Caseworker 2 - Children, Youth & Families General Protective Services Intake

Northampton County•Bethlehem, PA

About The Position

The Caseworker 2 – Children, Youth & Families – General Protective Services Intake is a professional casework position providing social services to children and families who need assessment and/or services. The role reports to the County Casework Supervisor or Program Specialist/Manager and does not supervise other employees. The caseworker engages family members, including clients who may be resistant or hostile, while respecting individual, family, and cultural values. The position assesses child safety and risk, identifies family strengths and needs, provides or arranges services, prepares required documentation, and supports safe and permanent outcomes for children. The role may involve transportation, supervised family visits, court participation, case reviews, scheduled coverage for emergent situations, and communication with professionals and community members. The employee must acquire and maintain Direct Service Worker certification and a valid, current motor vehicle operator’s license with an acceptable driving record. A personal vehicle is required for County business; mileage reimbursement is available. The office is moderately quiet, though work may also occur in settings such as schools and private homes, where noise levels may range from quiet to loud. The position is non-exempt and eligible for overtime.

Requirements

Meet one of the stated education and experience pathways: at least six months of experience as a County Caseworker 1; successful completion of the County Social Casework Intern program; a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Sociology, Counseling, Social Work, or a related social science major; or a bachelor’s degree that includes or is supplemented by 12 college credits in specified or related social sciences and at least one year of full-time professional social casework experience in a public or private social services agency; or an equivalent combination of experience and training that includes 12 college credits in specified or related social sciences.
Professional social casework experience, where required, involves providing services to individuals, families, or groups to support social, economic, emotional, or physical adjustment, including identifying and evaluating problems, formulating a plan, and implementing or directing the plan.
Possess and maintain a valid and current motor vehicle operator’s license and an acceptable driving record.
Have a personal vehicle available for County business.
Knowledge of current social case management principles, techniques, and methods.
Knowledge of basic principles and methods of program interpretation and community organization.
Knowledge of current social, economic, and health problems and their impact on human growth and development.
Knowledge of individual and group development and behavior and effective ways of working with adults and children experiencing social, economic, emotional, or health problems.
Knowledge of social welfare policy and law as they relate to agency functions, purpose, and societal structures.
Ability to work effectively with people and help them make constructive use of their potential in addressing problems.
Ability to understand and accept the needs and rights of others and work with adults and children who are physically challenged, mentally disabled, emotionally troubled, or economically disadvantaged.
Ability to learn, interpret, and apply laws, regulations, and policies governing agency services.
Ability to learn to conduct individual and family interviews and use them 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 promptly.
Ability to plan, organize, and direct the work of others.
Ability to express ideas clearly verbally and in writing.
Ability to maintain confidentiality at all times.
Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English to perform the job duties.

Responsibilities

Establish professional relationships with family members, including resistant, unmotivated, or hostile clients, while respecting individual, family, and cultural values.
Conduct comprehensive family-focused assessments with family members and others involved to determine children’s safety and risk and identify family strengths and needs.
Provide direct services to children and families or refer them to social service agencies and community resources.
Prepare required documents and correspondence in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and County and departmental policies and procedures.
Provide transportation for parents and/or children as necessary.
Arrange and supervise family and sibling visits for children placed outside their family home.
Participate in court hearings, internal and external meetings, and other contacts to promote safe and permanent outcomes for children under supervision.
Review case assessments and investigative assignments with a supervisor as needed.
Review cases accepted for service with a supervisor as needed.
Schedule and present cases for agency staffing and/or a Multi-Disciplinary Team when appropriate.
Provide scheduled in-day coverage for emergent situations within the division.
Interpret agency mandates to professionals, community members, and other interested parties to promote the agency’s mission.
Acquire and maintain Direct Service Worker certification.
Pursue professional growth and development through seminars, conferences, and webinars.