Director Clinical and Forensic Services, Staten Island

Director Clinical and Forensic Services, Staten Island

Summary:

Safe Horizon is the nation’s leading victim assistance organization, touching the lives of 250,000 people each year who have been impacted by violence. Safe Horizon provides a holistic array of services to victims of child abuse, domestic violence, rape and sexual assault, human trafficking and other crimes through a network of more than 50 program locations throughout the five boroughs of New York City. Safe Horizon’s Child Advocacy Centers (CACs) are a key component of the services we provide. Safe Horizon is the only organization in the country operating 5 fully co-located, nationally accredited CACs in an urban setting. In each Child Advocacy Center, Safe Horizon partners with a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) comprised of members of the New York City Police Department, the New York City Administration for Children’s Services, the borough District Attorney’s offices, Corporation Counsel, and premier local hospitals to provide an effective, coordinated, child-focused response to sexual abuse and severe physical abuse. Serving more than 4,000 child victims each year, our CACs provide child friendly locations for children, their non-offending caregivers, and other impacted family members to receive expert, coordinated services. Our co-located approach minimizes the need for repeated interviewing, reduces the risk of further trauma, and helps the child and family heal and attain justice in a more expedited and coordinated manner.

Responsibilities:

• Learn and integrate a trauma-informed, client-centered approach, using an anti-oppressive lens, into your work with staff, clients and CAC multidisciplinary team members. Coach and guide staff in their client practice that reflects these approaches.

• The Director of Forensic and Clinical Services oversees the array of Safe Horizon’s forensic, mental health and victim support and advocacy services provided at the CAC, in close collaboration with the Senior Director. The Director of Forensic and Clinical Services provides trauma-focused, clinical leadership, vision and expert consultation to CAC staff and the multi-disciplinary team (MDT), on all aspects of direct service operations- from the point of entry and throughout the investigative process as child victims and impacted family members access the continuum of services offered by the CAC.

Specific responsibilities include the following:

• Point person for coordinating and scheduling cases for forensic interviews and services

• Provide Clinical Forensic Specialists and graduate student interns, when applicable, with individual and group supervision, in addition to observations of staff providing direct client services in accordance with the CAC quality supervision plan

• Provide expert clinical consultation to MDT partners, including child protection, law enforcement, prosecution and medical professionals, to ensure that the investigation is well coordinated, the family is kept informed, and the child’s needs are being met in a child-focused, trauma-informed manner ;

• Responsible for leading practice enhancement & staff development initiatives including assessing training needs, coordinating internal and external training sessions and ensuring staff participation in agency led training;

• Model effective collaboration, conflict-resolution and problem-solving skills to staff and MDT.

• Develop and maintain effective relationships with community mental health providers and other community-based organizations to ensure appropriate mental health treatment and victim support & advocacy referral services are available for CAC child victims and impacted family members when needed;

• Assume primary responsibility for planning, coordinating and facilitating regularly scheduled Case Planning and Case Review meetings in coordination with the CAC Senior Director and with participation from all partners of the MDT;

• When necessary, assist in direct client work -conducting forensic interviews, victim support & advocacy and/or CFTSI sessions;

• Complete performance reviews for all direct reports in a timely manner;

• Provide court testimony in those cases pursuant to judicial subpoena, as required;

• Utilize client data to inform supervisory sessions and service delivery enhancements;

• Review employee case notes and case management system documentation;

• Participate in quality improvement initiatives;

• Develop and implement strategies for promoting racial equity work and for addressing vicarious trauma;

• Represent Safe Horizon on external committees when appropriate;

• Provides interim management of the CAC when the Senior Director is out of office.

Qualifications:

Master’s Degree & clinical licensure required

Prior experience providing clinical supervision required and supervising on an evidence based treatment preferred

Bi-lingual (English/Spanish) preferred

Prior experience working with children and families impacted by abuse and trauma and knowledge of child development;

Prior experience or an interest in working as part of a multi-disciplinary team model

Prior experience in forensic interviewing or a willingness to develop this expertise

Strong leadership, organizational, team-building, conflict-resolution skills required

If hired, I agree to abide by all of Safe Horizon’s rules and regulations, and understand that, if employed, my employment may be terminated with or without cause, and with or without notice, at any time, at the option of either the company or me. I further understand that no representation, whether oral or written by any representative or agent of the organization, at any time, constitutes a contract of employment.

AmeriCorps, Peace Corps and other national service alumni are encouraged to apply.

Technology Statement:

Applicants may be responsible for providing the equipment and tools they need to work remotely as required, such as access to a computer, internet service, and phone service. Safe Horizon will discuss potential solutions with candidates and may assist where needed and agreed to in advance.

Please follow this link to view complete EEO Law and complaint filing information:

https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf