Deputy Director of Quality Assurance
The Administration for Children's Services (ACS) protects and promotes the safety and well-being of children and families through child welfare and juvenile justice services and community supports. ACS manages community-based supports and foster care services and provides subsidized childcare vouchers. ACS child protection staff respond to allegations of child maltreatment. In juvenile justice, ACS oversees detention, placement, and programs for youth in the community. DCP's Quality Assurance Unit, which is part of the Jaden Reform, is responsible for handling investigative case reviews, performance evaluations, and gathers data through detailed case record reviews. The QA unit utilizes aggregate performance data and holds data performance meetings to conduct thorough data analysis. Gathered findings are utilized to assess strengths and needs at both the borough and zone levels. This process helps identify priority areas and develop strategic action plans for the borough zones. Reporting to the Assistant Commissioner of DCP Quality Assurance, the DFO, M2/Deputy Director of Quality Assurance will lead a strong team of Child Protective Managers and oversee QA Supervisors in the DCP QA program. The Deputy Director (DD) will take a strategic and innovative approach to coaching frontline staff and driving improvements in case practice quality within the Division of Child Protection. The DD will collaborate with the ASAP case review, DCP QA houses, the Ombudsman, as well as numerous inter-agency partners and units such as Policy and Planning, ChildStat, Office of Advocacy, CoQI, Central Office, FCLS, EAP, RECC, ISLA, and the Safety Culture Implementation Team as well as external stakeholders to address, resolve, and provide feedback on all aspects of quality assurance and improvement, supporting the agency's mission for better outcomes for children and families in NYC.
The Deputy Director of Quality Assurance is responsible for duties, which include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Supportive supervision for the QA program (QA Managers and QA Supervisors) with all matters regarding the ASAP case review process and protocol
- Develop and implement internal quality assurance and control measures for assessment tools and training to be utilized in the program
- Provide technical assistance and coaching to borough office staff in partnership with the DDO on policy and procedure
- When there is non-consensus around safety, the Deputy Director will make outreach to partner DDO and executive leadership to reach a collaborative resolution
- Revise/adjustment to practice/process of the ASAP review process/protocol, as needed, based on DCP needs
- Ensure Staff development, inclusive of IRR (Inter Rater Reliability), monthly program debriefings, employee recognition planning, and referrals to trainings via agency, DCAS, and other external support, as necessary
- Create, manage, approve, monitor audits of staff performance evaluations, compliance with mandatory trainings, and all personnel related matters (i.e. Timekeeping, RA, Transfers, Payroll etc.)
- Work with internal and external stakeholders to ensure that analyses are accurate, measurable, inform policy, training and other systemic improvements
- Collaborative work with Policy; Planning on strengthening agency policies and procedures via review for edits, providing feedback, and sharing anecdotal experiences from the frontline that can shape the process
- Respond to emergencies (critical incidents and fatalities) and ensure accurate data and information is delivered to internal and external stakeholders to inform/strengthen case practice; inclusive of reviewing all reports prior to submission to executive leadership
- Attend/participate in meetings (CoQI, RECC, Child Fatality Review, Safety Culture etc.) to identify training based on patterns and themes identified that can be discussed with Policy, Planning partners to strengthen practice, policies, and/or protocols
- Review/approve managerial administrative reports, fatality/critical incident reports, safety alerts, 311/Mayoral Correspondence, Chatline, and any special audits/projects at CIR's request
The Deputy Director's role offers the opportunity for a dynamic individual who exudes and models independent judgment, strong managerial skills, excellent communication, written and verbal skills. The ideal candidate must be energetic, command an understanding of policy and case practice, be able to conceptualize larger systemic initiatives and their role in practice within DCP, manage organizational change, and be flexible in response to emergencies, both during and outside of business working hours. Preferred Skills The preferred candidate should possess the following:
- A record of proven managerial or supervisory accomplishments in child protection or a closely related human service field
- Master of Social Work degree or master's degree in a related discipline; excellent communications skills
- Ability to deal tactfully and effectively with diverse constituencies at all levels and an extensive understanding of child welfare issues
- Knowledge of the NY State Connections comprehensive case management system, or other automated child welfare system
- Familiarity working with NYC's diverse communities
- Experience and ability to step into an existing unit and assume all responsibility quickly
- Bilingual ability to communicate clearly in Spanish or other languages is considered a plus for this position
To apply please go to www.cityjobs.nyc.gov or www.nyc.gov/ess for current NYC employees and search for Job ID#763928. No phone calls, faxes or personal inquiries permitted. Note: Only candidates under consideration will be contacted.