Caseworker II

COUNTY OF LEHIGH PENNSYLVANIA•Allentown, PA

5d•$28 - $28

About The Position

The Caseworker II provides professional social services and case management to children, youth, and families to promote each child's health and safety and help families improve their social, economic, emotional, or physical well-being. The position may be assigned to General Protective Services, Child Protective Services, Child Protective Services Investigations, Adoption, or Intake & Assessment. Work is performed under the supervision of a professional social service or administrative supervisor and reviewed through conferences, training, professional reading, and review of records and reports. Employees receive on-the-job and formal or informal county and state training, learn about community resources, and receive instruction on applicable forms and documentation. Some unit assignments include rotating after-hours on-call duties. In Child Protective Services Investigations/ICU, additional duties include completing child abuse investigations and required paperwork within 60 days under CPSL regulations; participating in Child Advocacy Center case conferences; conducting minimal-facts interviews of juveniles and interviews of suspected juvenile and adult perpetrators; attending recommended specialized training; and collaborating with the multidisciplinary investigation team. The schedule is 8:00 AM–4:00 PM or 8:30 AM–4:30 PM. Applicants must be civil service certified and on a promotion or employment list for the title, either by passing the civil service test or holding permanent civil service status. Clearances (PA State Police, FBI, and Child Abuse) must be obtained upon job offer, and a criminal background check is required. Applicants must submit a completed County application, resume, and cover letter.

Requirements

One year of experience as a County Caseworker 1; or one year of experience in public or private social work; or an equivalent combination of experience and training that includes successful completion of 12 semester hours of college-level coursework in sociology, social welfare, psychology, gerontology, or other related social services.
Bachelor’s degree.
Must be civil service certified and on a promotion or employment list for the job title, either by passing the civil service test or having permanent civil service status.
Must obtain PA State Police, FBI, and Child Abuse clearances upon job offer.
Criminal background check required.
Submit a completed County application, resume, and cover letter.

Responsibilities

Assess families’ presenting problems, strengths, and needs.
Help families develop and use their abilities to address social, health, emotional, and economic problems.
Provide supportive services, including home and budget management, housing, child care, parenting skills, employment assistance, and, when necessary, placement of children in foster or adoptive homes, residential facilities, or institutions.
Schedule and conduct interviews and follow-up visits to provide services and counseling.
Prepare social studies, case summaries, reports, correspondence, and court documents, and provide testimony in court under supervision.
Refer children, youth, and families to public and private social service organizations, community agencies, and other resources, and help them understand and use those resources.
Develop a written service plan for each family member, involving the family whenever possible.
Connect families with services required by their service plans through timely authorization and referral.
Participate in case reviews, supervisory conferences, and training activities.
Learn about available community resources through resource files, site visits, and work with casework staff.
Complete applicable forms and paperwork and document activities and services using designated agency procedures.
For CPS Investigations/ICU assignments, conduct child abuse investigations and complete required paperwork within 60 days in accordance with CPSL regulations.
For CPS Investigations/ICU assignments, attend, participate in, and present cases at Child Advocacy Center case conferences when required.
For CPS Investigations/ICU assignments, conduct minimal-facts interviews of juveniles in a manner that does not taint the investigation and interview suspected juvenile and adult perpetrators.
For CPS Investigations/ICU assignments, collaborate with multidisciplinary investigation team members and attend recommended specialized training.
Perform related work and other duties as assigned by the immediate supervisor, Director, or designee.
Take rotating after-hours on-call assignments where specified for the unit.