Training Specialist bei Spotsylvania County, VA

About the Department

Under general supervision, provides in-home services, training, certification, and on-going education to parents, foster/adoptive parents; Develops and designs appropriate training curriculum for delivery to foster parents/adoptive parents, staff, and other community organizations; Coordinates activities for parents, foster/adoptive parents to enhance and support them in the performance of their duties; Maintains an appropriate level of communication with approved foster parents to provide individualized education and support; Develops and implements methods for recruitment and retention of parents, foster/adoptive parents; Provides community education regarding family care to the general public; Work also involves gathering statistical data, processing a variety of documentation, maintaining program records, and completing all required reports for the Virginia Department of Social Services.

Position Duties

General:
• Supervises, directs, and evaluates assigned staff and volunteer workers, processing employee concerns and problems, directing work, counseling, disciplining, and completing performance appraisals.
• Coordinates daily work activities; organizes, prioritizes, and assigns work; monitors status of work in progress and inspects completed work; consults with assigned staff, assists with complex/problem situations, and provides technical expertise.
• Interprets, applies, and ensures compliance with all applicable codes, laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies and procedures; initiates any actions necessary to correct deviations or violations.
• Develops and implements methods for recruitment and retention of family educators and volunteers; develops and maintains ongoing knowledge base of information regarding family educators; creates and utilizes methods for recognition of family educators and volunteers.
• Designs and implements schedule and content of initial/ongoing training of family educators and volunteers; develops and implements appropriate training curricula and materials.
• Develops and assesses parenting class curriculum; develops and implements curriculum improvements and enhancements as appropriate; coordinates teaching of parenting classes to community participants.
• Designs and implements training for social work staff in relation to family education program.
• Coordinates family education program activities; assists in identifying appropriate families to receive family educator services; determines/recommends appropriate assignment of family educators to families referred to project; assists with problem resolution to maintain successful placement of family educators in homes; visits homes to introduce family educator program to families; assesses results of family education upon completion of program; assesses overall success of family education program.
• Coordinates purchase, delivery, and usage of all training/office supplies and materials.
• Responds to inquiries for basic information concerning family education program; responds to inquiries from the public regarding parenting classes and parenting skills; receives referrals for parenting classes.
• Designs and creates result-oriented documentation for public relations; develops, implements, and adjusts communication mechanisms for staff, family educators, and supporting agencies in relation to family education program; plans/schedules relevant public relations events.
• Develops and implements budgetary/fiscal needs of project; makes budgetary recommendations and prepares financial justifications.
• Designs/creates result-oriented documentation for grant justification; completes all necessary grant documentation; compiles and delivers program evaluation for state grant personnel.
• Maintains family educator files and other department records in accordance with state/local regulations.
• Researches and compiles various statistical, demographic, or administrative data; makes applicable calculations; analyzes data and identifies trends; prepares/generates reports and charts; maintains records.
• Prepares or completes various forms, reports, correspondence, grant funding reports, purchase orders, invoices, instructional materials, handouts, performance appraisals, certificates, recognitions, schedules, charts, graphs, brochures, policy interpretations, or other documents.
• Receives various forms, reports, correspondence, progress reports, employment/volunteer applications, applicant clearance forms, invoices, time sheets, grant documents, class curriculum, training materials, budget documents, laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, catalogs, manuals, directories, reference materials, or other documentation; reviews, completes, processes, forwards or retains as appropriate.
• Operates a computer to enter, retrieve, review or modify data; utilizes word processing, spreadsheet, database, desktop publishing, or other software programs.
• Establishes and maintains working relationships with other programs and other agencies.
• Communicates with supervisor, employees, volunteers, other departments, clients, parenting class participants, state/federal agencies, social service agencies, community organizations, the public, outside agencies, and other individuals as needed to coordinate work activities, review status of work, exchange information, or resolve problems.
• Attends meetings, serves on committees, and makes speeches or presentations as needed; serves on local advisory committees, coalitions, or other organizations.
• Maintains a comprehensive, current knowledge of applicable laws/regulations; maintains an awareness of new trends and advances in the profession; reads professional literature; maintains professional affiliations; attends conferences, workshops and training sessions as appropriate.
• Operates a motor vehicle to conduct work activities.
• Performs general clerical tasks, which may include typing documentation, making copies, sending/receiving faxes, processing incoming/outgoing mail, or filing documentation.
• Performs other related duties as required.

