Job Specification Details

Supervisory, administrative, and procedural development work for the Child Welfare & Youth Justice Division of the Department for Children & Families. Duties involve the provision of consultation and training for family services staff on child safety interventions, child safety decision making, risk and safety assessment and general child safety practice. Duties are performed under the general direction of the Child Safety Director.
 
All employees of the Agency of Human Services perform their respective functions adhering to four key practices: customer service, holistic service, strengths-based relationships and results orientation. 

Consults with Family Services Workers, Family Services Supervisors, District Directors, and Operations Managers about child safety interventions, specifically, and child safety practice generally. The Child Safety Specialist holds decision making authority in the realm of waiving interviews with alleged child victims, alleged perpetrators and potentially other decision points within Child Safety Interventions as dictated by policy and rules.  Supports the Child Safety Director in ensuring that child safety intervention policy and procedure is up to date and reflects best practice. May personally undertake particularly difficult or politically sensitive investigations and assessments or may be asked to review the work of district staff in similar circumstances. Supports Child Safety Director in the development and implementation of training for child safety intervention staff throughout the State. Ensures that decisions to substantiate for abuse are made appropriately and are consistent statewide. Supports the Child Safety Director with planning the agenda for and facilitating periodic child safety statewide meetings.  

Develops and provides subject matter expertise in Safety Organized Practice generally and Structured Decision Making tools specifically.  Provides consultation to Family Services Workers, Family Services Supervisors, District Directors, Operations Managers and Family Services leadership in the assessment of safety and risk for children served by the Division.

May lead trainings and skill building workgroups in Child Safety Interventions, Safety Organized Practice, and Structured Decision Making for the Division.

Supports the Child Safety Director in carrying out the duties of coordinating the Children’s Justice Act Task Force.

Reviews cases related to child fatalities, near fatalities and other critical incidents.

May supervise other positions as needed by the division, particularly in the realm of child safety intervention review, name placement on the child protection registry and child fatality review.

Performs related duties as required.

Duties are performed primarily in a standard office setting which is primarily home based, but with a requirement for significant statewide travel for which private means of transportation must be available. Incumbent must be constantly available to respond to emergencies. Significant stress may be occasioned by responsibility for the safety and well-being of children alleged to have been abused.

Thorough knowledge of investigative techniques, particularly as they apply to investigations of allegations of child abuse and neglect.

Considerable knowledge of the standards for substantiation of child abuse allegations.

Considerable knowledge of criteria and standards for placement of children in custody.

Ability to ensure consistency and effectiveness of investigative procedures and standards throughout multiple districts.

Ability to deal tactfully with managers of districts where supervision is shared.

Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

Ability to provide leadership and accountability within the framework of the four key practices of the Agency of Human Services: customer service, holistic service, strengths-based relationships and results orientation. 

Bachelor's degree in human services field or sociology AND three (3) or more years of experience in child protective or juvenile services including two (2) years or more of casework supervision.

Considerable experience supervising Child Safety Intervention practice

Candidates must pass any level of background investigation applicable to the position. In accordance with AHS Policy 4.02, Hiring Standards, Vermont and/or national criminal record checks, as well as DMV and adult and child abuse registry checks, as appropriate to the position under recruitment, will be conducted on candidates, with the exception of those who are current classified state employees seeking transfer, promotion or demotion into an AHS classified position or are persons exercising re-employment (RIF) rights.