Caseworker PT

County of Lancaster • Lancaster, PA

6d • Onsite

About The Position

This is an entry-level professional social service position in the County Behavioral Health/Developmental Services Agency. The employee is hired as a caseworker trainee, assigned to a Support Coordination Unit, and commonly referred to as a support coordinator. Employees who successfully complete a six-month probation in this classification are promoted to the Caseworker classification.

The position provides formal and informal training in social services and case management support for individuals with intellectual disabilities and/or autism and their families. The goal is to help people attain a more inclusive social, economic, emotional, and physical life while maintaining health and safety. Work is limited in scope and difficulty and performed under close supervision, with greater latitude in judgment and decision-making as skills and knowledge develop. The role includes learning and applying problem-solving techniques and following established regulations, policies, and procedures.

The employee learns the agency’s purpose, rules, client population, services, community resources, documentation practices, databases, and applicable policies and procedures. The trainee attends client meetings and receives on-the-job training while beginning to provide support coordination services, make referrals, and manage a caseload of up to 35 clients. The work is reviewed by a support coordinator supervisor through scheduled individual and group conferences and review of records and reports.

The employee collaborates with the unit supervisor, Directors of Support Coordination, Administrative Entity staff, other agency components, contracted service providers, and the community. The position may require occasional compensatory or flex time to meet client, family, or service-provider needs. The employee must be able to work in a busy, open environment and routinely provide their own transportation to job-related locations.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree that includes or is supplemented by 12 college credits in sociology, social welfare, psychology, gerontology, criminal justice, or other related social sciences; alternatively, an equivalent combination of experience and training that includes 12 such college credits.
• Knowledge of human development and behavior, including individuals, families, and groups.
• Knowledge of basic principles of psychology, sociology, or other social sciences.
• Ability to understand and accept the needs and rights of others and work with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• Ability to learn, interpret, and apply relevant laws, regulations, and policies governing agency services.
• Ability to learn to conduct individual and team meetings and use them to identify strengths, goals, and abilities in support of an individual’s Everyday Life.
• Ability to plan and organize work, prepare records and reports, set priorities, and learn to maintain a caseload effectively and promptly.
• Ability to express ideas adequately orally and in writing.
• Pass a pre-employment drug screening test.
• Obtain acceptable FBI, Pennsylvania State Police criminal history, and ChildLine clearances before starting employment; clearances must be no more than one year old at the time of employment.
• Valid driver’s license and acceptable driving history under County policy.
• Ability to provide own transportation routinely to consumers’ homes, meetings, outreach visits, and other job-related appointments, and to access those locations with reasonable accommodations.

Responsibilities

• Participate in formal and informal training on agency operations, rules, regulations, client population characteristics, and services.
• Learn the three functions of support coordination: locating, coordinating, and monitoring.
• Learn about community resources and agency-funded services through review, site visits, and working with higher-level casework staff.
• Learn agency and State policies and procedures, applicable forms, documentation techniques, and required databases.
• Attend and participate in client meetings and other learning experiences.
• Perform entry-level social service and support coordination duties for children and adults with intellectual disabilities and autism.
• Assist clients and families in developing their potential to address social, health, emotional, and economic problems.
• Refer clients to community agencies and resources to meet their needs.
• Begin managing a caseload of up to 35 clients, including completing contact plans and monitoring at required levels.
• Complete and participate in mandatory and elective trainings to meet ODP training requirements.
• Collaborate with the unit supervisor, Directors of Support Coordination, and Administrative Entity staff to promote cooperative work across Support Coordination Units.
• Work cooperatively with MH/ID agency components, contracted service providers, and the community.
• Perform other duties specified by the Supervisor, Directors, and Administrative Entity staff.

Benefits

• The County of Lancaster states that it offers comprehensive benefits to employees.
• Access to training and voluntary Hepatitis B vaccination are provided.

What This Job Offers

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