RAFFT:
• Designs and implements schedule and content of initial/ongoing training of foster/adoptive parents; provides on-going individual training with foster/adoptive parents as needed; develops and implements appropriate training curricula and materials.
• Develops and assesses foster/adoptive class curriculum; develops and implements curriculum improvements and enhancements as appropriate; coordinates teaching of on-going training classes, group and individual, to foster/adoptive parents and community participants.
• Designs and implements training for social work staff related to foster/adoption topics.
• Interprets, applies, and ensures compliance with all applicable codes, laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies and procedures; initiates any actions necessary to correct deviations or violations.
• Develops and implements methods for recruitment and retention of foster/adoptive parents; develops and maintains ongoing knowledge base of information regarding foster care; creates and utilizes methods for recognition of foster/adoptive parents.
• Consults with foster care social workers and staff, evaluating foster/adoptive parents, processing concerns and problems, counseling, educating, as appropriate; assists with complex/problem situations, and provides technical expertise.
• Coordinates daily work activities; organizes and prioritizes work; monitors status of work in progress and inspects completed work of case aide II.
• Coordinates foster/adoptive program activities; determines/recommends appropriate placement of a foster care child with an approved foster family; assists with problem resolution to maintain successful placement of foster child in the foster home;
• Visits foster homes per policy to determine continued compliance with all required foster home approval policies; assesses appropriateness of foster homes upon completion of a foster home placement and at re-certification.
• Assesses overall success of foster/adoptive training program; sets appropriate goals for continued enhancement and development of the program.
• Coordinates purchase, delivery, and usage of all training/office supplies and materials.
• Responds to inquiries for basic information concerning foster parenting and adoption; responds to inquiries from the public regarding foster parenting classes.
• Designs and creates result-oriented documentation for public relations; develops, implements, and adjusts communication mechanisms for staff, foster/adoptive parents, and supporting agencies in relation to foster care; plans/schedules relevant community education events.
• Develops and implements budgetary/fiscal needs of project; makes budgetary recommendations and prepares financial justifications.
• Designs and creates result-oriented documentation for grant justification; completes all necessary grant documentation; compiles and delivers program evaluation for state grant personnel.
• Maintains foster/adoptive files and other department records in accordance with state/local regulations.
• Researches and compiles various statistical, demographic, or administrative data; makes applicable calculations; analyzes data and identifies trends; prepares/generates reports and charts; maintains records.
• Prepares or completes various forms, reports, correspondence, grant funding reports, purchase orders, invoices, instructional materials, handouts, certificates, recognitions, schedules, charts, graphs, brochures, policy interpretations, or other documents.
• Receives various forms, reports, correspondence, foster/adoptive parent applications, applicant clearance forms, invoices, grant documents, class curriculum, training materials, budget documents, laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, catalogs, manuals, directories, reference materials, or other documentation; reviews, completes, processes, forwards or retains as appropriate.
• Operates a computer to enter, retrieve, review or modify data; utilizes word processing, spreadsheet, database, desktop publishing, or other software programs. Maintains a web site for dissemination of program information and education.
• Establishes and maintains working relationships with other programs and other agencies.
• Communicates with supervisor, employees, volunteers, other departments, clients, foster/adoptive parents, state/federal agencies, social service agencies, community organizations, the public, outside agencies, and other individuals as needed to coordinate work activities, review status of work, exchange information, or resolve problems.
• Attends meetings, serves on committees, and makes speeches or presentations as needed; serves on local advisory committees, coalitions, or other organizations.
• Maintains a comprehensive, current knowledge of applicable laws/regulations; maintains an awareness of new trends and advances in the profession; reads professional literature; maintains professional affiliations; attends conferences, workshops and training sessions as appropriate.
• Operates a motor vehicle to conduct work activities.
• Performs general clerical tasks, which may include typing documentation, making copies, sending/receiving faxes, processing incoming/outgoing mail, or filing documentation.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, Sociology, Psychology, Education, or closely related field; supplemented by three (3) years of previous experience and/or training that includes social work, training/teaching, curricula development, supervision, and personal computer operations; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.

Other Qualifications

Must possess and maintain a valid Virginia driver's license.