Engagement Specialist

NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; New York (NY); On-site; USD 44,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player in child welfare is seeking an Engagement Specialist to join their dedicated team. This role focuses on providing a warm and welcoming environment for vulnerable children entering a 24-hour care facility. The selected candidate will oversee the care and development of children, ensuring they receive necessary support and guidance during their stay. With a strong emphasis on trauma-informed practices, this position offers a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the lives of children and families. If you are passionate about community service and child welfare, this is the perfect role for you.

Benefits

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Professional Development Opportunities

Inclusive Work Environment

Qualifications

• Experience in community work or activities related to child welfare.
• Ability to create a welcoming environment for children.

Responsibilities

• Oversee care and guidance of children at the Center.
• Conduct orientation sessions and monitor children's behavior.
• Communicate with interdisciplinary team for comprehensive care.

Skills

Community Engagement

Child Welfare Knowledge

Trauma-Informed Care

Communication Skills

Education

High School Diploma or Equivalent

Job description

THE SELECTED CANDIDATE WILL BE OFFERED A SALARY BETWEEN $44,545.00 – $51,227.00.

The Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) protects and promotes the safety and well-being of children and families through child welfare and juvenile justice services and community supports. ACS manages community-based supports and foster care services and provides subsidized childcare vouchers. ACS child protection staff respond to allegations of child maltreatment. In juvenile justice, ACS oversees detention, placement, and programs for youth in the community.

ACS' Nicholas Scoppetta Children’s Center (NSCC) is a 24-hour shift-based operation providing services for New York City’s highly vulnerable population of abused and/or neglected children who have been removed from their parents/caregivers. On average, the Children’s Center serves approximately 2,500 unique children entering or re-entering the foster care system as they await transition to return home, stay with kin, or placement in longer-term foster care settings.

Within NSCC, the Children’s Center Business Operations Office works closely with all ACS divisions to collaborate on initiatives to enhance the Children’s Centers personnel and operational needs. This includes overseeing programmatic needs, procurement projects, and reinforcing administrative uniformity. The office also plays a key role in the Children’s Center Human Resources actions, including hiring new staff, addressing disciplinary actions and equal employment opportunity (EEO) inquires, and expediting personnel processes. Additionally, the office facilitates staff training, professional development, and staff engagement.

The Children's Center Business Operations Office is seeking an Engagement Specialist who will report to a Child Protective Specialist Supervisor I and will be responsible for ensuring that children arriving at the Children’s Center are received and oriented in a welcoming and warm manner.

The duties and responsibilities the Engagement Specialist will include, but will not be limited to:

1. Oversee the care, development, and guidance of dependent, neglected, traumatized, and emotionally disturbed children at the Children’s Center.
2. Create a welcoming, trauma-informed environment for all children entering and exiting the Children’s Center.
3. Ensure children entering and exiting the Children’s Center receive a welcome or transition kit.
4. Conduct individual and group orientation sessions to youth to support NSCC program expectations, and transition to placement.
5. Chaperone and/or transport youths to and from appointments, schools, activities, court appearances, and other community-based activities, as required.
6. Monitor and supervise children in assigned areas, including observing changes in behavior and reporting aberrations and assisting children with personal hygiene, when necessary.
7. Conduct inspections and inventory of children’s property upon entering and departing from the Children’s Center, and upon administrative request.
8. Communicate with, provide requested information, and direct inquiries to other members of the inter-disciplinary team to ensure comprehensive care is provided to all children and youths.
9. Complete required log entries, tracking sheets, incident reports, and other relevant documentation that supports the monitoring of youth admitted to, and exiting and released from Children's center.
10. Participate in regular team meetings, required trainings, and quality control initiatives in case conferences.
11. Communicate all issues to the supervisor in a timely manner.

Additional Information

Section 424-A of the New York Social Services Law requires an authorized agency to inquire whether a candidate for employment with child-caring responsibilities has been the subject of a child abuse and maltreatment report.

This position has been reposted. Previous applicants do not need to reapply.

To Apply

• Please go to www.cityjobs.nyc.gov or www.nyc.gov/ess for current NYC employees and search for Job ID #681334
• NO PHONE CALLS, FAXES, OR PERSONAL INQUIRES PERMITTED
• NOTE: ONLY THOSE CANDIDATES UNDER CONSIDERATION WILL BE CONTACTED

COMMUNITY ASSOCIATE - 56057

Minimum Qualifications

Qualification Requirements

• High school graduation or equivalent and three years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to duties described above; or
• Education and/or experience which is equivalent to "1" above.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.

Residency Requirement

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.

Additional Information

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.