Review Vacancy
AgencyChildren & Family Services, Office of
TitleChildren and Family Services Specialist 1 (NY HELPS)
Occupational CategoryOther Professional Careers
Bargaining UnitPS&T - Professional, Scientific, and Technical (PEF)
Salary RangeFrom $66951 to $85138 Annually
Appointment Type Contingent Permanent
Duties Description Located in the Bureau of Oversight and Monitoring, this position will provide intensive oversight, monitoring and technical assistance to both agencies and social service districts across NYS as well as some tribal nation districts sharing boundaries with NYS. O&M is responsible for assessing local Department of Social Services in each county for compliance with NYS mandates governing child safety through both CPS and Preventive/Protective services as well as working with urgency to improve permanency outcomes for children and youth in foster care. O&M is tasked with reviewing hundreds of cases every year including interviewing caseworkers, supervisors, and families across NYS, in addition to conducting additional case reviews for federal program compliance.
Duties to be performed include but are not limited to
• Assist in writing guidelines and policies related to Case Practice across all three modalities as well as for Statewide Assessments and case worker trainings
• Review and revise training curriculums related to training field staff and district case workers
• Work with OCFS Regional Office’s using a strength based informed approach of Local Dept. of Social Services performance to improve the outcomes of children and families, based on federal and state standards, including families and individuals with lived experience.
• Participate in program reviews for local departments of social services and voluntary child-care agencies such as Safety and Permanency Assessments (OSRI), Preventive Service Assessments (OSRI) and Federal Child and Family Services case reviews (CFSR). Provide detailed technical assistance and monitoring to local departments of social services and voluntary agencies on numerous issues including child welfare program, CONNECTIONS, complaints, regulatory clarification.
• Participate in multiple Office of Children and Family Services’ workgroups and committees as assigned.
• Develop and monitor program improvement plans statewide
• Oversee local district’s adherence to child welfare timeframes for permanency hearings, Family Assessments and Service Plans and provide technical assistance for release of youth from placement
• Support Regional Offices with any areas needing assistance in working with their districts and agencies as well as train Regional Office staff to use the federal OSRI review tool to meet federally mandated requirements and promote positive outcomes for children.
Minimum Qualifications Transfer: One year of permanent competitive or 55b/c service in this title or in a title eligible for 70.1 transfer.
Open to the Public: This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS).*
To be considered for appointment through NY HELPS, candidates must meet the open-competitive minimum qualifications for this position.
The qualifications for the full SG 18 level are: Six years of experience providing services to children and their families either in the inspection, management, or administration of: foster care programs; day care programs; adoption programs; domestic violence programs; youth detention facilities; or other providers of care, support, and assistance to children, assuring compliance for certification or licensing purposes; or providing, supervising, monitoring, or administering services for children, adults, or their families, including but not limited to: providing social casework, case planning, case management, counseling, crisis intervention, advocacy on behalf of clients, or direct investigation of potential abuse and neglect in one or more of the following settings: human services; juvenile justice; criminal justice; local departments of social services; or local voluntary childcare service programs.
Substitutions:
An associate degree may substitute for two years of experience; a bachelor’s degree may substitute for four years of experience; a master’s degree may substitute for five years of experience; and a doctorate may substitute for six years of experience.
This position may be designated 55 b/c and is subject to verification of applicant eligibility.
Additional Comments *For the duration of the NY HELPS Program, this title maybe filled via a non- competitive appointment, which means no examination is required but all candidates must meet the minimum qualifications of the title for which they apply.
At a future date (within one year of permanent appointment), it is expected employees hired under NY HELPS will have their non-competitive employment status converted to competitive status, without having to compete in an examination. Employees will then be afforded with all of the same rights and privileges of competitive class employees of New York State. While serving permanently in a NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified
Candidates who took and passed the most recent holding of the Professional Careers Opportunities (PCO) Exam are encouraged to apply.
Background Investigation Requirements:
1) All prospective employees will be investigated through a Criminal Background Check (CBC), which includes State and federal Criminal History Record Checks. All convictions must be reported; conviction of a felony or misdemeanor, or any falsified or omitted information on the prospective appointee’s employment application, may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment. Each case will be determined on its own merits, consistent with the applicable provisions of State and federal laws, rules, and regulations. Prospective employees will be fingerprinted in order to obtain a record of their criminal history information, and may be required to pay any necessary fees.
2) All prospective employees will be screened against the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (SCR). Prospective employees will be required to pay any necessary fees.
3) For Division of Juvenile Justice and Opportunities for Youth (DJJOY) prospective appointees will be checked against the Staff Exclusion List (SEL) maintained by the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs. Prospective employees whose names appear on the SEL as having been found responsible for serious or repeated acts of abuse or neglect will be barred from appointment and may have their names removed from the eligible list(s) for the title(s) if applicable.
The Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) is an equal opportunity employer. OCFS does not discriminate based upon age, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, military or veteran status, sex, disability (including pregnancy-related conditions), predisposing genetic characteristics, familial status, marital status or status as a victim of domestic violence, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We devote special attention to dismantling racial injustice and recognize that diversity in our workforce is critical to fulfilling our mission. We are committed to the diversity of our staff, and encourage applicants from marginalized communities to apply. In furtherance of Executive Order 31 and OCFS’s mission to have a diverse workforce, all people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. All applicants must be dedicated to working in and sustaining an environment of inclusion that affirms and celebrates the backgrounds, learned and lived expertise, whole identities, and individual perspectives of our staff. Applicants of all backgrounds and experiences are encouraged to self-identify during the application process.
Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.
Name New York State Office of Children and Family Services
Email Address eoajobpostings@ocfs.ny.gov
Address
Street Bureau of Personnel - TAB
52 Washington Street, 231 North
Notes on ApplyingQualified candidates should e-mail their resume and letter of interest to eoajobpostings@ocfs.ny.gov You MUST include the Vacancy number of the position in the subject line of your email and/or cover letter to ensure receipt of your application. In order to qualify you for the position when you have current or prior New York State employment, you may be contacted by OCFS Personnel for your social security number to confirm your employment history.