Kinship Care Placement Manager

Company Description

Amara is committed to positive long-term outcomes for children and families. We drive systemic change, promote healing, and advance racial and LGBTQIA+ equity by offering programs and services to families engaged in the child welfare system.

At Amara, we believe that a supportive, equitable and inclusive workplace, where everyone feels valued, trusted, and nurtured, is key to shaping organizational culture and investing in underrepresented communities. Amara believes that a diverse workforce and inclusive workplace culture enhances our ability to fulfill our mission. We strongly invite candidates from diverse backgrounds, including communities of color, the LGBTQIA+ community, veterans, and people with disabilities to apply.

We are seeking to hire a Kinship Care Placement Manager. The Kinship Care Placement Manager will be responsible for supervising and managing the day-to-day operations of our Kinship Care Team. In addition to supervising staff, they will provide case and workload coverage for supervisees as needed to meet the evolving needs of the program. They will be an integral part of the Resource Care Program Leadership team and will report to the Director of Resource Care.

Job Description

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the following satisfactorily; other duties may be assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Supervision and Management

• Manage a team of Specialists that serve the entirety of Amara’s kinship caregiver service area.
• Oversee, support, and develop the kinship team, including recruitment and retention, hiring, orientation, supervision, evaluation, and promotion of staff.
• Support Kinship staff ensuring that services provided are high quality, consistent, and responsive to child and family needs.
• Monitor professional practices of direct reports, ensuring compliance with agency goals, values, policies, and procedures.
• Assess strengths and needs of staff; support and facilitate ongoing professional development.
• Regularly facilitate one-on-one and group supervision, utilizing reflective supervision skills, to develop clinical knowledge and skills, promote self-awareness, encourage collaboration amongst team members, and ensure consistent communication between staff and leadership.
• Monitor, manage and assign staff caseloads, setting and adjusting work to be accomplished by staff.
• Provide ad-hoc consultation to members of the kinship team as needed.
• Maintain strong ethical boundaries and ensure staff are adhering to their professional code of conduct.
• Conduct performance evaluations as directed by Amara policy.

Program Management

• Identify, recommend, and implement program and process improvements in concert with team feedback/guidance and with support from Director of Resources and Chief Innovation and Program Officer – working to serve families throughout their time in Amara’s KinPLUS, KinConnections, or other Kinship programming.
• At the direction of the Director of Resource Care, support the development of the Kinship Care annual budget, and provide ongoing monitoring of identified budget items.
• Review, allocate, and approve program-related expenses, including concrete good and flexible fund request, as directed by the Director of Resource Care
• Work with the Director of Resource Care and the Associate Director of Program Impact and Evaluation to ensure effective continuous quality improvement of the kinship teamwork.
• As directed by the Director of Resource Care, complete data-tracking metrics and reports and highlight successes and challenges as identified.
• At the direction of the Director of Resource Care or Chief Innovation and Program Officer, complete documentation and reporting necessary to maintain effective reporting for associated grants and contracts for kinship programming.
• Coordinate with the Enrichment and Education Manager to ensure that learning opportunities and support groups are made available and supported by kinship staff as needed.

Direct Service

• Assess and support assigned caregiver families as assigned and described in the Kinship Care Specialist job description including but not limited to providing coverage or in the case of programmatic need.

Partnership/Engagement

• Collaborate with staff and managers in other Amara programs as needed to ensure appropriate cross-program referrals and consistent service delivery.
• Be an active participant on the Resource Care Leadership team; inform and enact the effective implementation of Amara’s kinship programming.
• Coordinate with the Communications team on media content regarding issues related to kinship care, including storytelling opportunities.
• Represent Amara in community and coalition meetings, events, and partner and donor meetings as directed.
• Serve on internal and external committees as assigned.
• Facilitate Amara’s Kinship Advisory Council and related meetings with our grant partners.

Qualifications

Qualifications: The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• BSW or BA/BS degree in social services, human services, behavioral science, or allied field. An MSW or MA/BA in an allied field can substitute up to two years of experience.
• Four years of direct service experience (which can include internship experience) is required.
• Two years of paid experience providing clinical supervision is preferred.
• Strong clinical skills and experience providing clinical consultation preferred.
• Strong written and oral communication skills; experience communicating through verbal and written formats with a wide variety of partners while balancing responsiveness, empathy, and directness.
• Professional and/or lived experience in foster care, child welfare, or social services preferred.
• Strong interpersonal skills, high level of professionalism and ability to work independently.
• Ability to demonstrate initiative, discretion, maturity, flexibility, and independent judgment.
• Ability to flex hours to accommodate client and staff needs on an occasional basis.
• Cross-cultural responsiveness relative to age, race, ethnicity, belief systems, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and economic circumstances
• Broad use of clinical skills in writing, advocacy, communication, assessment, training
• Highly organized and detail-oriented
• Ability to successfully manage competing priorities, triage tasks, and effectively utilize time with colleagues and with clients.
• Ability to confidently navigate complex conversations with staff and families.
• Ability to lead with initiative, discretion, maturity, flexibility, and independent judgment.
• Demonstrated leadership in promoting the advancement and development of diversity, equity, and inclusion in oneself, staff, and within program development.
• Ability to represent the kinship care team professionally and knowledgeably within Amara and represent Amara in our community.
• Strong familiarity with resources in King and Pierce Counties (especially kinship-specific resources and programming).
• Ability to work both in-office and remotely as needed. Travel between our King and Pierce County offices, to client homes, and community partners (DCYF offices, court, etc.) will be required.
• Must be at least 21 years old, and have a valid Washington State driver’s license, reliable vehicle, and proof of auto insurance.
• Strong decision-making skills, including critical thinking skills. Demonstrated ability to think globally.

Supervisory Responsibilities: This position will directly supervise a team of Kinship Care Specialists who provide direct service to kinship caregiving families.

Additional Information

Salary and Benefits

This is a full-time position with an annual rate of pay between $70,000-$84,999, depending on experience. Generous personal leave and benefits package, including paid time off, paid sabbatical, health, vision and dental insurance, 401k with a company match, life, and disability insurance. Amara supports a hybrid work schedule with some flexibility to work from home. Occasional travel between our King and Pierce County offices will be required.

Criminal Background Check

Amara conducts background checks appropriate to the contractual requirements of the position. A previous conviction will not necessarily bar individuals from employment at Amara. For specific requirements please feel free to contact the hiring manager or human resources.

Vaccination Requirement:

Amara requires that all employees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This requirement is designed to prioritize the safety of the children and families we serve. Exemptions may be sought only for documented medical or religious accommodation.

To Apply

To express your interest in this position, please submit your resume and one-page cover letter indicating why this position is the right opportunity for you in Smart Recruiters.

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. 

Amara is an Equal Opportunity Employer