Deputy Director, Foster Care Review Unit

Duties and Responsibilities

• Ensure all agency clinical policies, procedures, and regulations are known and practiced appropriately by FCRU staff.
• Provide leadership that ensures all people who come in contact with the Foster Care Review Unit will be treated with respect, dignity, and fairness; that all staff will be professional, respectful, and competent, providing the delivery of high-quality services; that FCRU staff and volunteer case reviewers will reflect the cultural, ethnic, and linguistic diversity of the served community.
• Engage in recruitment, hiring, training, and onboarding of FCR staff.
• Propose recommendations on staffing, need for additional staff, and redistribution of work amongst existing staff.
• Propose training and professional development for FCR staff to ensure understanding of clinical policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Propose recommendations based on DCF case practice trends, highlighting strengths and areas needing improvement.
• Supervise all direct reporting staff and ensure that all other staff are properly supervised.
• Complete evaluations for direct reports and ensure that all staff evaluations are completed timely.
• Ensure that FCR Supervisors utilize expertise and judgment based on best‑fit for the case and Case Reviewer availability and prior history with the case.
• Ensure that FCR scheduling completed by FCR Supervisors maximizes attendance and participation of required invitees.
• Ensure all foster care review alerts, memos, determinations, recommendations, and reports are completed by FCR Case Reviewers and reviewed and approved by FCR Supervisors in accordance with required policy and time standards.
• Ensure that volunteer case reviewers are trained and supported.
• Interact with area and regional staff on an ongoing basis to ensure that there is follow‑up on all cases flagged by the unit.
• Participate in the Department’s continuous Quality Improvement Program.
• Participate in meetings and activities with executive and senior leadership in the Director’s absence.
• Other duties, as assigned.

• Ability to work within public child welfare system – knowledgeable of client population and their service needs.
• An understanding, both clinically and legally, of child abuse and neglect.
• Demonstrated knowledge of substance abuse, domestic violence, and mental health issues.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the impact of placement on children.
• Demonstrated knowledge of federal and state statutes that guide the Foster Care Review process.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the permanency planning process, including time frames and the legal procedures.
• Demonstrated ability to work with diverse populations.
• Proven ability to supervise staff and strong organizational skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

The Department of Children and Families (DCF) is committed to upholding the fundamental mission of protecting children from abuse and neglect to ensure they are able to grow and thrive in a safe and nurturing environment. DCF’s vision is that all children have the right to grow up in a nurturing home, free from abuse and neglect, with access to food, shelter, clothing, health care, and education.

DCF works toward establishing the safety, permanency, and well‑being of the Commonwealth's children by: stabilizing and preserving families; providing quality temporary alternative care when necessary; safely reunifying families; and when necessary and appropriate, creating new families through kinship, guardianship or adoption. Preferred applicants will possess a demonstrated commitment to the core practice values:
1) child‑driven,
2) family‑centered,
3) community‑focused,
4) strength‑based,
5) committed to diversity/cultural competency, and
6) committed to continuous learning.

Salary placement is determined by a combination of factors, including the candidate’s years of directly related experience and education, and alignment with our internal compensation structure as set forth by the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines. For all bargaining unit positions (non‑management),…