Caseworker BHDS

County of Lancaster•Lancaster, PA

14h•Hybrid

About The Position

This is a full-time blended case management position with the children’s Mental Health unit of Lancaster County Behavioral Health/ Developmental Services. This employee works with children, adolescents, and/or transitional age youth with serious emotional disturbance/serious mental illness who meet State defined eligibility criteria and agree to actively participate in developing and following through with a service plan. The employee refers for the most appropriate level of service and then monitors the progress of the youth. Additionally, the employee will advocate for the youth and family. The employee exercises considerable independent judgment and decision making in facilitating for the youth’s use of community resources.

Requirements

Six months of experience as a Caseworker Trainee; or, Successful completion of the County Social Casework Intern program; or, A bachelor's degree with a social welfare major; or, A bachelor's degree which includes or is supplemented by 12 college credits in sociology, social welfare, psychology, gerontology, criminal justice, Human Services or other related social sciences and one year of professional social casework experience in a public or private social services agency: or, Any equivalent combination of experience and training which includes 12 college credits in sociology, social welfare, psychology, gerontology, criminal justice, or other related social sciences.
Knowledge of current social case management principles, techniques, and methods.
Knowledge of current social, economic, and health problems and resources and the recognition of their impact on the growth and development of people.
Knowledge of individual and group development and behavior and ways of working effectively with adults and children who have social, economic, emotional, or health problems.
Knowledge of the basic principles and methods of program interpretation and community organization.
Knowledge of social welfare policy and law as they relate to agency function and purpose and societal structures.
Ability to work effectively with people and aid them to grow in the constructive use of their potential in adjusting to their specific problems.
Ability to understand and accept the needs and rights of others and to work with adults and children who are physically challenged, emotionally troubled, or economically disadvantaged.
Ability to conduct individual and family interviews and to use them to identify individual and family problems.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, their families, other staff, outside agencies and institutions, and the general public.
Ability to plan and organize work, prepare adequate records and reports, set priorities, and maintain a caseload in an effective and timely manner.
Ability to plan, organize, and direct the work of others.
Ability to interpret and apply relevant laws, regulations, and policies governing agency services.
Ability to adequately express ideas orally and in writing.
Ability to use a computer for data entry both within the office and working in the field.
Must have acceptable background checks that include: FBI fingerprint clearance, Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance, PA Criminal Record Clearance.
Must pass pre-employment Drug screen.
Must have PA Driver's License in good standing.

Responsibilities

Interviews and assesses needs for consumers; continually monitors the consumer’s current need for and appropriateness for the level of care and type of service including case management.
Develops a service plan within 30 days of admission into blended case management.
Maintains required face-to-face or phone contact with the consumer and documents accordingly in those situations when the contact is not feasible.
Completes referral forms and authorizations for services plus any other supportive paperwork as needed in directing consumer to the appropriate level of service.
Monitors consumer progress within the service and keeps parents and providers informed.
Advocates on behalf of the consumer.
Completes numerous paperwork demands accurately and in a timely manner in accordance with state regulations.
Coordinates goal-oriented service plans in cooperation with the consumers.
Develops and maintains accurate consumer records and case files; writes reports plus prepares complete summaries and social histories.
Coordinates and attends interagency treatment planning meetings.
Routinely provides own transportation to and from consumer’s home, meetings, outreach visits, and other job-related appointments in a timely manner and be able to access those locations with reasonable accommodations.
Collaborates regularly and maintains a positive relationship with other County child-service systems and insurance providers.
Participates in voluntary and involuntary commitments as needed.
May be required to perform after hours on-call coverage on a rotating basis with other team members.
Develops and sustains supportive, helping relationships between the consumer, family members, educational systems and other child serving agencies and providers.
Continually updates knowledge of both formal and informal resources offered in the community to better serve the consumer.
When working with transitional-age youth, knowledge of child and adult mental health services is required.
Establish and maintain collaborative relationship with County’s Managed Care partner.
Determine whether to schedule financial liability assessments or to complete financial waivers depending on the service needs of the child.
Participates in staff meetings and training sessions.
Adherence to all County and Agency policies and procedures.
All other duties as assigned by the Supervisor.