State of Washington
The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) was created to be a comprehensive agency exclusively dedicated to the social, emotional, and physical well-being of children, youth, and families regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or other socioeconomic factors. We believe our workforce should reflect the communities we serve and are actively searching for candidates that reflect that diversity. We’re looking for a Quality Assurance & Continuous Quality Improvement Consultant to join our team to help support and protect children, youth, and families. Together we will work toward the common goal of eliminating child and youth outcome disparities based on race and ethnicity. Our vision is that “All Washington’s children and youth grow up safe and healthy-thriving physically, emotionally, and educationally, nurtured by family and community.” The Opportunity:As the Quality Assurance & Continuous Quality Improvement Consultant, you will be responsible for taking on a lead role in the implementation and continuation of regional and local office Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI). This position incorporates statewide policy, procedures, and law into training, mentoring, and coaching and will promote consistency of application to child welfare practice. You will work with DCYF Region 2 QA/CQI team, Region 2 Area Administrators, Supervisors, and Caseworkers to implement CQI and performance measures established by the agency to inform the nature of child welfare practices in each office within Region 2 and develop performance action plans. This role provides support to 7 counties and 7 field offices within Region 2, including a federally recognized tribe. This position will utilize the racial equity and social justice framework during consultations, training, mentoring, and while analyzing data and trends to assist in building systems within the region that support each and every child, young person, and family to thrive. You will interact effectively with clients, staff, and other individuals across cultures, focusing on understanding and respecting individual differences including their heritage, cultural beliefs and values, communication, and learning styles. Some of what you will get to do:* Evaluate and interpret federal and state laws, regulations, and DCYF policies and procedures as they apply to regional operations.* Coordinates with other managers in the development and implementation of additional training or other CQI methods designed to help shift daily practice to conform to policy intent.* Develops Case Review (CRT) processes that engage local offices in pre and post CRT reviews, and monitors individual office performance on key child welfare outcomes related to safety, permanency, and wellbeing of all children in the region.* Reviews practices that impact disproportionality at all service delivery continuums and participate in developing recommendations for practice changes that will reduce and ultimately prevent disproportionality.* Review and analyze practice recommendations based upon Central Case Review and other targeted reviews* Provide CQI technical assistance to regional offices, individuals, and groups as requested and/or directed; including teaching, coaching, mentoring, and providing guidance to CQI work.* Develop and implement ongoing communication strategies with each office to share the practice strengths of the office, areas needing improvement, and monthly status of meeting performance targets.* Develop plans for monitoring strategies and improvement plans stemming from case reviews and statewide improvement plans and provide periodic reports to the regional leadership and management team.* Produce monthly office CQI Action Plan outcomes and share with the regional administrator, regional management team, local office management team, and regional staff as requested.* Serves as a primary point of contact for Area Administrators, supervisors, and field staff in Region 2 seeking consultation regarding practice and implementation of practice related to Quality Assurance measures.* Leads professional staff in Region 2 by monitoring implementation and practice related to program policies and procedures as well as assigns, instructs, and reviews work to ensure compliance.* Analyzes data from various sources including, but not limited to, FamLink, InfoFamLink, courts, case reviews, and qualitative reviews in the monitoring and evaluation process. The Quality Assurance measures directly relate to the practice of providing guidance to families and serving clients with intensive social service needs and assess compliance with policy and practice and inform practice improvement.* Primary regional responsibilities for monitoring performance for a complex set of measures (e.g. compliance with the terms of the Performance Improvement Plan to support federal funding, Access Washington, CFWS, FFPSA, and federal and state laws and policies involving families that are at risk of dependency and/or serving clients with severe and intensive social service needs.* Performs data analysis regarding trends, strengths, and areas needing improvement.* Compile information obtained from various reports, case reviews, and data to inform regional practice improvement through direct communication, unit meetings, and/or all-staff meetings.* Create databases and provides visual reports as appropriate.