Caseworker-2 IRES

Northampton County•Bethlehem, PA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Caseworker 2 – Information and Referral and Emergency Services position is a full-time professional casework role in Northampton County’s 24-hour emergency services unit. The position provides immediate responses to life-crisis situations for county residents through phone, on-site, and mobile counseling, assessment, referral, and temporary direct services. The role collaborates with hospitals, police, ambulance crews, community agencies, and human services staff, and may involve accompanying or transporting clients when safe and appropriate. The position reports directly to the County Casework Supervisor for Information and Referral and Emergency Services and does not supervise other employees. The position requires at least six months of experience as a County Caseworker 1, successful completion of the County Social Casework Intern program, or qualifying education and professional social casework experience. An equivalent combination of experience and training may also qualify if it includes 12 college credits in specified or related social sciences. The employee must hold and maintain a valid current motor vehicle operator’s license, have an acceptable driving record, and have a personal vehicle available for County business; mileage reimbursement is available. The work uses a telephone, personal computer with word-processing and spreadsheet software, calculator, writing implements, fax machine, copy machine, and paper shredder. Employees frequently walk, sit, talk, and hear, and may occasionally lift or move up to 25 pounds. The office is moderately quiet; other work settings, including schools and private homes, may range from quiet to loud. The position is non-exempt and eligible for overtime.

Requirements

At least six months of experience as a County Caseworker 1; or successful completion of the County Social Casework Intern program; or qualifying education and experience; or an equivalent combination of experience and training that includes 12 college credits in sociology, social welfare, psychology, gerontology, criminal justice, or other related social sciences.
One qualifying education route is a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Sociology, Counseling, Social Work, or a related social science major, together with at least one year of full-time professional social casework experience in a public or private social services agency.
Another qualifying education route is a bachelor’s degree that includes, or is supplemented by, 12 college credits in sociology, social welfare, psychology, gerontology, criminal justice, or other related social sciences, together with at least one year of full-time professional social casework experience in a public or private social services agency.
Professional social casework experience involves providing services to individuals, families, or groups to support social, economic, emotional, or physical adjustment, including identifying and evaluating problems, formulating an action plan, and implementing or directing it.
Possess and maintain a valid and current motor vehicle operator’s license and an acceptable driving record; a personal vehicle is required for County business.
Knowledge of current social case-management principles, techniques, and methods; program interpretation and community organization; social, economic, and health problems and their effects on human development; individual and group development and behavior; and social welfare policy and law.
Ability to work effectively with people and support them in using their potential to address their problems; understand and accept others’ needs and rights; and work with adults and children facing physical, mental, emotional, or economic challenges.
Ability to learn, interpret, and apply relevant laws, regulations, and policies; conduct individual and family interviews; and use interviews to identify problems.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, families, staff, outside agencies, institutions, and the public.
Ability to plan and organize work, prepare records and reports, set priorities, and learn to maintain a caseload effectively and on time.
Ability to plan, organize, and direct the work of others; clearly express ideas verbally and in writing; and maintain confidentiality.
Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English to perform the position’s duties.
Applicants must submit a completed application before the posting deadline and complete the education and work-experience sections; attaching a résumé does not substitute for completing those fields.

Responsibilities

Provide phone, on-site, and mobile counseling to clients in crisis; gather information, explore presenting problems, and help alleviate immediate crises.
Facilitate voluntary admissions and involuntary hospital commitments, including transportation when safe and appropriate.
Facilitate referrals, admissions, and sometimes transportation for crisis residential services.
Provide temporary direct services, such as outreach counseling, home visits, and daily-living problem solving, until community agencies can provide ongoing services; help procure services when no accountable agency is available or an emergency occurs after normal office hours, including weekends.
Accompany clients to hospital emergency facilities, short-term inpatient units, alcoholism-services receiving units, and other locations as needed.
Serve as a delegate to the County Mental Health Administrator, determine whether commitment criteria are met, meet with petitioners, and complete commitment forms and warrants in accordance with mental health legislation.
Facilitate involuntary commitments by police and/or physicians when on-site delegate intervention is not required, collaborating with hospitals, ambulance crews, police, and others.
Document and report emergency incident processes and outcomes using standard forms, mobile-crisis forms, telephone logs, and related records.
Help connect clients with additional services identified during initial assessment.
Respond to referrals concerning elderly people experiencing abuse or intolerable housing conditions.
Provide information and referral services, including backup to the Information and Referral Unit.
Respond to crises involving drug or alcohol withdrawal, overdoses, and requests for detoxification; provide information about treatment programs and facilitate referrals.
Maintain continuity of client care through supervisory consultation, review of daily log notes, and attendance at case conferences.
Consult and collaborate with community personnel involved in emergency services, including emergency-room physicians and nurses, police officers, ambulance crews, community-agency staff, and Human Services treatment staff.
Attend staff meetings and training programs for professional enhancement.
Maintain a valid and current motor vehicle operator’s license and an acceptable driving record, and use a personal vehicle for County business.