Job Description

Posting number: 193745

Department: Department of Children's Advocacy

Division: Foster Care Review Board

Job classification: Program Coordinator I

Posting type: Open

Categories: Investigative, Human Services, Community and Social Services

Summary

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Are you an experienced professional looking for new opportunities to further your career? The SC Department of Children's Advocacy is seeking a hardworking and dependable candidate just like you to apply! This position will offer great benefits with the state, including 15 days of annual and sick leave per year or more depending on applicable state service.

Responsibilities of the Program Coordinator I:

In this position, the employee identifies and works to resolve barriers to permanency for children in foster care, coordinators and facilitates foster care reviews to make recommendations for permanency and evaluates and advocates for service delivery to children and families involved with the foster care system. Following foster care reviews, the employee inputs review information into agency database, producing a written recommendation within a specified time frame for distribution to the Family Court, the Department of Social Services, and the child's Guardian ad Litem. The employee will establish and maintain positive and professional working relationships with volunteer Review Board members and child welfare stakeholders in order to promote permanent homes for children in foster care.

The employee must be able to exercise problem solving skills, critical thinking and sound judgment in evaluating services and in advocating for change in the child welfare system. The employee must be willing and able to learn necessary child welfare statutes, regulations, policies and procedures. The employee must demonstrate excellent communication skills and be able to establish and maintain effective working relationships with Review Board members and child welfare professionals. Job requires daily data entry, electronic record keeping and communication for documentation of reviews and advocacy. The employee must be proficient in computer technology to include but not limited to data entry and Microsoft Office Suite programs. The employee must be able to independently manage time and meet regular deadlines. The employee must have a valid SC driver's license and ability to operate an automobile to travel in SC to conduct reviews one or more days per week and (see word document for more information)

Employee will operate under limited supervision to meet deadlines, manage time, solve problems and advocate within assigned Review Board caseload. Resources are available to support the employee, including policy & procedure manuals, monthly meetings with supervisors, and training opportunities. The employee will receive ongoing quality assurance reviews and a bi-annual review.

• Schedule reviews and prepare and assess case information for children in the foster care system.
• Coordinate and facilitate foster care reviews around the state via remote virtual reviews or travel for Hybrid/In-Person reviews, if needed, to guide board members’ recommendations for permanency and to evaluate service delivery to children and families involved in the foster care system.
• Produce Review Board Recommendations for distribution to the Family Court, the Department of Social Services, and the child's Guardian ad Litem.
• Identify and work to resolve barriers to services and permanency for children in foster care through advocacy with the Department of Social Services and other child welfare stakeholders and court participation.
• Establish and maintain professional and positive working relationships with Review Board staff, Review Board members, and other child welfare stakeholders in order to promote the Division's mission of permanent homes for children in foster care.

Examples of duties

• A high school diploma and relevant experience or an equivalent combination or education and experience may be considered with an approved equivalence by the Division of State Human Resources (DSHR).

Additional Requirements:

• Position requires non-essential declaration.
• This position requires a lot of stationary work.

Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree is preferred.

Supplemental information

The SC Department of Children's Advocacy is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy childbirth or related medical conditions, including, but not limited, to lactation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.

Supplemental questions are considered part of your official application. Any misrepresentation will result in your disqualification from employment. Please complete the state application to include all current and previous work history and education. A resume will not be accepted nor reviewed to determine if an applicant has met the qualifications for the position.

The SC Department of Children's Advocacy offers an exceptional benefits package for full time (FTE) employees:

1. Health, dental, vision, long-term disability, and life insurance for employees, spouses, and children. Click here for additional information.
2. 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year
3. 15 days sick leave per year
4. 13 paid holidays
5. Paid Parental Leave
6. S.C. Deferred Compensation Program available (S.C. Deferred Compensation)
7. Retirement benefit choices*
8. State Retirement Plan (SCRS)
9. State Optional Retirement Program (State ORP)

*Enrollment in one of the listed plans is required for all FTE employees; please refer to the contribution section of hyperlinked retirement sites for the current contribution rate of gross pay.