Children and Families Program Supervisor

Are you a current State of Connecticut, Department of Children and Families (DCF) employee seeking a role where you can continue to make a difference while participating in a dynamic and reciprocal human services environment? If this sounds like you, we invite you to check out this exciting opportunity!

At DCF, we have a mission of partnering with communities and empowering families to raise resilient children who thrive. We are proud of our diverse and dedicated workforce who strive every day to meet the needs of those we encounter. Our family-centered, strength-based approach to our work seeks to improve the well-being of the children and families we serve.

We are currently recruiting for a full-time Children and Families Program Supervisor to work in Central Office, located at 505 Hudson Street, Hartford, CT. The Careline is a 24/7 operation responsible for assessing, sorting and assigning reports of abuse and neglect to be responded to and investigated in the state of Connecticut.

Careline is part of Central Office which covers the call center, background check, SIU, EPIU and Risk Management. The Careline is responsible for assessing and responding to after hours reports and other related emergencies involving open cases. In this position you would work 40 hours per week, with a schedule of 11am-730pm Tuesday through Saturday. As the Careline is 24/7 operation, this position requires you to work an on call schedule composed of 7 days within a rotation among four program supervisors. You receive 8 hours of compensatory time per 7 days of on call coverage.

In this role, we would empower you to manage a component of our programs, including the oversite and development of them. Additionally, along with other duties, we would entrust you to:

• Develop new programs
• Determine office work priorities
• Showcase your talents in a lead role by coordinating and managing staff across multiple shifts
• Act as a liaison with various internal and external partners

You will discover the opportunity to:

• Engage in a rewarding career
• Provide support to a division that is passionate about the work we do for our clients
• Assist our clients so they can achieve success
• Work together in a collaborative team environment

The ideal candidate will have considerable knowledge and understanding of relevant agency policies and procedures, methods, and techniques. Additionally, they will have:

• Knowledge of the legal basis for departmental programs and requirements
• Significant understanding of child development, mental health, and behavioral challenges facing children, youth, and families
• Broad understanding of working with, collaborating, decision making and leading across divisions in the agency
• Demonstrate an ability to manage and lead a group of supervisors in evaluating and determining essential practice elements in assessments during and after normal business hours
• A strong understanding of and active participation in the agency's racial justice initiatives
• A capacity to build relationships with a broad section of multidisciplinary partners
• Broad understanding of quality assurance across multiple domains and demonstrate operationalizing new programs and processes through a quality assurance lens

As a state employee, you would continue to be able to participate in our competitive benefits plan which includes health and dental insurance, a retirement plan, group life insurance, and other supplemental benefits. Paid time off is also offered, including 12 paid holidays per calendar year, in addition to vacation, sick and personal leave accruals.

We hope you take this opportunity to continue your career with us and make an impact by serving your state!

In the Department of Children and Families this class is accountable for managing administrative child welfare/protective services programs.

Manages a component of a program within the agency including oversight of the development and evaluation of specific clinical or behavioral programs; ensures specialized services/programs are in compliance with federal, state and department mandates; identifies and develops new programs and funding sources; schedules, assigns, oversees and reviews work of staff; provides training and assistance to staff and/or outside providers; conducts performance evaluations; determines priorities and plans office work; establishes and maintains office procedures; develops or makes recommendations on development of policies and standards; acts as liaison with other operating units, agencies, outside officials and community regarding policies and procedures, available services and coordination of resources; prepares reports and correspondence; consults with staff on difficult cases; oversees maintenance of records; collects and analyzes program data; may interact with clients and caretakers; may interact or hear cases concerning retention of a child in community vs. institutionalization; performs related duties as required.

Considerable knowledge of relevant agency policies and procedures; considerable knowledge and understanding of case work principles, methods, and techniques; considerable knowledge of factors which influence attitudes and behavior of individuals and families; considerable knowledge of community resources and available services; knowledge of legal basis for departmental programs and requirements; knowledge of child development; knowledge of mental health and behavioral challenges facing children and youth; considerable interpersonal skills; considerable oral and written communication skills; supervisory ability.

Eight (8) years of professional experience in the field of child welfare, children's protective services, foster services, adoption or social and human services.

One (1) year of the General Experience must have been in a supervisory capacity over professional staff responsible for planning, developing or implementing administrative or program services in child welfare, children's protective services, children's mental health or juvenile justice.  

NOTE: For State employees, this is interpreted at the level of Social Worker Supervisor.

• Experience with Intake Policy and Practice demonstrated in supervising and managing Intake staff within the agency.
• Experience generating and analyzing various performance metrics using Excel and other reporting tools.
• Experience representing an agency (employer) with internal (across divisions) and external stakeholders (providers, other state agencies, etc.).