Advocate Supervisor

Employment type

Full-Time

Posted

6 months ago

Location

Los Angeles

Description

Court Appointed Special Advocates of Los Angeles (CASA/LA) mobilizes community volunteers to advocate for children who have experienced abuse and neglect. The organization envisions a Los Angeles in which every child in the child welfare system has an advocate and the opportunity to thrive. CASA/LA is on a path to expand services to 12,000 of the estimated 30,000 children in the LA County’s dependency system every year. Key to these efforts is growth in the number of people who know about CASA/LA, the number of volunteers recruited and trained each year, and revenue generated from individuals, foundations, corporations and government sources.

POSITION OVERVIEW
The Advocate Supervisor reports to the Advocacy Team Manager and provides orientation, engagement, coaching, mentoring, training, support and overall leadership and management to a team of CASA (advocate) volunteers.  The supervisor ensures the highest level of advocacy intervention and efforts for each child/youth appointed to a CASA.  The supervisor must demonstrate general subject matter expertise in the area of child welfare and child advocacy (0-21 years of age) and be able to convey that knowledge and impart it on a layperson who is unfamiliar that ensures their ability to thrive in their volunteer role.  The Advocate Supervisor must be able to lead the team of CASAs successfully through their 2-year or other time-appointed assignment.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Volunteer Management

• Lead and employ a volunteer-centered approach by providing an inclusive, strengths-based and proactive coaching approach for up to 50 CASA volunteers.
• Facilitate the process to match a child/youth to a CASA volun
• Assist the CASA in understanding the CASA volunteer role and clearly articulate goals, best practices and barriers within CASA advocacy.
• Collaborate with CASA staff to coach a CASA regarding case challenges, boundaries and code of conduct.
• Assist in identifying and resolving challenges to the CASA’s advocacy work, including addressing feedback from community partners.
• Provide monthly case reviews with each CASA through in-person meetings and/or phone consultations to support ongoing efforts, provide coaching and feedback, review goals and interventions and monthly progress on case efforts.
• Ensure court reports are submitted timely, providing support, review, feedback, and guidance as needed and submit CASA’s court reports in accordance with program procedures.
• Provide support and guidance to CASAs for court hearings and other community meetings as needed which require physical mobility throughout the courthouse and out-of-office locations.
• Gather information and support advocates in gaining knowledge of community resources.
• Assist CASAs with initial assessments of cases assigned, and the setting of initial CASA goals and beginning intervention efforts.  Provide monthly case reviews with each CASA through in-person meetings and/or phone consultations to support ongoing efforts, provide coaching and feedback, review goals and interventions and monthly progress on case efforts.
• Support and train advocates in working from a spirit of collaboration, respect and customer service in their advocacy efforts with respect to all others working with children’s cases. These include children and parent’s attorneys, caretakers and caretaker programs, county program workers, school personnel, and all service providers. 
• Gather information and support advocates in gaining knowledge of community resources available to children in foster care relevant to specific cases. 
• Support advocates in working with children and families in crisis and with trauma backgrounds.  Become well versed in trauma informed services and approaches, to support and coach volunteers to work with children and other stakeholders through this lens.  Mentor advocates through difficult case information and experiences that may lead to vicarious trauma.  
• Advise advocates in the defining and holding of clear boundaries with children, regarding children’s needs and expectations and the role of the CASA.   
• Support and guide CASAs with emotional maturity prior to and during court hearings and other community meetings as needed.  Require physical mobility throughout the courthouse and out-of-office locations.
• Participate in training, assignment, and coaching of CASA Peer Coordinators to provide coaching and first line of support to subset of CASA volunteers within Advocate Supervisor team. 
• Gather feedback on CASA’s performance via meetings or phone contacts with placement (foster parent, group home) social workers, attorneys and other stakeholders to enhance coaching and training.  Provide feedback to the CASA in a professional and motivating manner that supports their learning and engagement.

 

Electronic Case File Oversight 

• Maintain cases up-to-date in database system for new CASA’s once assigned to a child’s case and close out when case has been completed and CASA has been relieved.
• Collaborate with CASA on case baseline ratings, setting of initial case goals and complete all documentation into electronic case management system timely.
• Ensure CASAs are trained and supported on how to use electronic case management system and assist in troubleshooting when needs arise.
• Ensure a monthly case review with each CASA to be updated on advocacy efforts on case goals.  Ensure that CASA’s document monthly progress notes on advocacy work through Case Notes and Visitation Notes into electronic case management system. 
• Assist CASAs in determining outcome ratings for completed cases, and complete in the data base system.
• Support CASAs in the timely writing of relevant court reports that support their facts and perspective of the case and in making recommendations to the court.  Review, provide feedback and guidance as needed and submit CASA’s court reports in accordance with program procedures. 

 

Other duties

• Provide tracking of metrics/deliverables for maintaining full caseload capacity of CASA and Peer Coordinators and children served.
• Provide tracking of metrics/deliverables toward all program initiatives as required by grants or general program coordination.
• Attend and actively participate in one-on-one supervisory meetings and team group supervisory meetings as scheduled.
• Travel required on an as-needed basis, including occasional evening and weekend work.
• Other special projects as assigned.

 

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in the areas of human services, social work, psychology or a related field.
• Experience in the field of child welfare and experience working with key populations of children 0-5, tweens, teenagers and transitional age youth. Understanding of the developmental, academic, social and emotional needs of this population.
• Minimum of 1- 2 years of experience in the area of staff or volunteer supervision/management in a human service setting.   
• Knowledge of clinical and case management service work with practical experience.
• Highly proficient in MS Office, and ability to work with new systems including database management systems. 
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to multi-task.
• Ability to work within a multicultural environment serving children and families of diverse backgrounds.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills. Must be able to comprehend, discern and make appropriate judgements that are consistent with policy and culture.
• Ability to flex communication style to that of the receiver to ensure collaborative communication that does not escalate but diffuse potentially heightened situations.
• Must maintain a level of composure and professionalism at all times.
• Must pass a Livescan background check.
• Solid understanding of the scope, nature and referral protocol for public sector and community based agencies serving children, youth and families. 
• Understanding of the principles and practices of community agencies and community resources and their role in the treatment of at-risk children.  
• Ability to remain in a stationary position and constantly use a computer which consists of viewing a monitor and using a keyboard.
• Must be able to frequently communicate to callers, visitors, co-workers, attorneys, social workers, and any other member of the case team/members of management and be able to exchange accurate information.
• Must be able to lift/push/pull 10 pounds.
• Constantly works in an open office environment in a courthouse where distractions are present, noise levels and air temperatures are  are fluctuating, and 

To apply

Please submit your cover letter and resume to be considered for this opening to 
[email protected] Only those candidates considered for an interview will be contacted due to high volume of submittals.

CASA of Los Angeles is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to fostering diversity within its staff.

CASA of Los Angeles promotes equal opportunity for all employees and applicants. In doing so, we comply with local, state, and federal laws and regulations to ensure an equal employment opportunity for everyone. We don’t discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, ancestry, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, citizenship, military service obligation, veteran status or any other basis protected by federal, state or local laws. Our policies and personnel practices are intended to ensure that all of us are treated equally with regard to recruiting, hiring, and advancement, and our decisions on employment are made to further the principle of equal employment opportunities for employees.