Program Manager (Home Finding)

Office of Shared Administration (WV); Charleston (WV); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Office of Shared Administration (WV) is seeking a Program Manager in the Home Finding Unit to oversee statewide foster care initiatives. The role requires leadership over unit staff, program planning, and policy implementation to ensure compliance with legal requirements and quality service delivery.

The successful candidate will guide service delivery, staff development, and complex decision-making regarding waivers for foster/kinship homes, working with multidisciplinary teams and circuit

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Five (5) years of full-time or equivalent part-time paid experience in the program area or related field.
• Current WV Social Work license from the West Virginia Board of Social Work Examiners.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and support the supervisory staff of the Home Finding Unit; assign tasks and review operations.
• Provide administrative and program direction for Home Finding units; monitor service delivery for legal compliance and quality.
• Make critical decisions on waivers for foster/kinship homes; explain decisions to multidisciplinary teams and judges.
• Oversee personnel activities: staff selection, development, disciplinary actions, and training.
• Oversee policy implementation and kinship/foster home approvals, waivers, and policy exceptions.

Skills

Child welfare

Policy development

Program planning

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

PATH system

CCWIS

Google Platform

Job description

Under general direction, the Program Manager in the Office of Field Support, Home Finding Unit, this position is responsible for the comprehensive management and performs complex administrative and professional work at the advanced level in managing the statewide program. Responsibilities include program expertise, planning, policy development, coordination, quality assurance, and administration of the unit that includes Child Welfare Placement Workers and Supervisors.

Applicants must possess a valid WV driver’s license and reliable transportation. Travel may be required. Successful completion of a background check is required for employment. Preference may be given to candidates with a Master’s Degree in Social Work; demonstrated experience and expertise in child welfare; proficiency in the WV People’s Access to Health (PATH) system and WV Comprehensive Child Welfare Information System (CCWIS); knowledge and proficiency with Google Platform; and, excellent written and verbal communication.

Please note: Applicants hired into this classification must have a current WV Social Work license from the West Virginia Board of Social Work Examiners.

Posting Number: BSS27CAH010

Counties of work: Statewide

Position Number: 0511P05793

• Supervise and provide support to the supervisory staff of the Home Finding Unit. Make assignments and review the operations of the units.
• Provide administrative and program direction for the Home Finding units, including monitoring and evaluation of service delivery to ensure adherence to legal requirements, best practice standards and quality customer service.
• Responsible for critical decision making as it relates to the granting or denying of waivers for families to become certified foster homes and certified kinship homes and providing explanations of these decisions to multi-disciplinary teams and circuit court judges.
• Manage and oversee personnel activities, including staff selection, skill development and progressive disciplinary actions. Plan and ensure appropriate training of professional staff within the Home Finding program, as well as child welfare staff on issues relating to and impacting the program.
• Operation of the Home Finding unit to include staff selection, development and training needs. Implementation of policy and practice, approval and denial of families applying to serve as kinship foster parents or certified foster homes, including the granting and denial of most waiver requests and the granting of policy exceptions.

• Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Experience: Five (5) years of full-time or equivalent part-time paid experience in the program area or related field.
• Internal Applicants Only: Three (3) years within the same Department as the position being filled may substitute for the required experience.

Substitution Information:

Additional education and related experience may substitute based on a year-for-year basis or as determined by the Office of Shared Administration Equivalency Chart.

The Bureau for Social Services champions the security, permanence, and welfare of children and vulnerable adults, empowering individuals and strengthening families. Formerly the Bureau for Children and Families, the Bureau for Social Services operates under the West Virginia Department of Human Services, serving children, adolescents, and vulnerable adults facing abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation. Equipped with extensive training to handle delicate situations with compassion and dignity, these workers contribute to the advancement of a vibrant and healthy West Virginia by facilitating access to crucial healthcare, essential social services and benefits, and fostering safe, supportive, and healthy environments. Through this hard work, at risk populations can begin to thrive within the community.