Caseworker Senior BHDS

County of Lancaster•Lancaster, PA

14h•Hybrid

About The Position

This is a full-time case management position within the Behavioral Health component of Lancaster County Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (BHDS). This position is within the Intake component of the Unit. This employee will work primarily with incarcerated adults who have a Serious Mental Illness (SMI) and assist those same individuals transitioning back into the community. While primarily focused on the re-entry needs of those individuals incarcerated at Lancaster County Prison, it is anticipated that intervention will also occur with Lancaster County residents discharging from the State Correctional Institution system. This employee will exercise considerable independent judgment and decision making in determining individual needs and facilitating their successful transition to community living. This Caseworker Senior position receives less supervision and will work more independently than a Caseworker. This employee will conduct also intake assessments, determine eligibility for Behavioral Health services and work collaboratively with Lancaster County Prison, Lancaster County Adult Probation & Parole, Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas, Lancaster County Speciality Courts, the Lancaster County Drug & Alcohol Commission and the Re-entry Management Organization and its affiliates. This position will be regarded as the primary County resource for individuals with co-occuring Behavioral Health and Forensic issues. This position is expected to maintain a consistent, highly visible in-person presence within the prison (on sverage 75% of time) to sustain collaborative working relationships with correctional, medical, clinical, and reentry staff and engaging with incarcerated individuals identified as having mental health concerns/needs.

Requirements

Two years of experience as a Caseworker for Lancaster County; or A bachelor's degree in sociology, social welfare, psychology, gerontology, criminal justice, or other related social sciences and three years 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.
Knowledge of criminal justice standards, practices and protocols and a thorough understanding of the distinct roles of the judicial, law enforcement and corrections systems.
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.
Pennsylvania Childline Child Abuse History Clearance
Acceptable-PA State Police Criminal Record Clearance
Acceptable FBI fingerprint clearance
Acceptable Drug screening
PA Driver's License and Acceptable driving history

Responsibilities

Develops collaborative relationship with the local prison and meets regularly with identified prison staff to ensure that inmates with Behavioral Health needs are being identified and have access to BH services upon release.
Develop collaborative relationship with the local hospital identified as providing inpatient support to incarcerated individuals needing inpatient treatment and serve as liaison back into the prison or community.
Schedules and conducts intake interviews, needs’ assessments and needs analysis to gather information concerning the consumer and presents information for clinical and utilization review.
Completes referral forms and authorizations for services plus any other supportive paperwork as needed in directing consumer to the appropriate level of service.
Develops and sustains supportive, helping relationships of the consumer, family members, and provider agencies.
Monitors consumer progress within the service and keeps providers informed.
Maintains a thorough knowledge of entire spectrum of community resources and services; adept at navigating various support systems; participates in relevent trainings and engages in multi-systemic forums i.e., CJAB.
Establishes and maintains constructive and collaborative relationships with Lancaster County Adult Probation & Parole, the Lancaster County Courts & the Re-entry Mananagement Organization (RMO) systems.
Advocates on behalf of the consumer.
Completes numerous paperwork demands accurately and in a timely manner.
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.
Determine whether to schedule financial liability assessments or to complete financial waivers depending on the service needs of the consumer.
Participates in staff meetings and training sessions.
Coordinates and attends interagency treatment planning meeting
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.
Functions as the County's primary resource for individuals with co-occuring behavioral health/forensic issues.
Provides clinical consultation for BHDS staff and related provider network through thorough understanding of available resources and expertise in matching with assessed needs.
Serves as Agency liasion with County Judiciary, including Specialty Courts.
Exercises supervisory level decision making in the absence of supervisor as necessary.
All other duties as assigned by the Supervisor.