Director, Social Services (Lenox)

Children's Rescue Fund; New York (NY); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Children’s Rescue Fund is seeking an Assistant Program Director to support the Program Director in overseeing all shelter sites within the assigned region. The role provides leadership to staff and clients, ensuring social services and operational procedures are followed and improved where needed.

The ideal candidate will have strong supervision, crisis management, and collaboration skills, with experience in shelter settings and a bilingual (Spanish) advantage.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or a related field is required.
• At least three years of supervisory experience in social services, housing, or emergency shelter.
• Ability to manage crises calmly and work under pressure.
• Strong written and oral communication, and leadership skills.
• Experience with shelter settings and high‑risk families preferred.
• Bilingual in Spanish is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee housing team with motivational supervision to meet quarterly placement targets.
• Identify, collaborate with realtors and property managers to locate housing for families in shelter.
• Facilitate case conferences and develop individualized housing and service plans.
• Promote linkage with other service providers to secure resources for housing stability.
• Provide supervision to Social Service Supervisors, Case Managers, Housing Specialists.
• Review housing packages for consistency and submit to DHS for review/approval.
• Ensure documentation in CARES and progress notes, service plans, and conferences.
• Monitor staff and client compliance with CRF, DHS, OTDA policies.
• Conduct internal file reviews and QA to ensure compliance with standards.
• Maintain case and agency paperwork per CRF, DHS, OTDA standards.
• Monitor client databases; ensure timely data entry.
• Evaluate staff work and conduct performance evaluations; initiate disciplinary action when needed.
• Attend Family Team Conferences and other meetings to maintain case focus.
• Represent region on DHS conference calls as needed.
• In the absence of the Program Director, assume their roles and responsibilities.

Skills

Supervisory experience

Crisis management

Team leadership

Communication skills

Time management

Detail oriented

Problem solving

Interpersonal skills

Community collaboration

Bilingual Spanish preferred

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or related field

Tools

CARES

Job description

The Assistant Program Director is to assist the Program Director with the oversight and management of all shelter sites within assigned region. The Assistant Director will provide leadership in directing services and support to all clients and staff to ensure social services and operational procedures are being followed and seek improvement regarding those procedures throughout the entire shelter.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Oversee housing team while providing motivational, strength-based supervision to ensure quarterly placement targets are met.
• Identify, collaborate, and foster long term relationships with realtors and property managers to locate and retain housing for families in temporary shelter. Monitor participants’ compliance with locating, obtaining, and retaining suitable housing.
• Facilitate case conferences and ensure Social Service Supervisors and Case Managers develop individualized housing and service plans, including paths to housing stability.
• Promote linkage with other service providers that will help participants secure the resources needed to obtain and maintain permanent housing.
• Provide individual and group supervision to Social Service Supervisors, Case Managers and Housing Specialists.
• Review housing packages for consistency and accuracy prior to submitting to DHS for review/approval.
• Review and ensures proper documentation in CARES, including progress notes, Shelter Assessments, Service Plans and Case Conferences.
• Monitor and document staff and client compliance with CRF, DHS and OTDA policies and procedures.
• Conduct periodic internal file reviews and implement Quality Assurance measures to ensure compliance with CRF, DHS and OTDA standards.
• Maintain case and agency paperwork according to CRF, DHS and OTDA standards.
• Monitor client databases; ensure timely entry of data according to CRF, DHS and OTDA.
• Evaluate staff work, complete performance evaluations to assess compliance with mandates. Initiate disciplinary/corrective action when needed.
• Attend Family Team Conferences, Elevated Risk Conferences and Child Safety Conferences to maintain case focus and direction; facilitates conferences as needed.
• Attend all required DHS meetings.
• Report serious incidents to DHS Serious Incident Hotline in a timely manner and in accordance with DHS/OTDA mandates.
• Ensure all incidents are documented in CARES and submitted to DHS for review/approval as prescribed by DHS.
• Support the Program Director in overall management of the program.
• Assist with compilation and/or distribution DHS Demographics, Exit, PA engagement and School Attendance reports.
• Distribute relevant and pertinent data to all staff lines as needed.
• Ensure reports are completed and submitted to DHS in a timely manner.
• Represent region on DHS conference calls as needed.
• In the absence of the Program Director, assumes roles and responsibilities of the Program Director.

MINIMUMQUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’sdegreeinSocialWorkorrelatedfield required.
• At least three (3) years of organizational and supervisory experience working in the field of social service, housing or emergency shelter.
• Experience with single and/or multi-problem families desirable.
• Ability to think and act calmly in emergency situations.
• Ability to work with a team.
• Attention to detail and problem-solving skills.
• Strong organizational skills with ability to manage tasks efficiently.
• Excellent time management skills with ability to prioritize assignments.
• Excellent analytical, evaluative, and human service management skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication, organizational, supervisory, and leadership skills.
• Must have incredible initiative, the ability to work well under pressure, and the ability to be flexible and work both independently and as part of a team to complete complex projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Must be adept and comfortable with crisis management.
• Demonstrated experience working in shelter setting and/or with high-risk families, including families with documented histories mental health, substance abuse, Domestic Violence, child abuse/neglect.
• Ability to work effectively with a wide range of community-based providers.
• Working knowledge of Case Management theories and approaches.
• Knowledge of community health services, social service support agencies and networks.
• Familiarity with DHS and OTDA social service documentation policies and procedures. Critical thinking, analytical and problem-solving skills as well as resourcefulness.
• High level of computer proficiency in Word, Excel, and the ability to learn new technologies and databases.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and proficiency in CARES.
• Bilingual in Spanish preferred.

Other Requirements (including Physical Demands)

• Travel required.
• May be required to work long hours and a varied schedule.

• Liftingandmovingobjectsweighingupto30poundsseveraltimesaweek.
• Climaticissuesoftemperaturevarianceandventilationassociationwithresidentfacility impact delivery of services.
• Reasonableaccommodationsmaybemadetoenableindividualswithdisabilitiesto perform the essential functions.

EEOStatement – Children’s Rescue Fund is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation or protected veteran status.