Caseworker - Intake (Norristown 2)

Montgomery County•Norristown, PA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Caseworker - Intake is a member of a casework unit and reports to a unit supervisor. The position provides child protective, child placement, and/or child permanency casework services. Services are family-focused and are usually delivered in biological or foster/adoptive family homes. The service area is divided regionally, but travel throughout the County is expected, with occasional out-of-County trips and visits outside the state as required. The role involves assessing child risk, safety, family strengths, and problems; responding to emergencies and crises; providing in-home protective services; coordinating emergency placements; and providing placement and permanency services. The employee manages client caseloads and records, promotes child safety and family stability, plans for permanency, delivers reunification services, and works with families, courts, provider agencies, and other professionals. The position requires scheduling flexibility, including occasional evenings and weekends, and transporting client children and families as needed.

Requirements

Meet one of the following minimum qualifications: six months of experience as a Caseworker Trainee; a CWEB (Child Welfare Education for Baccalaureate) Program Casework Internship within 60 days before or after graduation and successful completion of the internship period; a bachelor of social work degree; or a bachelor’s degree including or supplemented by 12 college credits in sociology, social welfare, psychology, gerontology, criminal justice, or other related coursework, plus one year of professional social casework experience in a public or private social services agency.
Obtain required Child Abuse, Criminal History, and FBI clearances for employment.
Be proficient in computer skills and use, including Microsoft Office, Word, and Outlook.
Have an automobile in good working condition, a Pennsylvania driver’s license, and adequate insurance coverage.
Have scheduling flexibility to work before or after regular work hours, including occasional evenings and weekends.
Be able to make sound decisions and judgments related to child safety and wellbeing.
Complete required documentation of casework duties.
Meet the physical demands of the position, including sitting, standing, walking, stooping or kneeling, climbing stairs, communicating, using hands and arms, and lifting approximately 30 pounds 5% of the time.

Responsibilities

Assess child risk, safety, family strengths, and problems in accordance with legal mandates and best practices.
Respond to emergencies, provide crisis intervention and in-home protective services for children at risk, and coordinate emergency child placements with legal authorities.
Provide child placement and permanency services.
Manage a caseload of families and children, maintain case records, and document data, reports, actions, and events in the automated case management system.
Assure child safety and promote family stability.
Plan concurrently for permanency options for children in placement and petition the Court to establish a permanency option no later than the 15th month of placement.
Deliver intensive reunification services in accordance with timelines established by the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997.
Provide mandated family-oriented social services in compliance with Federal and State laws, Department of Human Service regulations, and County policy.
Use community resources to assist client families whenever possible.
Monitor client progress toward service goals and objectives.
Initiate court proceedings when necessary to protect children, and assist with case preparation and court testimony.
Maintain ongoing contact with provider agencies and other professionals, including police and physicians, involved in services to client families.
Transport client children and families as needed and complete required home and placement visits within the County, out of the County, and out of state.
Perform other related duties as assigned.