Social Services Program Manager

Social Services Program Manager

Under direction, the Social Services Program Manager plans, organizes, and directs the operations and functions of a Child Welfare Services program and/or Adult Protective Services program in a local public social services department or agency; and performs related duties as assigned. Some positions may have additional responsibility for administrative services units. Use of the Social Services Program Manager classification is an option for counties that have a classification structure that articulates a distinguishable difference in the complexity of assignments and consequence of error in Child Welfare Services or Adult Protective Services programs compared to other functional areas such as Eligibility and Employment Services.

The Social Services Program Manager classification differs from the next higher level Deputy Director classification in that the latter typically has responsibility for multiple eligibility, employment, or social service functions in a department or for a single program where two or more subordinate levels of supervision exist. In these departments, the Social Services Program Manager serves in a first-level managerial capacity.

Supervision Exercised and Received:
Incumbents in the Social Services Program Manager classification receive supervision from a Deputy Director, Director, or other higher-level management classification. A Social Services Program Manager provides direct supervision to supervisors in the assigned program areas, and to other staff as assigned.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Manage the daily work activities of a Child Welfare Services and/or Adult Protective Services program, directly or through subordinate supervisors, by establishing performance levels, communicating goals and performance expectations, and monitoring and reviewing work to ensure conformance to established policies and procedures, and standards for quality and timeliness
• Assess service delivery to communicate findings to upper management, implement changes to improve efficiency and service quality, maximize effectiveness of program operations, and ensure alignment with the agency's mission
• Oversee personnel actions to determine compliance with policies and procedures, and provide guidance to subordinate supervisors regarding personnel matters
• Ensure that programs or work units are staffed with qualified individuals by resolving performance problems, documenting performance according to policy, training and developing staff, and assisting in the selection, hiring, and promotion of staff
• Interpret laws and regulations, including new laws and proposed legislation, to determine relevancy to department operations and services, and assess program compliance with laws and regulations
• Assess the need for changes to policies or programs based on initiatives to improve services, new services or program modifications, and opportunities for cross-collaboration of program areas
• Develop or revise policies or procedures to improve operational efficiency and effectiveness, and assist higher-level management in departmental strategic planning
• Serve as an internal technical expert regarding program matters by providing consultation and guidance to staff regarding problems with complex social service cases and delivery of services, and taking corrective actions to improve the quality and efficiency of social services
• Work collaboratively with personnel of other agencies, community groups, contractors, and other public and private organizations to determine needs for social services, and coordinate shared services or collaborative projects, or the provision of services by contracted agencies
• Ensure that information regarding department services and policies is provided accurately and thoroughly to external parties, and respond to the most sensitive complaints from the community, foster parents, and staff
• Serve as an external technical expert by providing consultation regarding program, legal, or policy matters to external entities such as County department managers or administrators, State departments, Board of Supervisors, advisory boards, and…