Director - Office of Child and Youth Protection

Job Description

Position: Director - Office of Child and Youth Protection

Summary
The Director of the Child & Youth Protection Office is responsible for all aspects of the implementation and ongoing compliance with the Essential Norms and the Charter for the Protection of Children & Youth for the Diocese of Kansas City - St. Joseph. This position is full time, averaging 40 hours per week.

Essential Duties
• Promote the policies and goals of the Diocese to create and maintain a safe, protective environment for the children, youth and vulnerable adults of the Diocese.
• Responsible for the operations of the three components of the Child & Youth Protection Office which includes victim/survivor services, training & education, and investigations as that relates to enforcement of the Essential Norms and implementation of the Charter for the Protection of Children & Youth.
• Monitors compliance by Diocesan personnel regarding all settlement conditions.
• Manage and supervise the Victim Assistance Coordinator.
• Manage and supervise the Safe Environment Coordinator regarding volunteers.
• Serve as a point of contact for the Ombudsman.
• Ensure that Victim Services include the best practices for outreach and service for affected individuals as well as community programs, with a focus as far as possible on trauma-informed care.
• Approve all services recommended for individuals by the Victim Assistance Coordinator.
• Document contacts of the VAC in OCYP database regarding follow-up, support, information, etc. with the survivor, family and any other appropriate persons.
• Implement and enforce a consistent policy for background checks for all Diocesan clergy, employees and volunteers who may have interactions with children and youth.
• Maintain a document repository for all background checks, training compliance reports and acknowledgement of receipts of the Diocesan Code of Ethics provided to all clergy, employees and volunteers.
• Determine a volunteer's eligibility for service based upon a review of background check results.
• Oversee the USCCB annual safe environment audit and annual CARA survey.
• Oversee membership and functions of the Independent Review Board for compliance with the Charter.
• Serve as a liaison, a non-voting presence of the Bishop, on the Independent Review Board outside of executive sessions.
• Develop and manage the budget for the Office of Child and Youth Protection.
• Collaborate with the Diocesan Communications Office on external and internal communications relating to victim outreach efforts and actions taken by the Diocese to protect its children and youth.
• Assign responsibilities for the formulation and revision of policies and practices related to the enforcement of the Essential Norms and implementation of the Charter.
• Serve as main point of contact to the Director of the affiliated Journey to Bethany.
• Partnering with the Safe Environment Program Coordinator, provide initial and ongoing education to newly ordained clerics who minister and support victim/survivors disclosing abuse.
• Participate in presentations promoting the work of the OCYP and Journey to Bethany as periodically requested.
• Regularly review and update handouts and resource materials; distribute to Diocesan staff and clergy as needed.
• Update Diocesan website as needed.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
• Use strong verbal and written communication skills to exchange information clearly and concisely.
• Earn others' trust and respect through consistent honesty and professionalism in all interactions.
• Adhere to a high legal and ethical standard for self and staff, maintaining strict confidentiality in sensitive matters.
• Take personal responsibility for the quality and timeliness of work and achieve results with little oversight.
• Promote a sense of collaboration and teamwork.
• Maintain an open, approachable manner, and treat others fairly and respectfully.

Qualifications
• Four-year college degree or equivalent combination of training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.
• Intermediate level of proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Demonstrated understanding of sexual abuse; preferrable is appreciation of trauma-informed care.
• Practicing Catholic with ethical standards, personal integrity, and conduct consistent with the morals and teachings of the Catholic Church.

The Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph offers a comprehensive benefits program, including medical, dental and vision plans, STD/LTD fully paid by the employer, retirement plans including a 403b plan and a defined benefit pension plan. Paid time off includes generous Vacation and Sick leaves, plus paid Holidays.

Note: All employees are required to consent to a background check, commit to our Code of Conduct policy, and complete online and in-person training prior to hire.

Apply Here: https://recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/jobs/Details/2754344/Available-Positions/Director-of-Child-Youth-Protection

About the Employer

The roots of Catholicism in western Missouri go back to French fur traders and trappers who ventured along the rivers as early as 1723. Today, the Diocese encompasses 15,429 square miles in 27 counties in the northwest portion of Missouri. The Catholic people of the Diocese number more than 135,000 across 97 parishes, missions, and schools.