County Caseworker 1

Luzerne County•Wilkes-Barre, PA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

County Caseworker 1 employees receive formal and informal county agency training in the methods, procedures, rules, and regulations needed to provide social services and supportive case management to children, youth, families, people with mental or physical disabilities, and others. The work is entry-level and initially limited in scope and difficulty, performed under close supervision. As employees gain knowledge and skills, they are allowed greater latitude in judgment and decision-making. Work is supervised by a professional social service or administrative supervisor and reviewed through conferences, professional reading, training, and review of records and reports. The role includes learning about agency services, client populations, applicable laws and procedures, community resources, and required forms. Caseworkers perform supportive services, help clients and families address social, health, emotional, and economic problems, make referrals, assist with service planning, conduct interviews and follow-up visits, document services, and may prepare and provide testimony in court under supervision. Assignments may involve adolescent services, independent living, concurrent permanency planning, child protective services intake, general protective services, or intake screening. This is a full-time, permanent, union position. On-call work is required. The schedule is 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, totaling 75 hours bi-weekly. Positions are located in Wilkes-Barre or Hazleton, Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania residency is waived.

Requirements

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; or
Two years of experience as a County Social Services Aide 3 and two years of college-level coursework, including 12 credits in sociology, social welfare, psychology, gerontology, criminal justice, or other related social sciences; or
An equivalent combination of experience and training that includes 12 college credits in sociology, social welfare, psychology, gerontology, criminal justice, or other related social sciences, and one year of experience as a County Social Services Aide 3 or in a similar paraprofessional case management position.
Knowledge of basic principles of economics, sociology, psychology, and other social sciences.
Knowledge of current social, economic, and health problems and their effects on human growth and development.
Knowledge of human development and behavior at the individual, family, and group levels.
Ability to understand and accept the needs and rights of others and work with adults and children who are physically challenged, mentally disabled, emotionally troubled, or economically disadvantaged.
Ability to learn, interpret, and apply laws, regulations, and policies governing agency services.
Ability to learn to conduct individual and family interviews and use them to identify problems.
Ability to learn effective interaction with individuals and families and to work as a member of a treatment team.
Ability to plan and organize work, prepare records and reports, set priorities, and learn to maintain a caseload effectively and on time.
Ability to express ideas adequately orally and in writing.
Applicants must meet at least one stated recruitment method: seniority promotion, transfer, reassignment, or voluntary demotion, subject to the stated collective bargaining obligations and eligibility requirements.
On-call work is required.
Applicants must submit the requested application materials through the specified online application process.

Responsibilities

Participate in formal and informal training on agency purpose, services, client populations, laws, methods, procedures, rules, and regulations.
Learn about community resources through resource files, site visits, and observation and collaboration with higher-level caseworkers.
Learn the purpose and proper completion of agency forms and paperwork.
Perform entry-level social services and case management duties for children, youth, families, and other clients needing support.
Assist clients and families in developing and using their potential to address social, health, emotional, and economic problems.
Provide or assist with placement services for children and adults in foster or adoptive homes, day care centers, domiciliary care facilities, or institutions.
Guide clients in home and budget management, housing, child care and parenting skills, employment, recreation, and living arrangements.
Schedule and conduct interviews and follow-up visits to provide service and counseling.
Prepare and provide testimony in court under supervision.
Refer clients to public and private social service agencies and community resources, and help clients and families understand and use those resources.
Attend and participate in case reviews and supervisory conferences, and engage in training and other learning experiences.
Document activities and services using agency methods, including social service summaries, correspondence, and reports.
For adolescent services, provide services to adolescents and families dealing with adjustment difficulties and serve youth in home, foster care, community-based, or residential settings.
For independent living services, support life-skills education for eligible foster youth and provide intensive case management as applicable.
For concurrent planning, develop, monitor, and update Family Service Plans with families; support family visitation, court preparation, community-service linkage, family support, and related documentation; and consider concurrent permanency plans when appropriate.
For CPS intake, assess reports of abuse or neglect, evaluate risk and safety, determine appropriate agency or community response, and provide short-term protective services as applicable.
For GPS, coordinate treatment services and community resources, work with families to meet needs and prevent further neglect, and support family preservation or reunification.
For intake screening, receive and screen referrals, determine appropriate distribution and agency intervention, notify supervisors of referrals requiring an immediate response, document referral information, enter data, respond to referral sources, and distribute information to the appropriate unit.
Perform related work as required.