* Demonstrate, monitor, teach, observe, and mentor field operations staff in Region 2 to successfully understand and apply policy, practice, procedures, and laws related to child welfare practice to include the Child Safety Framework, DCYF Practice Model, FFPSA, CAPTA, SDM Risk Assessment, Permanency, and all child welfare programs (FAR, Investigations, FVS, FRS, CFWS, Adoptions) within a racial equity and social justice framework. What we are looking for:Option 1: A *Bachelor’s or higher in social work, a health or social science, public administration, or a related field AND one year of experience as a Social and Health Program Consultant 3 or equivalent.Option 2: A *Bachelor’s or higher in social work, a health or social science, public administration, or a related field AND two years of experience as a Social and Health Program Consultant 2 or equivalent.Option 3: A *Bachelor’s degree in social work, a health or social science, public administration, or a related field; AND five years of professional experience in planning, administering, developing, or delivering social, financial, health, or chemical dependency treatment services programs. Option 4: A *Master’s degree in social work, a health or social science, public administration or a related field, or a *Juris Doctorate; AND four years of professional experience in planning, administering, developing, or delivering social, financial, health, or chemical dependency treatment services programs. * Degrees must be obtained from an accredited institution. The above experience must include two (2) years of paid social service experience assessing risk and safety to children and providing family-centered practice services (strengthening and preserving family units).NOTE: This position will to travel to the field and regional offices, as required by the project assignment. Therefore, the incumbent must have a valid driver’s license.In addition to those required qualifications, our ideal applicant will also have some or all of the following:* Demonstrated ability to track plan effectiveness and programmatic/case outcomes while working as a team member with management to integrate and sustain the program model in local/regional child welfare practice.* Demonstrated ability to display strong risk assessment, safety assessment skills and have a strong working knowledge of developing effective safety plans that reduce future risk of child abuse or neglect and improve child safety.* Demonstrated ability to display strong writing skills in preparing clear, accurate, and comprehensive reports or documents.* Demonstrated ability displaying strong oral communication skills individually with group facilitation and case staffings.* Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of culturally competent best practices in case planning and decision making.* Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the connection between research, data, and practice.* Demonstrated strong working knowledge of child injury dynamics.* Demonstrated strong working knowledge of child development, including early childhood brain development.* Demonstrated and documented history of applying best practices to achieve child safety outcomes.* Demonstrated ability to display critical thinking and sound independent judgment in an organizational environment.* Demonstrated strong working knowledge of Child Protective Services’ roles, responsibilities, and authority.* Demonstrated working knowledge of DCYF programs and policies, Family Assessment Response, Child Protective Services Investigations, Family Voluntary Services, Child and Family Welfare Services, Family Reconciliation Services, Adoptions, Interstate Compact, etc. How do I apply? Complete your applicant profile and attach the following documents:* Cover letter* Current resume * College/University transcripts (unofficial)To take advantage of the Veteran’s preference please attach your DD-214, member 4 long-form, or your NGB-22. Please black out your social security number prior to attaching. Supplemental Information: Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the position. The initial screening will be based on the content and completeness of your application and the materials submitted. All information may be verified and documentation may be required. Applications with comments such as “see attachments” or “N/A” in the supplemental question responses will be considered incomplete. DCYF is an equal opportunity employer and supports equity, diversity, inclusion, and respect. Need accommodation throughout the application/interview process? Unable to apply on-line? Contact the Recruitment team at dcyf.jobs@dcyf.wa.gov or (360) 628-0114 or the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf at 800-833-6388 Experiencing technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application? Call NEOGOV toll-free at (855)524-5627 or email support@neogov.com. General suggestions for creating a good application packet:* Read the job posting very carefully. Find out as much as you can about the position. * Make sure you are very diligent in following all the application instructions. Include all requested documentation. * Make sure your application and supplemental question responses address how you meet each of the required and desired qualifications. * Carefully read each of the supplemental questions and respond completely to each one. Pay careful attention to each component of the question, providing examples, and thoroughly describing when and where you achieved the proficiency level, and detail the types of work you performed, the work products, etc., to demonstrate ‘how’. * Specifically include all of your work experiences doing the same or similar work, especially if you reference work in these jobs in describing when/where you gained proficiency level skills. * Make sure your application reflects your best writing. 01004