Caseworker-Senior 37.5 FT

Lancaster County•Lancaster, PA

About The Position

The Senior Caseworker supports the IDD unit in serving individuals with legal system involvement or who are at risk of legal system involvement, including people with co-occurring mental health and intellectual disability/autism needs. The position provides intensive case management to clients and families, conducts complex investigations, and provides consultation and education to new hires. The caseload is capped at 45 individuals. Support coordination includes locating, coordinating, and monitoring services. The caseworker participates in needs assessments; identifies supports; assists clients with accessing services and fair hearing rights; develops Individual Support Plans (ISPs); enters information into HCSIS; coordinates paid and natural supports; monitors ISP implementation and health and safety; updates services as needs change; and responds to emergencies and incidents. These responsibilities require travel to client locations. The position serves as a lead worker for support coordinator staff by mentoring and training new employees, observing appointments, reviewing documentation, providing feedback to the Assistant Chief Caseworker, answering routine policy and procedure questions, and consulting on complex or urgent cases. It also takes the lead on special-offender cases, provides guidance on legal issues, and acts as a liaison with law enforcement agencies. The caseworker collaborates with Support Coordination and Administrative Entity staff, other county units, contracted providers, and the community. Work is performed with considerable independence and is supervised by the Assistant Chief Caseworker. Performance is reviewed through conferences, records, reports, and results. The role may require occasional flex-time compensation to meet client, family, or provider needs. The work environment is busy and open, and the employee must routinely provide transportation to job-related locations. The position may involve potential exposure to Hepatitis B; training and voluntary vaccination are provided.

Requirements

Two years of experience as a case worker for Lancaster County; or a bachelor's degree in sociology, social welfare, psychology, gerontology, criminal justice, or another related social science and three years of professional social casework experience in a public or private social services agency; or an equivalent combination of experience and training that includes 12 college credits in the listed or related social sciences.
Advanced knowledge of intellectual disability, including eligibility requirements, clinical definitions, and related areas such as Medicaid Waiver, Mental Health, Person-Centered Planning, and Self-Determination, as well as available services.
Knowledge of the legal system and how interaction with it affects individuals served.
Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, verbally and in writing, present information to groups, and facilitate meetings.
Interpersonal skills, including respect for and awareness of others, sound judgment in conflict, and flexibility.
Accountability, continuous-improvement orientation, and ability to meet deadlines.
Customer-focus skills, including understanding and anticipating needs and resolving customer concerns.
Independent judgment and problem-solving skills, including anticipating problems and guiding others in managing outcomes.
Project-management skills, including breaking down complex projects and developing schedules.
Ability to provide peer-to-peer training and develop others.
Team leadership skills, including drawing on the expertise, ideas, and opinions of others.
Pennsylvania Childline Child Abuse History Clearance, acceptable Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Clearance, acceptable FBI fingerprint clearance, and acceptable drug screening, all required before active employment; clearances no more than one year old at employment are accepted.
Valid Pennsylvania driver's license and acceptable driving history.
Ability to work in a busy, open environment and routinely provide personal transportation to consumer homes, meetings, outreach visits, and other job-related appointments in a timely manner, with reasonable accommodations as applicable.

Responsibilities

Support individuals with legal system involvement or at risk of legal system involvement as part of the IDD unit.
Provide intensive case management to clients and their families, including complex investigations and consultation and education services.
Participate in needs assessments and locate supports, which may require travel to client locations.
Inform clients and providers of support needs, request funding for paid supports, and assist clients with fair hearing rights and access to non-IDD supports.
Develop Individual Support Plans with clients and teams, enter information into HCSIS, and disseminate information to the team.
Coordinate paid and natural supports with clients, families, and providers.
Monitor ISP implementation and health and safety through face-to-face contact in accordance with ODP requirements.
Modify service delivery and ISPs as needed to reflect changing client needs.
Respond to and assess emergencies and incidents, and report incidents as needed.
Serve as lead worker for support coordinator staff, including mentoring, training, observing appointments, reviewing documentation, and providing feedback on new staff progress.
Serve as a resource to staff on routine policy, procedures, and paperwork; brainstorm solutions and provide first-level crisis and complex-case consultation.
Handle urgent or emergency situations in the absence of the Assistant Chief Caseworker.
Assist the Assistant Chief Caseworker with planning and scheduling meetings.
Lead cases for individuals with legal involvement or identified as at risk of legal involvement, and advise staff on legal issues affecting individuals served.
Serve as a liaison between BH/DS and law enforcement agencies regarding individuals and legal issues.
Participate in community groups and outreach as identified.
Coordinate and review case-management documents for ODP and CMS requirements as applicable.
Collaborate with Support Coordination Directors, Administrative Entity staff, other Support Coordination units, county components, contracted providers, and the community.
Perform other duties as specified by the Supervisor, Directors, and AE staff.