Caseworker

County of Erie, PA; Erie (Erie County); On-site; USD 35,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Low-cost medical, dental, and vision

14 paid holidays and up to 11 personal

Vacation days

Job summary

The County of Erie, PA seeks an entry-level professional social service worker in the County Children & Youth, Mental Health/Intellectual Disabilities or Human Services Agency. You will participate in trainings to learn methods, procedures, laws, and provide case management and supportive services under supervision.

Duties include conducting interviews and home visits, coordinating with foster/kinship families, making referrals, testifying in court under supervision, preparing court summaries,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree with 12 credits in Sociology, Social Welfare or related Social Sciences.
• Alternatively, 2 years experience as a county Social Services Aide and 2 years of college with 12 credits.
• Must have a Valid Driver's License.

Responsibilities

• Interviews and follow-up visits to provide counseling and support.
• Assess risk and safety in the family home; coordinate with foster/kinship families and group homes.
• Testify in court under supervision and prepare court summaries.
• Make referrals to public and private social services and community agencies.
• Complete case records, inter-office reports, and agency documentation.
• Attend required trainings and supervision meetings.

Skills

Interviews

Casework

Team collaboration

Documentation

Education

Bachelor's degree with 12 credits in Sociology/Social Welfare

Job description

Posting Notice: Erie County offers a generous fringe benefit package including low-cost medical, dental, and vision; fourteen paid holidays; up to eleven combined personal and vacation days in the first year of employment.

Definition of Class

• Entry-level professional social service work in a County Children & Youth, Mental Health/Intellectual Disabilities or Human Services Agency.
• Participates in trainings which provide information on methods, procedures, rules and regulations necessary to perform social service and case management supportive services to children, youth, families, mentally disabled individuals, physically challenged and others to assist them with social, economic, emotional or physical adjustments. This position works under the close supervision of an administrative or professional supervisor.

Nature of Work

• Participates in training programs providing basic knowledge relative to agency purpose, services provided, client population characteristics and applicable laws. This position performs a variety of entry-level social services and case management duties, assists clients/families in using developing and using their own potential in resolving their social, health, emotional, and economic problems, guides clients/families in home and budget management, housing, child care , employment and living arrangements, and schedules/conducts interviews and follow-up visits to provide counseling. Can also testify in court under supervision and make referrals to other public and private social services and community agencies.
• Performs related work as required.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Interacts\\directly intervenes with a client family for the purpose of gathering and assessing information, evaluating risk and safety within the family home, evaluating environmental safety of a child/family, or discussing issues relevant to the family. Contact with foster/kinship families, group homes and institutions caring for children under Court Order, and with adoption resources.
• Utilizes treatment team planning, collaborative service with community providers, participation in Agency supportive and administrative\\multiple disciplinary team meetings.
• Reports child abuse or neglect to ChildLine and Intake, completing social histories, completing child assessments, assessing risk, completing and assisting to implement safety plans, discussion and mutual completion of Family Service Plans and Child Permanency Plans.
• Makes culturally appropriate, community based referrals for child/family.
• Assess\\document risk to the child's physical and/or emotional well-being. Complete a thorough assessment of immediate safety threats.
• Secure County Social Services Aide services for family/child for support, parent education, transportation, or assisting in providing other services.
• Transport child to medical, mental health appointments, etc.
• Intervene when environmental, parent-child or family crisis suggests harm to the child. Secure safety using family supports. When indicated, refer child to Juvenile Court through an emergency protective order/petition alleging abuse/dependency. Prepare written summaries for Court and testifying.
• Enact out of home placement according to State and Federal laws and regulations, Agency policies and Juvenile Court requirements. Secure the least restrictive placement that meets the child's safety, emotional and physical needs.
• Monitor child's adjustment to out-of-home placement by meeting with the child and his/her caretaker. Arrange visitation between parent and child to facilitate child's return home. Arrange for sibling visitation.
• Prepare for, attend and testify at all Court hearings. Prepare correspondence to the Court and all attorneys regarding visitation plans, changes in case situations, runaways, and releases of information. Prepare progress reports\\evaluations for Juvenile Court. Consult with attorneys and Court coordinators. Arrange for delivery of subpoenas. Explain rights and recommendations to clients.
• If parental rights are terminated, select the adoptive home which best suits the needs of the child or sibling group. Apply for a subsidies. Prepare child for adoption.
• Complete case record documentation.
• Compose Court summaries.
• Complete inter-office reports.
• Keep Agency informed of out-of-office appointments.
• Attend training sessions required by the State for Child Welfare Casework Certification. After completion of State mandatory training, caseworker must complete a minimum of 20 hours of training each calendar year to keep their caseworker status.
• Attend weekly supervisor sessions with the Casework Supervisor. Keep supervisor informed of significant events with clients; collaborate on treatment planning and techniques to use in contacts with families and to deal with any problems the caseworker may have in working with a family.
• Participate in peer group with all members of the unit.
• Attend inter-Agency meetings such as the Multi-Disciplinary Team, Supervisory Review and Resource Management Team meetings, and Mental Health Triage meetings for the purpose of coordination of treatment plans. Read memoranda to keep informed of Agency procedural changes and statewide regulation changes.
• Attend staff meetings of the entire Agency personnel.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Knowledge of basic economics, sociology, psychology and other social science principles.
• Knowledge of current social, economic and health problems and their impact on the growth and development of people.
• Ability to understand and accept the needs and rights of others in working with physically challenged, mentally disabled, emotionally troubled and economically disadvantaged children and adults.
• Ability to learn how to effectively interact with individuals and families and as a team member.
• Ability to interpret and apply relevant laws and conduct individual and family interviews.
• Ability to express ideas.
• Bachelor's Degree including 12 Credits in Sociology, Social Welfare or related Social Services or 2 years of experience as a county Social Services Aide and 2 years of college, including 12 Credits in Sociology, Social Welfare or other related Social Sciences
• Must have a Valid Driver's License

Supervision Received

• Supervision provided by a Casework Supervisor during regular weekly meetings, peer group and weekly meetings with training supervisor upon hire for 3 months and as needed thereafter.

Conditions Of Employment

• Required to provide and are subject to Pennsylvania criminal and child abuse clearances as well as an FBI fingerprint clearance.