The Director of Family Networks To implement Family Networks practices for empowering youth and families served by the Department of Children and Families to reach their potential and reduce length of stay in congregate care including: incorporating family voice and choice in treatment planning and decision making, assisting providers in improving and expanding their capacities to serve the needs of the population, monitor and improve quality of services clients are receiving, influencing policy development and clinical decision making, and identifying gaps in services and working with community providers in filling those gaps.
The qualified candidate will have a Master’s degree in Master’s degree and mental health clinical license. Significant working knowledge of quality assurance and improvement processes, data management, CANS assessment, community needs assessment, program development and child/adolescent mental health and treatment delivery issues. Three to five years of experience in non-profit human services management and quality improvement processes.
This is a fulltime position located in Central Massachusetts and will include some travel and implementation. You must have reliable and safe transportation. Work schedule must accommodate the needs of the service. Bilingual/Bicultural candidates are encouraged to apply.
In addition to very competitive salaries LUK offers a substantial and unique benefit package found here.
Introduction to LUK, Inc.
LUK has deep roots in Central Massachusetts. We’re driven by our values and we’re serious about our work. It’s not easy work, but it is rewarding! With Crisis as our middle name (LUK Crisis Center), we are well versed in handling all kinds of issues that may arise. LUK exists to help people thrive – the people we serve and the people who work here. We appreciate creative thinking, uniqueness, and tenacity. We encourage staff to participate in numerous opportunities to grow as an individual and a member of a team, influence others and be influenced, be your best and do your best. We provide individualized services to the people we work with and offer flexibility so that staff can meet responsibilities at work and outside of work. The community is “LUK-y” to have the skills, experience, and talent of our staff!
For more information, please visit our website & social media accounts!
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Purpose
The Director of Area Lead Services provides leadership and ensures the success of the agency’s community placement services.
Responsibilities Include
People Management Responsibilities
- Work closely with ALA parent organization to recruit and hire ALA
- Supervise, evaluate, and develop ALA staff, including mentoring Senior Service Coordinator to assist with Director’s responsibilities and to fill-in during Director’s
- Implement policies and processes for accountability when staff are working in-office and
- Provide and/or arrange for on-going professional development for essential ALA skills (e.g., facilitation, community outreach, service navigation and matching, use of technology).
- Provide and/or arrange for cross-training of all ALA staff to ensure consistent coverage of ALA responsibilities.
- Address disagreements and challenges within the ALA team, with AO staff, and with services providers with a focus on problem-solving and conflict resolution, involving DCF Central Office when appropriate.
Program Administration Responsibilities
- Assign cases to ALA staff to match ALA staff members’ knowledge and experience, with complex cases assigned to Senior Service Coordinator or self.
- Promote teamwork and effective communication among ALA
- Promote the DCF-ALA partnership through effective communication, regular attendance at AO meetings, and commitment to collaboration.
- Maximize the value of the DCF-ALA public/private partnership, including orienting ALA staff to DCF priorities, culture, and processes; maintaining close collaboration with the AO ARC; and creative and efficient use of flex funding.
- Collaborate with AD to develop criteria AO will use to prioritize cases for Family Team Meetings and to implement processes to support conducting Family Team Meetings.
- Maintain knowledge of DCF specialty units (e.g., Disability, Substance Use, Domestic Violence, LGBTQAI+, Mental Health) and promote consultation with DCF specialists for relevant cases.
- Coordinate with AO, RO leadership, and Services Network team to develop and present training and informational sessions for DCF staff regarding the role of the ALA, service arrays, appropriate use of evidence-based practices, and other topics as identified in collaboration with the AD.
- Engage in community outreach and arrange for community outreach by ALA
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge among ALA team of DCF contracted service arrays and
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge among ALA team of services available in the AO catchment area, including services available from state (e.g., DMH, DDS, MassHealth) and local agencies and from private, community-based organizations.
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of AO contracted service expenditures for support & stabilization services, comprehensive foster care, and congregate Collaborate with AAM and participate in AO and RO budget meetings.
