As a member of Plummer’s Senior Leadership Team, the Director of Practice Excellence (DPE) is responsible for ensuring the provision of high quality, current, permanency centered, age appropriate, trauma-informed interventions for youth in our care. Working closely with the Director of Operations and the Senior Manager of Quality and Evaluation, the DPE will direct and manage fidelity to clinical practice using Plummer’s supervisory and coaching framework, oversee data collection and reporting related to Plummer’s Intervention and Outcome Model, and collaborate heavily on the design and implementation of Performance Quality Improvement initiatives. As a practitioner of data informed decision making, the DPE will model how to use data consistently and appropriately to inform Plummer strategy and manage to outcomes. As an expert in permanency practice and child welfare, the DPE will engage with external stakeholders through activities such as training, advocacy and participation in relevant local and national conversations.

Key Responsibilities/Job Functions

Internal Practice Excellence

Provide direct supervision in accordance with Plummer Supervisory Framework for Program Directors, Residential Services Clinical Director, and the Senior Manager of Practice Excellence. This includes overseeing the annual performance management goals related to clinical practice and implementation of the intervention and outcome model.

Provide direct supervision to the Senior Manager of Quality and Evaluation and the Administrative Assistant.

Facilitate the development and regular review of agency-wide policy and procedure as it relates to service delivery, annual training plan development, PQI, Supervision etc. in conjunction with the Director of Operations and the Senior Manager of Quality and Evaluation.

Collaborate with the Director of Operations, the Senior Manager of Quality and Evaluation and others to design and implement inclusive Performance Quality Improvement (PQI) activities related to training and evaluation of practices.

Monitor fidelity for all permanency interventions across Plummer programs by collaborating with Program Directors to ensure quality and compliance for all required data documentation.

Establish regularly scheduled individual and peer supervision meetings with Program Directors to oversee and support the successful implementation of the Plummer Supervisory Framework and ongoing fidelity to the Intervention and Outcome Model.

Stay current on data trends in child serving sectors and bring forward learnings to the senior team.

Oversee compilation and analysis of program data for the purpose of ongoing practice support, practice evaluation, and impact reporting, including use of disaggregated data to study practice impact on particular populations.

Oversee and support the planning and execution of monthly and quarterly permanency consults in accordance with the consult framework.

Influence

Contribute best practice expertise to strategic conversations with external partners interested in and/or implementing permanency best practices.

Contribute to intentional and strategic planning conversations and attend scheduled meetings with state partners and local stakeholders.

Serve as the lead for all practice related activities with the Massachusetts Permanency Practice Alliance collaboration and coordinate closely with the Senior Manager of Quality and Evaluation for the ongoing evaluation study.

Attend professional membership, trade association meetings and integrate learnings with the appropriate team(s) and individuals at Plummer.

Present at local and national conferences.

Leadership

Ensure we are delivering current best practices that prioritize family as the best outcome for young people and contribute to the design and delivery of necessary trainings/re-trainings in collaboration with the Director of Operations, Human Resources and Outcomes and Evaluation team.

Establish train-the-trainer strategy to advance practice excellence, influence and professional development internally.

Establish relationships with stakeholders in service of advancing permanency best practices.

Serve as liaison on senior leadership team for external consulting projects

Participate in all Senior and Full Leadership Team meetings designed to ensure we are working collectively to deliver our mission, live our values, stay abreast of trends and changes in the child welfare field, and use data to inform decisions.

Attend board meetings throughout the year, contributing to agenda planning and presenting as appropriate.

Member of: Senior Leadership Team, Full Leadership Team, Performance Quality Improvement

Supervises: Senior Manager of Quality and Evaluation, Senior Manager of Practice Excellence and Administrative Assistant

Co-Supervises: Program Directors, Residential Services Clinical Director (with Director of Operations)

COMPETENCIES

Leadership: Exhibits confidence in self and others and motivates others to perform well. Inspires respect and trust, accepts feedback from others and mobilizes others to fulfill the mission.

Equity: Exhibits strong commitment to equity and inclusion as it relates to relationship building, strategy development, and role.

Collaboration: Able to work well with others to achieve shared objectives. Exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views.

Teamwork: Balances team and individual responsibilities. Able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives. Recognizes accomplishments of other team members.

Strategic Thinking: Develops strategies to achieve organizational goals within outcomes & evaluation. Displays original thinking and creativity. Demonstrates working knowledge of equitable evaluation practices.

Adaptability: Manages competing demands. Able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events. Strive to continuously build knowledge and skills.

Innovation: Displays resourcefulness and creativity. Generates suggestions for improving work. Presents ideas and information in a manner that gets others' attention.

Initiative: Undertakes self-development activities and seeks increased responsibilities. Asks for and offers help when needed.

Professionalism: Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position. Accepts responsibility for own actions, Follows through on commitments. Embraces diversity.

Judgment: Displays willingness to make decisions and explains reasoning for decisions, Includes appropriate people in decision-making process. Treats data as a core organizational asset, always maintaining confidentiality and security.

Communication: Speaks clearly and persuasively in all situations. Demonstrates group presentation skills. Participates in meetings. Interpret and present numerical information and written information effectively. Varies writing style to meet needs.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL, and ABILITIES

Master’s degree or higher in social work and a licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW).

10+ years’ experience in public child welfare

Strong background in delivering clinical practices, social work supervisory practices, fidelity to a practice model, and using data to inform all

Understand and employ disaggregated data to inform practice and program development.

Proven leadership experience in program development and implementation

Experience developing and implementing inclusive PQI activities

Experience with training and curriculum development and training delivery

Excellent interpersonal, communication and relationship-building skills

Knowledge of child welfare innovations and evidence-based practices

Strong facilitation skills

Strong project management and organizational skills

Strong written and oral communication skills

Ability to work collaboratively and adapt to changing environments