry/permanency planning.
• Participate in the education of youth and family on the importance of permanency and reunification, as well as how caring adults can facilitate normative development.
• Participate in educating parents/caregivers on the impact of trauma, abuse/maltreatment of their children/youth.
• Serve as expert in the assessment, treatment, and environmental interventions pertaining to domestic violence for both the abused and the abuser. Ensure that all social service staff are skilled in this area of practice.
• Oversee and monitor consistent and continuous service planning and care to best meet individualized identified needs of youth and family.
• Coordinate and supervise intake, in collaboration with treatment team members, to insure effective intake process and maintenance of census.
• Collaborate with the Aftercare Supervisor to assure a seamless transition for youth from residential to aftercare services.
• Meet regularly with Senior Program Director and other program leadership to ensure overall effectiveness, integration, and integrity of programs.
• Participate with Senior Program Director in periodic assessment of social service and overall program for purposes of program planning and development.
• Participate in hiring, performance evaluation, and termination of social service staff.
• Assess and identify in-service training needs of social service staff and, where appropriate, serve as a resource person in providing training.
• Attend appropriate central administration meetings.
• Serve as liaison to DYFJ of ACS, courts, and other appropriate community agencies.
• Oversee the implementation of instruments such as a Mental Health Screening Tool and Trauma Assessments by Social Service Team and ensure resulting data are appropriately communicated and used in work with participants.
• Collect and enter selected assessment data into Evolv or other Agency databases for tracking and monitoring purposes.
• Participate with Program Evaluation and Planning Department (PEP) in fulfillment of the program evaluation processes, including documentation/collection, development and monitoring of data in Connections and other relevant databases.
• Support the implementation of the Missouri approach to group treatment.
• Lead the implementation of the Sanctuary Model of trauma-informed practice within the unit.
• Encourage and advance the use of the Sanctuary Model tools: safety plans, community meetings, psycho-educational groups, team meetings, red flag reviews, treatment planning conferences (or similar), and self-care in the program to create a non-violent and trauma-sensitive culture.
• Promote and model the seven Sanctuary Model commitments to create a non-violent and trauma-sensitive culture.
• Integrate the Sanctuary Model SELF (Safety, Emotional Management, Loss and Future) framework into daily practice to ensure quality care and an effective work environment.
• Utilize Sanctuary Model principals in the supervisory practice.
• Perform other duties as required.

Qualifications:

• LMSW or LMHC required; LCSW and two years supervisory experience preferred.
• Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills to maintain required documentation.
• Must be able to use public transportation systems, including subways and busses to attend various meetings and make home visits.
• Must be physically able to observe staff in their relationship with residents, be able to climb stairs when an elevator is not available. 
• Must attend mandated Safe Crisis Management (SCM) intervention technique trainings.
• Highly encouraged to complete and pass all components of required physical intervention training.
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.
• Must have knowledge of Connections and Microsoft Suite.
• Must have ability to work a flexible schedule when needed including some evenings, weekends and holidays.
• Must have a commitment to work from a strength-based, youth and family development, and trauma-informed perspective.

Good Shepherd Services is an equal opportunity employer that is proudly committed to becoming an anti-racist and multicultural organization that stands up for justice and equity. We welcome prospective employees from diverse backgrounds, for administrative support and direct service and leadership roles, who will join us on that journey, uphold our values and approach, and believe in our mission. Additionally, we aim to have a racially representative leadership and workforce that is reflective of the communities we work in partnership with.

Good Shepherd Services is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, participants, volunteers, subcontractors, and vendors. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of our activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and termination of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services.

We are committed to providing a workplace that is accessible and accommodating to employees with disabilities. As part of our commitment to providing a barrier-free recruitment and selection process, we will provide reasonable accommodations upon request for candidates with disabilities. If you require any accommodations to participate in the hiring process, please inform us of your needs in advance. We value diversity and inclusivity in our workplace and encourage applicants of all abilities to apply.