Deputy Director, Office of Policy, Information, Planning, Evaluation & Research, Allegheny County                         L0233

This is responsible professional and administrative work directing the policy, information, planning, evaluation & research activities of the Allegheny County Department of Human Services (DHS).

The employee in this class is responsible for directing the policy, information, planning, evaluation and research (PIPER) activities of the Allegheny County Department of Human Services.

Work includes developing and recommending to the Director and senior DHS staff program policy direction; directing the design, development, implementation and continual upgrading of the agency's Management Information System (MIS); overseeing the staff development of long range agency-wide mission statements; directing the development and implementation of an ongoing planning process; managing the preparation and submission of a variety of annual plans and budget estimates; and reviewing verbal and written requests and proposals submitted by individuals and various groups in the public and private sectors.

Work also involves directing a staff engaged in the development, design and implementation of mechanisms for researching and evaluating service effectiveness and program coordination; directing a staff in the performance of systematic analyses of various community social and client needs and related statistical data; overseeing the design, development and implementation of special evaluation studies of contractor/subcontractor agencies, and program divisions of the DHS; coordinating and collaborating with internal and external sources to determine programmatic needs and to foster and develop information and data to assist in the establishment of policies and formulation of DHS program plans; and coordinating and collaborating with computer service consultant firms.

Supervision is exercised over a large professional, technical and clerical staff.

Work is performed with considerable independence under the supervision of the Director, Department of Human Services, and is reviewed through conferences, evaluation of reports and recommendations, and results attained.

Examples of Work:

Develops and recommends to the Director and senior staff program policy direction; interprets and communicates policy decisions to staff; implements policy decisions; monitors and evaluates the effectiveness of policy decisions; and provides feedback to the Director and senior staff.

Serves as lead liaison with the MH/ID Advisory Board and the Drug & Alcohol Planning Council, Area Agency on Aging, and the Commission on Workforce Excellence.

Directs a staff on the design, development, implementation, and continual upgrading of the agency-wide computerized Management Information System (MIS) which will support the data needs required for the effective and timely management of agency operations and work flow.

Oversees the development of data base information systems; studies service trends, population shifts, and client needs; and evaluates program effectiveness.

Oversees the staff development of long range agency-wide mission statements including, but not limited to the preparation of implementation plans to equip agency professional staff, i.e., Regional Office Managers, Administrators, Program Managers, Supervisors, Caseworkers and other Human Services personnel with individual computer terminals enabling direct and immediate data input and access; and the design and implementation of a restricted access system for authorized users to ensure record confidentiality and program integrity.

Directs a staff which develops and implements an ongoing planning process to seek input from citizens, community advocate groups, community health and social services agencies, and State agencies; and coordinates the information obtained; organizes planning committees, needs assessment analysis, agency coordination meetings, public hearings and participates in various structured State, County and local agency planning activities; works closely with the Office of Community Relations to ensure input from various segments of the community.

Manages the preparation and submittal of the DPW Annual Plan and Budget Estimate for Children and Youth Services, Juvenile Court and the Juvenile Court Detention Homes, the MH/ID 5 year plan and the Annual Plans for the other program divisions of Human Services.

Reviews verbal and written requests and proposals submitted by local citizens' groups, health and welfare planning organizations, general hospitals, current contract agencies, professionals in the fields of social work and education, and other interested parties requesting funding for the provision of preventive and treatment services; directs a staff in the long range needs assessment planning in all of the program areas of the DHS.  

Directs a staff which develops, designs, and implements mechanisms for researching and evaluating service effectiveness and program coordination; develops goals and objectives for inclusion in the Annual County Budget.

Directs a staff which performs systematic analyses of various community social and client needs and related statistical data, reviews demographic and other health and social indicators in order to forecast future program impacts regarding the quality/quantity of services, and develops and monitors statistical indicators and analyzes projected versus actual data which is generated into periodic and special reports which highlight (or identify) problems requiring special evaluation studies.

Evaluates and reports on the degree of achievement of the overall program goals and objectives.

Directs a staff which designs, develops, and implements special evaluation studies of subcontractor agencies, specific service categories and/or target populations on a regular and as needed basis; and adopts relevant findings to evaluation and program efforts.

Directs a staff which prepares evaluation reports for DPW and all of the program divisions of the DHS.

Directs a staff which provides technical assistance to, and coordinates evaluation studies of contract agencies.

Coordinates and collaborates with internal DHS staff units, i.e., Bureau of Financial & Facilities Management, Bureau of Budget & Compliance, Office of Community Relations, Bureau of Community Services, OCY&FS, the MH and D&A components of the Office of Behavioral Health, Intellectual Disabilities and external sources, i.e., providers, County and provider boards, community leaders, market and demographic sources and other programs to determine programmatic needs and to foster and develop information and data to assist the Director and senior staff in establishing policies and formulating plans for DHS programs.

Coordinates and collaborates with computer service consultant firms for the delivery of exactness of data and information for development of potential new information delivery models, evaluating simulated results and researching other successful systems for projected use for DHS programs.

Required Knowledges, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge of the principles and practices of human services program planning and evaluation, including recent trends and developments.

Knowledge of social welfare needs problems, goals and objectives.

Knowledge of the principles and methods of program administration and of the structure, organization and methods of public and private contracted agencies as they relate to the provision, planning and implementation of human services and programs.

Knowledge of research techniques and methods of the sources and availability of information and data relative to human services programs.

Knowledge of federal and state regulations as they relate to community human services programs.

Knowledge of federal and state regulations and federal, state and local policies, practices, rules and regulations as they relate to community human services programs.

Knowledge of the principles and methods of community organization.

Knowledge of fiscal and personnel principles and practices.

Knowledge of management information and data processing systems.

Ability to analyze and evaluate complex data involving program plans and operations and make recommendations leading toward policy and method determination.

Ability to provide leadership to and establish working relationships with officials of contract agencies and agency staff.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with county, state and federal officials.

Ability to plan and direct the work of a professional, technical and clerical staff.

Ability to make clear and pertinent statements orally and in writing and to speak effectively in public.

Minimum Experience and Training:

Five years of progressively responsible professional experience in the field of policy, information, or planning & evaluation, including three years in an administrative or supervisory capacity in a human services agency, and a master's degree;

Or

Any equivalent combination of experience and training.

Commonwealth Equivalent PSG ST10