Senior Manager

Summary:

The Senior Manager of Foster Care Case Management (FCCM) – Central Region assists the Director of Foster Care Case Management in overseeing the operations and service delivery of the foster care case management program within the assigned region. The Sr. Manager provides leadership, direction, supervision, mentoring, and support to FCCM Supervisors and provides secondary leadership, consultation, and support to Case Managers as needed.

The Sr. Manager is responsible for promoting quality, safety, regulatory and contractual compliance, effective supervision, staff development, and continuous quality improvement within the assigned region. The position ensures services are provided in accordance with applicable federal and state requirements, Missouri Children's Division requirements, the FCCM contract, applicable accreditation standards, and Every Child's Hope (ECH) policies and procedures.

The Sr. Manager works collaboratively with agency leadership, Children's Division, courts, community stakeholders, service providers, children, youth, and families to support effective service delivery and positive outcomes.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

- Provides direct supervision, leadership, mentoring, and ongoing development to assigned FCCM Supervisors and provides secondary leadership, consultation, coaching, and support to FCCM Case Managers as needed.

- Ensures required supervision is completed and documented in accordance with ECH policy, contractual requirements, and applicable standards.

- Provides trauma-informed leadership and demonstrates sensitivity and responsiveness to the experiences of children, youth, families, and employees. Completes required new-hire, annual, and position-specific training.

- Oversees the operations of the Central Region and ensures program expectations, contractual outcomes, and performance requirements are achieved.

- Ensures program operations comply with applicable federal and state laws and regulations, Missouri Children's Division requirements, FCCM contractual requirements, ECH policies and procedures, and applicable accreditation standards.

- Monitors case management practices, including case documentation, required timelines, assessments, service planning, payment authorizations, court reports, contacts, visits, and other required case activities.

- Ensures client records are accurate, complete, timely, confidential, and maintained in accordance with established documentation and recordkeeping requirements.

- Participates in quality assurance and continuous quality improvement activities, including case record reviews, peer reviews, audits, monitoring of program outcomes, identification of trends and compliance concerns, development of corrective action plans, and follow-up to ensure identified deficiencies are resolved.

- Identifies opportunities for program improvement and collaborates with FCCM leadership, Quality Assurance, and other appropriate departments to develop and implement improvement strategies.

- Reviews program performance data and other quality indicators to identify trends, risks, strengths, and opportunities for improvement.

- Provides program information, performance updates, compliance concerns, and other requested information to the Director of FCCM and Senior Director of Community Based Services.

- Participates in program development and is responsible for implementing approved program initiatives within the Central Region.

- Assists with recruiting, interviewing, hiring, onboarding, training, coaching, performance evaluation, corrective action, and development of FCCM Supervisors and Case Managers as appropriate.

- Monitors staff compliance with required orientation, training, professional development, credentialing, and other position-specific requirements.

- Works collaboratively with the Director of FCCM to address complaints, grievances, performance concerns, and problems involving employees, clients, families, Children's Division, community partners, and service providers.

- Ensures concerns related to child safety, suspected abuse or neglect, exploitation, serious incidents, or other reportable events are immediately addressed and reported in accordance with applicable law, Children's Division requirements, contractual requirements, and ECH policy.

- Fulfills mandated reporter responsibilities and maintains knowledge of applicable reporting requirements.

- Maintains the confidentiality, privacy, and security of client, family, employee, and agency information in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, contractual requirements, and ECH policies.

- Maintains positive and professional working relationships with Children's Division personnel, courts, community stakeholders, service providers, and other partners.

- Participates in required internal and external meetings and represents ECH professionally.

- Completes all required training, education, documentation, reports, and administrative responsibilities within established timeframes.

- Travels to FCCM regional offices, courts, meetings, community locations, and other locations as necessary to fulfill position responsibilities.

- Performs other duties as assigned that are consistent with the responsibilities and scope of the position.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Provides direct supervision and oversight to assigned Central Region FCCM Supervisors and provides secondary leadership, consultation, coaching, and support to FCCM Case Managers as needed.

