Foster Care Clinical Director

Function:

Organizational duties & responsibilities:

1. The primary responsibility of all staff is to ensure the safety and well-being of all Ramey-Estep/Re-group (RE) clients.
2. Supports the mission, vision, and values of RE.  Facilitates and adheres to the agency’s code of ethics, policies, and procedures.
3. Supports all functions that attain and maintain accreditation and compliance with regulatory agencies.
4. Supports and facilitates positive interaction with clients and staff by exhibiting both in-office and in-public when carrying out job duties: individual maturity, respect for others, a team-centered approach, maintenance of confidential information, and awareness and sensitivity to cultural and other differences in clients and staff.
5. Exhibits effective communication skills, including proper use of agency communication systems.
6. Participates in appropriate professional development programs to attain and maintain competency.
7. Effectively manages financial and physical resources to achieve the mission of RE.
8. Reports incidents of abuse or potential abuse involving clients to the appropriate authorities and RE.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Provide overall leadership and strategic direction of the foster care program, ensuring alignment with the agency’s mission, values, and strategic goals.
2. Ensure full compliance with all applicable federal, state, local regulations, and accreditation, including Department for Community Based Services (DBCS), Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), Office of Inspector General (OIG), and private child placing licensing standards.
3. Oversee recruitment, training, licensing, and retention of foster families to maintain adequate placement capacity and meet census expectations.
4. Ensure high-quality, trauma-informed, and family-centered services for clients, their families of origin, and foster families, with a focus on safety, permanency, and well-being.
5. Monitor program performance through data, audits, and quality assurance processes; develop and implement improvement plans as needed.
6. Manage program budget, contracts, and financial performance, including census management, utilization, and fiscal accountability.
7. Serve as a primary liaison with DCBS, courts, licensing entities, schools, external providers, and community partners.
8. Oversee critical incident reporting, investigations, and corrective action planning in accordance with regulatory and agency standards.
9. Ensure staff maintain timely, accurate, and compliant documentation in all records and data systems.
10. Ensure timely approval of documentation within agency timeframes.
11. Lead and support foster parent engagement, satisfaction, and support initiatives, including training, support groups, and recognition activities.
12. Participate in agency leadership activities, strategic planning, and policy development.
13. Represents the agency at community events, stakeholder meetings, and public forums to promote foster care services and community awareness.
14. Ensure equitable, culturally responsive, and inclusive practices in all aspects of program operations.
15. Maintain on-call schedule and assist with crisis response as necessary to support staff, foster families, and clients.
16. Ensure all necessary client records are maintained and kept confidential.
17. Directs the assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, and discharge/transition planning for each client.
18. Work collaboratively with the Foster Home Coordinator in providing pre-service and monthly in-service training to prospective and current foster families. 
19. Oversee the referral and intake process for placements, ensuring timely review, appropriate matching of clients to foster homes, and coordination with DCBS and other referral sources to meet safety, clinical, and placement needs.
20. Work collaboratively with other directors within our organization to ensure the quality of services throughout our continuum of care.
21. Maintain Bed Assign in the Electronic Health Record (EHR).
22. Maintain and update Foster Care Youth List.
23. Ensure timely reimbursement to foster parents.
24. Complete a monthly report.
25. Actively participate as a member of the Children’s Alliance.
26. Participate in regional and statewide PCP/PCC/DCBS meetings.
27. Review of SAFE Home Studies and Home Study Updates.
28. Participate in the Foster Care Quality Workgroup for continuous quality improvement efforts.
29. Performs other duties as assigned.

Working conditions/environment:

1. 40-hour workweek, typically Monday through Friday, with a flexible schedule.
2. Holidays, weekends, and extra hours may be required.
3. Meals are provided for staff when on campus.
4. Intense, unpredictable population with the possibility of verbal and physical aggression.
5. Fast-paced environment with the need for quick decisions to deal with any crisis that may arise.
6. The environment is both indoors and outdoors.  The environment can be loud and stressful at times.  Location can vary between foster homes, schools, offices, and other community settings.

minimum job requirements:

Education:

Experience:

Specific Skills and

requirements:

Specialized Licenses or training:

Physical Requirements:

Supervisory REquirements: