Caseworker 37.5 FT

Lancaster County • Lancaster, PA

4d

About The Position

This is a full-time case management position in the Adult Mental Health Component of Lancaster County Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. The Caseworker works with adults with serious mental illnesses who meet State criteria and agree to participate actively in developing and following through with a service plan and maintaining contact expectations. Part of the caseload consists of participants in the Lancaster County Mental Health Court, a specialty court program for criminal offenders diagnosed with serious mental illness. The Caseworker is part of a treatment team that meets weekly to discuss and assess participants' progress and exercises considerable independent judgment in helping consumers use community resources. The role also involves frequent contact with professionals across multiple systems.

The position reports directly to an assigned supervisor. Work is reviewed through scheduled supervision, observations in the office and field, and reviews of records and contacts with providers, consumers, and others as needed. The role requires routine personal transportation to consumer homes, meetings, outreach visits, and other work-related appointments. The position works in a busy, open environment and may involve potential exposure to Hepatitis B; training and voluntary vaccination are provided. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Starting compensation is $44,967 annually. Lancaster County Government states that it offers comprehensive employee benefits. The County provides equal employment opportunity and bases employment on ability to perform the job, dependability, and reliability.

Requirements

• Successful completion of the County Social Casework Intern program; or a bachelor's degree with a social welfare major; or a bachelor's degree including or supplemented by 12 college credits in sociology, social welfare, psychology, gerontology, criminal justice, or other related social sciences, plus one year of professional social casework experience in a public or private social services agency; or an equivalent combination of experience and training that includes 12 such college credits.
• Knowledge of current social case management principles, techniques, and methods.
• Knowledge of current social, economic, and health problems and resources, and their impact on people's growth and development.
• Knowledge of individual and group development and behavior and effective approaches to working with adults and children experiencing 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 functions, purpose, and societal structures.
• Ability to work effectively with people and help them use their potential constructively in adjusting to specific problems.
• Ability to understand and accept others' needs and rights and work with people who are physically challenged, emotionally troubled, or economically disadvantaged.
• Ability to conduct individual and family interviews and use them to identify problems.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, families, staff, outside agencies and institutions, and the public.
• Ability to plan and organize work, prepare records and reports, set priorities, and manage a caseload effectively and on time.
• 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 express ideas adequately, orally and in writing.
• Pennsylvania Childline Child Abuse History Clearance, acceptable Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Clearance, acceptable FBI fingerprint clearance, and acceptable drug screening are required before active employment. Clearances no more than one year old at the time of employment will be accepted.
• Pennsylvania driver's license and acceptable driving history.

Responsibilities

• Attend weekly Lancaster Mental Health Court treatment-team meetings and court sessions on Wednesdays.
• Maintain collaborative contact with treatment-team members about consumers' treatment plans and participation in Mental Health Court requirements.
• Refer consumers to appropriate services as needed.
• Develop a service plan within 30 days of assignment.
• Maintain monthly contacts and meet with each consumer in person at least once every other month.
• Develop and sustain relationships among consumers, family members, the Mental Health Court treatment team, and the provider network.
• Monitor consumer progress and keep parents, treatment-team members, and providers informed.
• Advocate on behalf of consumers.
• Complete required paperwork accurately and on time.
• Develop and maintain accurate, current consumer records, including case notes.
• Arrange financial liability assessments.
• Participate in staff meetings and training sessions.
• Facilitate voluntary and involuntary commitments as needed.
• Assist other staff during consumer emergency situations.
• Provide personal transportation to and from consumers' homes, meetings, outreach visits, and other job-related appointments in a timely manner, and access those locations with reasonable accommodations.
• Continually update knowledge of formal and informal community resources to better serve consumers.
• Adhere to County and Agency policies and procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned by supervisors.

Benefits

• The County offers comprehensive employee benefits; specific benefits are not listed in the posting.
• Training and voluntary Hepatitis B vaccination are provided.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level