DEPUTY DIRECTOR, BOROUGH OFFICE (QUEENS)

Job Description

APPLICANTS MUST BE PERMANENT IN THE ADMINISTATIVE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL SERVICE CIVIL SERVICE TITLE OR BE PERMANENT IN A COMPARABLE TITLE ELIGIBLE FOR 6.1.9 TITLE CHANGE.

The Department of Social Services (DSS) is comprised of the administrative units of the New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA) and the Department of Homeless Services (DHS). HRA is dedicated to fighting poverty and income inequality by providing New Yorkers in need with essential benefits such as Food Assistance and Emergency Rental Assistance. DHS is committed to preventing and addressing homelessness in New York City by employing a variety of innovative strategies to help families and individuals successfully exit shelter and return to self-sufficiency as quickly as possible.

Adult Protective Services (APS), mandated by the State of New York, provides comprehensive social, legal, and protective services to adults aged 18 and older who, due to mental or physical impairments, are unable to meet essential needs such as food, shelter, clothing, and medical care, secure benefits or entitlements or protect themselves from physical or mental injury, neglect, maltreatment, or financial exploitation. APS intervenes when individuals lack a responsible and able support system. Services aim to establish safeguards that stabilize health, safety, and financial conditions. Supports may include medical and psychiatric care, eviction prevention, financial management, home care services, legal assistance, and when necessary, institutional placement.

APS Deputy Directors establishes appropriate safeguards to protect a given individual's resources, safety, or health, and stabilizes the situation. APS ensures that medical and psychiatric services, eviction prevention, financial management, home care, legal services and as last resort, institutional placements are provided. Under the direction of the Director of the APS Field Office with wide latitude for the exercise of independent initiative and judgment, the Deputy Director, Borough Office (Queens) borough office is responsible for the direction, coordination and administration of all daily activities of the Undercare, Assessment, Eviction and Preventive Service Units. The Deputy Director is responsible for the professional review, evaluation and management of all cases accepted for service. The Deputy Director also monitors the implementation and the satisfactory closing of each case. Since APS is regulated by stringent State guidelines, the Deputy Director must ensure staff adherence to all regulations, including legal and medical requirements.

Adult Protective Services (APS) is recruiting for one (1) Administrative Director of Social Services, NM-I to function as Deputy Director, Field Office (Queens) who will:

- Responsible for the direction and supervision of social service professional and clerical staff members who are engaged in the processing of cases for APS clients who are receiving Financial Management Services, awaiting entitlements and cases of clients who are in receipt of services that must be monitored by APS. Ensure that continued eligibility for APS services is verified within specified time frames and the update of service plans.

- Provide direction, administration and control of the Assessment processes. Monitor and reviews the formulation of all case plans for all cases that are referred for Assessment and that the assessment process is completed within thirty days from the day of referral. Ensure that emergency services are implemented to stabilize clients.

- Plan and manage the Eviction activities involved in the processing of cases referred from the New York City Department of Investigations, which oversees the operations of the City Marshals. In this capacity, the Deputy Director will coordinate the activities and linkage between the Office of Health and Mental Health Services (OHMHS), Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) and Family Independence Administration (FIA) for APS eviction eligible clients. They are responsible for all Orders to Gain Access, ensuring that requests are completed within the 30 days assessment timeframe.

- Responsible for the Preventive Service Program overall performance; Monitor and implements tracking mechanisms for the proper services, maintenance of cases that are stabilized including conducting field visits every four months and recertification twice a year.

- Maintain frequent contact with other City agencies, such as hospitals, and the Police Department; state agencies, Office of Health and Mental Health and the Office of Legal Affairs to provide information on issues related to APS cases and to ensure that cases are addressed in a timely fashion.

- Monitor Borough Office overall performance, identifies areas requiring changes and recommends changes in staff operations to the Borough Office Director to