SOCIAL SERVICE ADMINISTRATOR IV

This is a Management Service position and serves at the pleasure of the Appointing Authority.

19

Department of Human Resources

Social Services Administration

311 W. Saratoga Street

Baltimore MD 21201-3500

This position serves as the Adoption and Guardianship Supervisor for Out-of-Home Placement Services with the Department of Human Resources (DHR), Social Services Administration. The incumbent in this position supervises a team of Policy Analysts who are charged with instituting changes in policies, regulations, operational standards, and service delivery for Adoption/Guardianship service programs. This position is responsible for monitoring the Adoption and Guardianship Assistance Program, Adoption Exchange Association Contract, Adoption Search, and Contact and Reunion Services; prepares the adoption State level budget; and assists in maintaining compliance with Federal and State regulations for monitoring, analyzing, and collecting data from the Maryland Children Electronic Social Service Information Exchange (MD CHESSIE).

This position also directs the development, implementation, training and monitoring of adoption and guardianship programs statewide, in coordination with the Local Departments of Social Services (LDSS) and other service providers, both public and private; monitors local departments for program effectiveness and compliance with State regulations; represents the Out-of-Home Placement Unit's adoption and guardianship services within DHR and the community by participating in workgroups, boards, committees and other activities in order to foster independence and safety for the State's vulnerable children and families.

• Plans, organizes, and supervises the work of two Policy Analysts;
• Develops, revises, plans and monitors statewide policy directives and manuals to be implemented by all 24 Local Departments’ of Social Services (LDSS’) to maintain compliance with federal performance improvement plans; carries out the implementation of policies through facilitating statewide trainings and technical assistance; and collects, analyzes data and monitors practices outlined in the policy and manuals to measure outcomes;
• Analyzes prospective legislation that impacts both Adoption and Guardianship Assistance along with other State services and agencies that interact with our programs. Prepares detailed commentaries regarding proposed legislation and attendance at legislative hearings for relevant proposed legislation that impact the Adoption and Guardianship Assistance Programs and the Child Welfare client population;
• Manages, monitors and trains Child Welfare staff on the use of the AdoptUSKids database for photo listing of MD children who have a permanency plan of adoption and prospective parents looking to adopt;
• Manages and monitors all postings on the database for Notification of Petition for Guardianship and Mutual Consent Adoptions;
• Develops measurable outcomes from data entered in Maryland’s SACWIS system;
• Supervises the management and implementation of Adoption Search, Contact and Reunion Services statewide and develops a statewide manual for Adoption Search, Contact and reunion Services;
• Reviews and tracks all subsidy requests and makes recommendations regarding approvals/denials;   
• Processes all requests for Adoption Assistance Requests (Non-recurring, Initial, Post-Adoption) and Guardianship Assistance Requests (Non-recurring);
• Prepares and monitors the Adoptions budget and Post Permanency Funds;
• Reviews all requests for child care reimbursement, approval/denial and prepare report for reimbursement;
• Leads taskforce meetings, committee meetings, workgroups, and participates on various boards related to Adoption and Guardianship Child Welfare concerns;
• Serves on various committees with Administrators, Department heads, Deputy Director’s from Local Department’s of Social Services and other State agencies (i.e. MSDE, DHMH, DJS’); 
• Consults with local departmental staff and private agency staff about certain casework practices that impact children and their families.  Confers with local departmental staff on corrective action plans to improve the delivery of out-of-home placement services;
• Prepares Request for Proposals (RFP’s) for adoption services. Prepares contracts with vendors for certain adoption services and obtains bids for adoption services as outlined by procurement procedures; and
• Provides presentations regarding adoption services to the community and inter-agency groups during the week and on weekends.

Education: Possession of a master’s degree in social work from an accredited college or university approved by the Council on Social Work Education.

Experience: Seven (7) years of professional experience in a social work capacity in a public or private agency or institution, five (5) years of which must have been in an administrative supervisory or consultative capacity.

Notes:

1.  These requirements are established by the Social Services Administration by authority provided in Human Services, §4-204 the Annotated Code of Maryland and the Department of Budget and Management, Office of Personnel Services and Benefits, does not have authority to accept substitutions or equivalents.

2.  Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience at a rank of Corporal/Petty Officer or higher as a commissioned officer in Social Work classifications or Social Work specialty codes in the Social Science, Psychology, and Welfare field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience and education. 

Please describe in detail any job duties relating to the minimum qualifications.

Candidates filling positions in this classification must be licensed by the Board of Social Work Examiners.

1. Candidates filling positions in this classification must be licensed by the Board of Social Work Examiners.

2. Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties are required to possess a motor vehicle operator’s license valid in the State of Maryland.

This is a Management Service position and serves at the pleasure of the Appointing Authority.

Please make sure that you provide sufficient information on your application to show that you meet the minimum qualifications for this recruitment.  All information concerning your qualifications must be submitted by the closing date.  We will not consider information submitted after this date.  Successful candidates will be placed on the employment (eligible) list for at least one year.

If you are in State service and are a promotional candidate, your salary will be determined in accordance with the State of Maryland Salary Guidelines.

STATE OF MARYLAND BENEFITS

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will be evaluated.  This office, with your approval, will verify your prior applicable work experience.  In order to receive full consideration for time worked, please complete dates of employment in its entirety and identify number of hours worked for each entry.

College transcripts are not required for review of your application and do not need to be forwarded; however, a copy of Social Work license is required and must be submitted with your application.  Please clearly indicate your college degree and majors on your application.  If selected for an interview, you will be required to bring an official transcript with you.  For all foreign education obtained outside of the U.S., you will be required to provide proof of equivalent American education as determined by a foreign credential evaluation service if selected for an interview.

Online applications are STRONGLY preferred; however, the paper application may be submitted to: DHR/Employment Services Division, attn: Jocelyn Maschal, 311 W. Saratoga Street, Baltimore MD  21201.  The paper application must be received by 5 p.m. close of business on the closing date of the recruitment.  No postmarks will be accepted.  The previous Maryland State application (MS-100) will not be accepted.

TTY Users: call via Maryland Relay

We thank our Veterans for their service to our country, and encourage them to apply.

As an equal opportunity employer Maryland is committed to recruiting, retaining and promoting employees who are reflective of the State’s diversity.