Caseworker II (Part Time) - Mental Health-Crisis

COUNTY OF LEHIGH PENNSYLVANIA•Allentown, PA

11d•Onsite

About The Position

This is professional social services work. Employees in this class provide case management services to Lehigh County residents experiencing mental health emergencies. Crisis counselors work collaboratively with local hospitals, police departments, outpatient mental health facilities, and crisis residents. Crisis counselors obtain information from clients, members of their families, and others necessary for the identification of social, economic, emotional, health, or physical problems and for assisting clients in obtaining a wide variety of services based on established policies, regulations, and statutes.

Requirements

Six months of experience as a County Caseworker 1; 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, or other related social sciences and one year of professional social casework experience in a public or private social service 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.
Applicants will be considered to have met the educational requirements once they are within two months of graduating with a qualifying degree/credits.
You must be able to perform essential job functions.
You must pass a background investigation.
This position falls under the provisions of the Child Protective Services Law.
Under the Law, a conditional offer of employment will require submission and approval of satisfactory criminal history reports including, but not limited to, PA State Police clearance, PA Child Abuse history clearance, and FBI Fingerprint clearance.

Responsibilities

Screen, triage, and handle all requests for mental health services via telephone, outreach, or walk-in referrals.
Recognize potential danger when dealing with a consumer/family in crisis on the telephone or in person and utilize police as needed. Responsible for learning effective verbal de-escalation methods/techniques to calm a volatile situation or person.
Accompany and support consumers/family members in crisis to assure accessing of needed services in a counselor's own automobile or county vehicle. Must have a valid driver's license.
As a mandated reporter, report any incidences of suspected child abuse to ChildLine and the Office of Children and Youth. Fulfill duty to warn obligations as directed by the guidelines of the County of Lehigh.
Ensure appropriate linkages are established by accompanying clients to referral agencies and assisting with procedural intake requirements. Advocate on behalf of clients to ensure satisfactory and continued service delivery.
Assist in completing the day-to-day office operations on all shifts. This includes but is not limited to copying, filing, labeling records, etc. In addition, must be able to efficiently operate and care for office equipment such as copier, pager, FAX, computer, desk telephones, cellular phones, etc.
Perform necessary record keeping.