Supervisory responsibilities include interviewing and participating in hiring decisions; onboarding and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; monitoring workload and performance; providing regular supervision and performance feedback; completing performance evaluations; supporting professional development; recognizing positive performance; implementing corrective action and disciplinary processes when appropriate; addressing employee concerns; and resolving operational and performance issues.

The Sr. Manager carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with ECH policies and procedures, applicable employment laws, contractual requirements, and accreditation standards.

Core Competencies

Leadership and Staff Development: Provides effective leadership, establishes clear expectations, supports employee development, provides timely feedback, promotes accountability, and develops effective teams.

Child Welfare Practice and Compliance: Demonstrates knowledge of foster care case management, child welfare practice, regulatory and contractual requirements, agency policies, and professional standards.

Quality Assurance and Continuous Improvement: Monitors quality and performance, identifies deficiencies and trends, develops corrective strategies, and promotes continuous improvement.

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: Identifies and analyzes problems, considers relevant information, develops appropriate solutions, and makes timely and sound decisions.

Communication and Collaboration: Communicates clearly and professionally, listens effectively, manages conflict appropriately, and maintains productive relationships with employees, clients, families, and community partners.

Trauma-Informed and Family-Centered Practice: Demonstrates an understanding of trauma and its impact on children and families and supports practices that are respectful, responsive, strengths-based, and family-centered.

Cultural Responsiveness and Professional Ethics: Demonstrates respect for individual differences, promotes equitable and inclusive practices, maintains professional boundaries, protects confidentiality, and acts with integrity.

Organization and Accountability: Manages competing priorities, meets required deadlines, maintains accurate documentation, follows through on commitments, and accepts responsibility for assigned duties and outcomes.

Professional Conduct and Ethics

The Sr. Manager is expected to demonstrate professional and ethical conduct consistent with ECH's Code of Ethics, policies, procedures, mission, and organizational values.

The employee will maintain appropriate professional boundaries with children, youth, families, employees, and community partners; safeguard confidential information; identify and appropriately address potential conflicts of interest; and immediately report suspected misconduct, abuse, neglect, exploitation, safety concerns, or violations of agency policy through established reporting channels.

Qualifications

Qualifications

To perform this position successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements below represent the knowledge, skills, education, experience, and abilities necessary for the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in social work, psychology, counseling, human services, sociology, criminal justice, or a related field required.

Master's degree in social work, counseling, public administration, human services, or a related field preferred.

Education and qualifications must meet any applicable requirements established by the Missouri Children's Division and the FCCM contract.

Experience

Minimum of two years of professional experience working in child welfare or a closely related human services field required.

Minimum of two years of supervisory or management experience in child welfare or a related human services setting required.

Foster care case management experience strongly preferred.

Knowledge and Skills

Must demonstrate:

Knowledge of child welfare and foster care case management practices.

Ability to interpret and apply laws, regulations, contractual requirements, policies, procedures, and professional standards.

Strong leadership, supervisory, organizational, and time-management skills.

Ability to analyze information and program data and use findings to improve performance.

Effective verbal and written communication skills.

Ability to prepare professional reports, correspondence, corrective action plans, and other documentation.

Ability to effectively communicate with employees, children, families, courts, Children's Division representatives, community partners, and agency leadership.

Ability to manage conflict, address performance concerns, and make sound decisions in challenging situations.

Computer and Technology Skills

Proficiency with electronic case management and documentation systems and Microsoft 365 applications, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and Teams, as well as other technology necessary to perform assigned duties.

Must be able to learn and effectively utilize systems required by ECH, Missouri Children's Division, and the FCCM program.

Other Qualifications

Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license and meet ECH requirements for operating a motor vehicle on agency business.

Must meet all applicable background screening, child abuse and neglect registry, driving, and other employment eligibility requirements established by law, contract, and ECH policy.

Must maintain all required training, qualifications, credentials, and other position-specific requirements throughout employment.

Must be able to travel throughout the assigned region and to other locations as necessary.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to communicate verbally and in writing; operate a computer and other office equipment; attend meetings; travel to various

locations; and perform other activities associated with a professional child welfare leadership position.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described are representative of those encountered while performing the essential functions of the position. The employee may work in office, community, court, agency, and other professional settings and may be required to travel between locations.

The noise level in the typical office environment is generally moderate. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.