DIRECTOR, BOROUGH OFFICE (BROOKLYN)

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.

Under the general direction of the Regional Director of Field Operations with wide latitude for the exercise of independent initiative and judgment, the Director of Field Office (Brooklyn North) is responsible for the direction, management, review, evaluation and coordination of the administrative and programmatic operations of the borough office. The Director of Field Office (Brooklyn North) administers the determination of eligibility and recertification for clients who are eligible for APS services; ensures that cases are processed in a timely manner, that all deadlines, where applicable, are met; and that all office management functions run efficiently and effectively. The Director of Field Office (Brooklyn North) must be informed and current with respect to Agency, State and City policies and procedures; initiates, implements and follow-up on corrective actions.

APS is requesting to recruit one (1) Administrative Director of Social Services NM II to function as Director, Field Office (Brooklyn North) who:

- Oversee and manage the Brooklyn North Borough office operations for all APS Services (Undercare, Assessment, Eviction and Preventive Service) and programmatic monitoring to ensure efficient delivery of APS services to clients. Responsible for the management of APS cases.

- Overall direction of the staff members engaged in the processing of client’s cases for APS eligibility determination. Responsible for developing and implementing tracking mechanisms to monitor the formulation of all assessment plans, ensuring staff adherence to State and Agency regulations.

- Provide administrative leadership and guidance to Borough Office Deputy Director and supervisory personnel. Establish standards and criteria to improve performance, quality and productivity of the Borough Office. Initiate all personnel actions deemed necessary to efficiently and effectively carry out all aspects of the Borough Office.

- Responsible for the coordination of the Borough Office functions and activities with operations of other organizational components in MICSA, HRA, other City Departments: Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), NYC Housing Authority (NYCHA), NYC Marshall’s Office, the State Department of Health and other governmental and private social services agencies.

- Oversee the Preventive Service Program involved in maintaining and monitoring stabilized cases; oversee the conduct of scheduled field visits by staff for the purpose of monitoring cases. Direct the review of all case records to ensure that case records are up-to-date, recertified or closed, contain all necessary documentation and comply with State regulations, guidelines and directives. Monitor staff operations in terms of adherence and uniformity in the application of policy and procedures.

- Direct the activities of the Eviction Units involved in the processing of cases of clients threatened with imminent eviction. Oversee the coordination of APS service plans for those cases between referring agency including Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), NYC Housing Authority (NYCHA), NYC Department of Investigations, NYC Housing Courts, City Marshals and other parts of HRA involved in eviction cases.

- Identify performance deficiencies, which can be improved through staff training.
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