Caseworker 37.5 FT

County of Lancaster•Lancaster, PA

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 who have serious mental illnesses and meet State criteria, and who agree to participate actively in developing and following a service plan and maintaining contact expectations. A portion of the caseload consists of participants in 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 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 review of records and contacts with providers, consumers, and others as needed. The work takes place in a busy, open environment and includes routinely providing transportation to consumer homes, meetings, outreach visits, and other work-related appointments. The position may involve exposure to Hepatitis B; training and voluntary vaccination are provided. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. Starting compensation is $44,967 annually. Lancaster County states that it offers comprehensive employee benefits; specific benefits are not detailed in the posting.

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 that includes or is 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 relevant 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 basic program interpretation and community organization principles and methods.
Knowledge of social welfare policy and law as they relate to agency function, purpose, and societal structures.
Ability to work effectively with people and help them use their potential constructively to address specific problems.
Ability to understand and accept the needs and rights of others 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 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, and acceptable FBI fingerprint clearance, all received 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.
Ability to routinely provide own transportation to work-related appointments and access locations with reasonable accommodations.

Responsibilities

Attend weekly treatment team and Lancaster Mental Health Court sessions on Wednesdays.
Maintain collaborative contact with treatment team members regarding 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 contact with consumers 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 provider network.
Monitor consumer progress in services and keep parents, treatment team members, and providers informed.
Advocate on behalf of consumers.
Complete paperwork accurately and on time.
Develop and maintain accurate, up-to-date 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 own transportation to consumer homes, meetings, outreach visits, and other job-related appointments in a timely manner, and access locations with reasonable accommodations.
Continually update knowledge of formal and informal community resources.
Adhere to County and Agency policies and procedures.
Perform other duties assigned by supervisors.