Caseworker 2 – Children, Youth & Families– Adolescent Services (2 Vacancies)

County of Northampton; Bethlehem (Northampton County); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

County of Northampton seeks a Caseworker 2 – Children, Youth & Families – Adolescent Services to provide a full range of social services to youth and their families. You may handle protective services, emergency placement, foster care, and counseling needs as part of a professional team.

The role requires expertise in case management, documentation, and collaboration with external agencies, with duties including interviews, assessments, and service planning.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in sociology, social welfare, psychology or related social sciences; or equivalent experience as specified.
• Experience in professional social casework preferred; ability to conduct interviews and assess client needs.
• Must have valid driver's license and acceptable driving record; mileage reimbursement eligibility.

Responsibilities

• Provide intensive casework and counseling to adolescents and families.
• Develop plans, facilitate treatment, and coordinate services with community partners.
• Maintain case records, write reports, and communicate progress to stakeholders.
• Identify problems, make referrals, and monitor follow-up services.

Skills

Social case management

Community organization

Social welfare policy

Interviews

Client relations

English proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree in Social Sciences

12 college credits in related social sciences

Sociology/ Social Welfare background

Tools

Records management

Documentation/reporting

Job description

In order to be considered for this position, applicants must successfully submit a completed application prior to the posting deadline. Applications submitted with incomplete or missing education and/or work experience sections will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed. These applicants will be disqualified from consideration. The attachment of a resume to the application does not fulfill this requirement and will not prevent incomplete applications from being rejected. Education and work experience fields must be completed, regardless of the presence of an attached resume.

Once the posting closes, all applications will be reviewed. The information provided on the application will be utilized to determine whether or not each applicant meets the Minimum Requirements for this position as noted in the Job Description. We encourage all applicants to provide a comprehensive, concise history of their education, certification, licensing, and employment history. Please read the Minimum Requirements thoroughly and then demonstrate that you meet these requirements on your application.

For questions regarding this posting, please contact Sherry Christman, Human Resources Analyst at [e-mail] or 610-829-6382.

Equal Employment Opportunities – It is the policy of Northampton County to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, sex, gender identity, gender expression, age, genetic information, disability, or any other status protected by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and any other state, federal, or local law.

GENERAL PURPOSE

The Caseworker 2 – Children, Youth & Families – Adolescent Services position is a full-time professional casework position responsible for the provision of a full range of social services to adolescent youth and their families. Circumstances can include when the children are in need of protective services, emergency placement, foster care, other group care placement, or counseling/intervention services. In some cases, the youth may also be living independently in the community.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

This position reports directly to the County Casework Supervisor or Program Specialist/Manager.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

This position does not exercise supervision over other functions.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES OF THE POSITION

• Assumes full responsibility for specialized services to adolescents by providing intensive casework and counseling services to selected youth and members of their families, utilizing and understanding the dynamics of human behavior to effectuate maximum utilization of specialized agency services focused on adolescents.
• Participates in conferences and meetings for purposes of diagnosis of problems and to develop, plan, and offer treatment to youth and their families.
• Prepares social studies, case histories, writes letters, makes reports, and keep records.
• Maintains all needed reports and records required by agency policy and regulations.
• Obtains information from clients, members of their families, and other sources in order to identify social, economic, or health problems. Evaluates and relates the information to the present behavior and emotional problems of the youth.
• Makes appropriate referrals with follow up to other community agencies and resources concerning the needs and problems of clients.
• Interprets program and highlights specialized services offered by program to professional staff members, community organizations, agencies, and other parties of interest.
• Maintains professional growth and development by attendance at seminars, conferences, and through review of current professional literature.

*An employee assigned to this title shall perform a majority, but may not perform all, of the duties listed in this job description. Conversely, minor level duties performed on the job may not be listed. The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

REQUIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• At least six (6) months of experience as a County Caseworker 1; OR
• Successful completion of the County Social Casework Intern program; OR
• Possession of a Bachelor's degree in Sociology, Social Welfare, Psychology, Gerontology, Criminal Justice, or other related Social Sciences; OR
• Possession of a Bachelor's degree which includes, or is supplemented by, twelve (12) college credits in Sociology, Social Welfare, Psychology, Gerontology, Criminal Justice, or other related social sciences; AND
• At least one (1) year of full-time professional social casework experience in a public or private social services agency. (Public or private social work is defined as professional work identifying and evaluating consumer problems and formulating, implementing, or directing an appropriate service plan. This requires in-depth interviewing to obtain comprehensive information about consumer needs, counseling, providing information about available programs, determining eligibility for program services, and negotiating on behalf of consumers with referral agencies to successfully implement appropriate services.)
• Employee assigned to this title will be required to possess and maintain a valid and current motor vehicle operator’s license. Must have an acceptable driving record. Personal vehicle required for County business, employee is eligible for mileage reimbursement.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of current social case management principles, techniques, and methods.
• Knowledge of the basic principles and methods of program interpretation and community organization.
• Knowledge of current social, economic, and health problems and their impact on the growth and development of people.
• Knowledge of individual and group development and behavior and ways of working effectively with adults and children who have social, economic, emotional, or health problems.
• Knowledge of social welfare policy and law as they relate to agency function and purpose and societal structures.
• Ability to work effectively with people and aid them to grow via the constructive use of their potential and adjusting to their specific problems.
• Ability to understand and accept the needs and rights of others. Ability to work with adults and children who are physically challenged, mentally disabled, emotionally troubled, and economically disadvantaged.
• Ability to learn, interpret, and apply relevant laws, regulations, and policies governing agency services.
• Ability to learn how to conduct individual and family interviews and to use them to identify individual and family problems.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, their families, other staff, outside agencies, institutions, and the general public.
• Ability to plan and organize work, prepare adequate records and reports, set priorities, and learn to maintain a caseload in an effective and timely manner.
• Ability to plan, organize, and direct the work of others.
• Ability to clearly express ideas verbally and in writing.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality at all times.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English to perform the duties of this position.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT

• Telephone, personal computer (including word processing and spreadsheet software), calculator, writing implements, fax machine, copy machine, and paper shredder.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to walk, sit, talk, and hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to twenty-five (25) pounds. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The noise level in the office is moderately quiet. Employee may also work in other environments such as schools, private homes, etc. These work environments may range from quiet to loud.

SELECTION GUIDELINES

Formal application, rating of education and experience, interview, and reference check as well as job related tests may be required. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

FLSA STATUS: FLSA NON-EXEMPT (ELIGIBLE FOR OVERTIME) DESIGNATION: CAREER SERVICE PAY GRADE: PS/GR35 UNION STATUS: PSSU

Updated October 2026