Social Services Manager - Austin - Travis County, TX

Description

Job Summary

This position is part of a management team that oversees the Healthy Families Travis County program including oversight of home visiting services, outreach and assessment, child development, evaluation and reporting, and resource management.

Provides direct supervision of five to six staff, including program coordinators and home visitors, within the Healthy Families Program

Distinguishing Characteristics

This is a job classification within the Social Services job family. This classification is responsible for managing the operations of a social services department, work unit or program composed of multiple operational components and related staff.

This position provides direct supervision of five to six staff members within the Health Family program. The Healthy Families Travis County program provides long-term, home visiting and family support services based on the evidence-based Healthy Families America model.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Directs and Manages Planning and Operations: Oversees subordinate managers and staff, including hiring, training, performance evaluation and disciplinary actions, ensuring activities are consistent with policies, procedures, laws, regulations, goals and objectives.
• Serves as Parenting Materials and Child Development Lead: Part of the program management team coordinating services and overseeing operations.
• Maintains Staff Fidelity to Program Model: Ensures staff maintain fidelity to the program model and meet accreditation standards.
• Oversees Program Grant Activities and Reporting:
• Conducts Strategic Outreach: Conducts strategic outreach to target population in the community.
• Oversees Intake and Assessment of Participants:
• Participates in, or develops strategic plans to accomplish the goals and objectives.
• Manages Service Delivery and Program Operations: Organizes operations and procedures. Sets priorities, monitors activities and assignments and resolves problems.
• Provides Technical Advice and Guidance: Provides technical advice, policy interpretation and guidance for application of appropriate procedures to staff.
• Evaluates Program Effectiveness: Evaluates program effectiveness to develop improved methods. Devises evaluation methodology and manages implementation. Analyzes results and recommends or takes appropriate action
• Develops and Oversees New and Existing Services: Develops, oversees and evaluates new and existing services and initiatives for implementation.
• Assists in Budget Development and Administration: Assists in or develops budget for area of assignment. Administers budget and approves or recommends expenditures within established budget. May prepare proposals for funding or funding continuation.
• Serves as Liaison and Collaborator: Serves as liaison and collaborates with governmental and public agency representatives, community outreach and advocacy groups, service providers and others.
• Participates in Community Meetings: Participates in quarterly community meetings focused on home visiting collaborative efforts.
• Identifies and Resolves Service Gaps: Identifies and resolves service gaps and barriers, stimulates interest in departmental programs and services.
• Develops Education and Training: Develops and participates in education and training for clients and community.
• Makes Presentations: Makes presentations related to departmental programs and services.
• Prepares Reports and Analysis: Prepares periodic reports, financial analysis and statistical reports on program activities and program progress.
• Performs Other Job-Related Duties: Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Social or Behavioral Sciences or a directly related field AND five (5) years increasingly responsible experience in social services, including one (1) year of supervisory or management experience;

OR,

Any combination of education and experience that has been achieved and is equivalent to the stated education and experience and required knowledge, skills, and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of this job.

Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements

Valid Texas Driver's License.

Preferred:

• Extremely proficient with MS Office, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Publisher; various technologies, databases, data analysis, and reporting.
• Masters in Social Work or a related, and licensed by the State of Texas in the Social Service field Knowledge of child development and children's mental health
• Experience with and knowledge of home visiting best practices
• Knowledge and experience with parenting education and the 0-3 population
• Prior experience working with individuals and families in crisis
• Strong interest in lifelong learning opportunities
• Strong familiarity with local community resources and collaborations
• Experience in providing outreach and conducting presentations

Knowledge of:

• Management and supervisory principles, practices and techniques.
• Policies, practices and procedures within area of assignment.
• Federal, State and Local program laws and requirements.
• Advocacy groups, social service providers and community outreach organizations.
• Budgetary practices and techniques.
• Modern office practices, procedures and methods.
• Computer equipment to include word processing, spreadsheets, databases and a variety of software packages.
• Business letter writing, grammar and punctuation, and report preparation.

Skill in:

• Planning, development, monitoring, and evaluation of social service programs and services.
• Supervising others, allocating resources, and evaluating programs.
• Leadership and community collaboration.
• Problem-solving and decision-making.
• Operating a variety of modern office equipment, including a computer.
• Both verbal and written communication, including presentations.