- Manage Additional Services Requests process for congregate care
- Ensure that ALA staff are available to assist in identifying unplanned placement(s) that arise during the business day (prior to 5:00PM) and will continue to collaborate with DCF until final placement decision has been decided even if it requires both ALA staff and DCF staff to work outside of normal business hours. (Unplanned placement needs that are identified after 5:00 PM will typically be handled by the hotline, rather than ALA )
Continuous Quality Responsibilities
- Engage regularly with AD and other AO staff in discussions and feedback regarding the quality of ALA services and ways to strengthen the DCF-ALA partnership.
- Fulfill responsibilities for annual performance review of ALA services, seeking assistance from ALA parent organization to provide assistance and insights that may not be readily apparent to ALA staff.
- Provide feedback to contracted service providers regarding their contributions to achieving the child welfare goals of child safety, permanency, and well-being and their fulfillment of contracted obligations.
- Support timely and accurate billing and payment by ensuring accurate service referrals by ALA staff, helping contracted service providers address administrative challenges, and supporting DCF with identifying and resolving billing issues.
- Support ALA staff to focus on achievement of service goals for children and families during treatment plan meetings, service utilization reviews, and other meetings in which ALA staff participate.
- Ensure comprehensive searching and multiple forms of outreach (e.g., phone call, email, face-to-face virtual or in-person meetings) to secure appropriate services for children and families with complex needs, engaging with multiple service providers and state agencies where needed.
- Build skills in using data to inform ALA operations.
- Implement regular process for keeping cases assigned to ALA up to date, coordinating this work with AO staff, as needed.
- Support maintenance and expansion of contracted service array in AO catchment area through management of the distribution of service requests and referrals.
- Participate in meetings and trainings hosted by DCF Central Office or Regional Offices to which ALA Directors are invited.
Other Essential Responsibilities:
- Participate in LUK’s Leadership Team.
- Develop Lead priorities, policies and procedures in collaboration with LUK and DCF staff
Knowledge and Experience Required
- Master’s Degree in a human services field
- Required licenses include a current and valid licensure as a Licensed Social Work Associate, Licensed Social Worker, Licensed Certified Social Worker, or Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker by the MA Board of Registration in Social Work.
- Experience working with child-serving systems and at-risk youth and families required
- Bilingual/bicultural candidates encouraged to apply
Skills and Abilities
- Cultural responsiveness
- Strong communication skills
- Computer skills
- Able to work independently and collaboratively on a team
- Internet access for remote work
- Able to respect the dignity and worth of clients, their families, and foster parents
- Maturity and temperament to effectively work with component staff, children and their families in a fair, consistent, and compassionate way required
- Must have reliable transportation.
How to Apply
Submit a cover letter and resume sharing your interest and unique qualifications for this position to:
Online: Click “Apply for Job” below, fill out demographic information, and attach your resumé and cover letter.
Mail: Director of Human Resources
LUK, Inc.
545 Westminster Street
Fitchburg, MA 01420
Email: HR@LUK.org with the subject line “Director of Community Placement Services”
FAX: 978-829-2210
Job Location
North Central DCF Office
Salary Range and Benefits
Pay Range: 7D. Salary Range: $82,000 – $90,000. Salary ranges within each pay grade are based on qualifications, skills, and experience.
For benefit-eligible positions, LUK provides an extensive and unique benefit package. For more information on LUK’s employment benefits please visit: www.LUK.org/Benefits
Position Overview
LUK Division: Family Networks____
LUK Component: Family Network __
Direct Supervisor: _Vice President of Programs ______
LUK Staffing Category: __5___
This position is __40 hours______ per week
This is a salary position: ☒
This is an hourly position: ☐
This position is benefit eligible: ☒
This position is community-/home-based ☐
EOE and Diversity Commitment
LUK is committed to fostering a welcoming and supportive workplace and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our team includes talented professionals from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences—from those with firsthand knowledge of the communities we serve to recent graduates and experienced professionals. We believe that bringing together people with different perspectives makes us stronger and better equipped to serve our communities.
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