Ability to:

• Motivate, train, supervise develop and evaluate staff.
• Serve as technical consultant and liaison.
• Create and recommend department and program initiatives.
• Prepare administrative and statistical reports.
• Communicate effectively.
• Work independently.
• Manage time well, perform multiple tasks, and organize diverse activities.
• Deal effectively with mentally ill or emotionally distressed individuals undergoing acute episodes, who may also be hostile and aggressive?
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with departmental clientele, representatives of outside agencies, other County employees and officials, and the general public.

Work Environment & Other Information

Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 25 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment. Subject to standing, sitting, walking, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, crouching, kneeling, pushing, pulling, reaching, twisting, balancing, repetitive motion, driving, client/customer contact, and squatting to perform the essential functions.

Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.

This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.

Benefits

Employment at Travis County comes with a full array of benefits. We offer comprehensive health insurance, a no-cost, on-site Health and Wellness clinic, longevity pay, paid vacations, sick time and personal holidays, not to mention an industry competitive salary structure and a friendly, stable work environment.

FY2025 Travis County Benefit Guide In this valuable you will find benefit summaries, eligibility requirements, costs, contact numbers and addresses as well as other general information on the benefits available to Travis County Employees and Retirees.

Credit Union Employees may join the Travis County Credit Union which offers low-interest loans, savings plans through payroll deduction, safe deposit boxes and other benefits.

Deferred Compensation Employees may enroll in a tax-free sheltered investment plan through payroll deduction.

Direct Deposit Employees may sign up for direct bank deposit.

Employee Assistance Program Travis County provides a confidential counseling and referral service free of charge to county employees and their family.

Employee Organizations Membership in the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Union is available through payroll deduction.

Employee Health & Wellness Clinic Employees may access the clinic for a variety of wellness program and health care services with no co-pay, no deductible and no co-insurance costs.

Holidays An average of eleven paid holidays are designated by the Travis County Commissioners Court at the beginning of each fiscal year.

Insurance Employees may select from four plans: an Exclusive Physician Organization (EPO), Choice Plus Preferred Physician Organization (PPO), Consumer Choice or a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account (HSA). All four options include a Pharmacy Plan. Travis County's current policy is to pay 100% of the employee's health insurance premium for the Consumer Choice and HDHP. Employees will pay a premium for both the EPO and PPO.

The following benefits are employee paid:

• Dental
• Vision
• Supplemental Life, AD&D
• Dependent Life
• Short Term Disability
• Long Term Disability
• Long Term Care
New employees are covered on the first day of the month following 28 calendar days of employment.

Longevity Longevity pay is paid for each year completed after three years of continuous service. Peace Officers in a law enforcement activity, whose job requires state peace officer certification, receive pay after one year of certification.

Parking A limited number of assigned parking spaces are available to employees in the Courthouse Complex.

Personal Holidays Regular, full-time employees are eligible for up to three paid personal holidays each calendar year. Part-time employees shall be granted personal holidays on a prorated basis.

Retirement Travis County is a member of the Texas County & District Retirement System with mandatory participation by certain classes of employees. Seven percent (7%) of the gross salary is deducted each pay period. An employee is fully vested after eight years of service. Benefits are prorated for part-time employees.

Sick Leave Regular employees earn sick leave at a rate of eight hours per month with unlimited accrual during employment. Part-time employees earn sick leave on a pro-rated basis.

Parental Leave Each Full-time Paid Parental Leave Eligible (PPL) Employee is entitled to a total of 320 hours of Paid Parental Leave in a 12 month period. Paid Parental Leave for Part-time PPL Eligible Employees is prorated based on the number of hours that they are regularly scheduled to work.

Tuition Refund Certain classes of full-time employees may receive reimbursement for fees associated with pre-approved, job related course work completed satisfactorily.

Vacation Based on years of county service, regular, full-time employees earn vacation time at the following rates:

0 to 5 years 4.0 hours per pay period
6 to 10 years 4.5 hours per pay period
11 to 15 years 5.0 hours per pay period
16 to 20 years 5.5 hours per pay period
21 plus years 6.0 hours per pay period

Part-time employees earn vacation leave on a pro-rated basis.

Workers' Compensation The county provides all employees workers' compensation coverage with benefits in accordance with state statute, if the employee sustains an injury out of, or in the course of work.