Early Reach Coordinator (Social Worker 2)

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; Fairview Township (York County); Hybrid; USD 54,000 - 67,000; Full time

Job summary

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Department of Labor and Industry seeks an Early Reach Coordinator to assist students with disabilities in planning for meaningful careers. You will partner with schools, families and community partners to support transitions and provide guidance, coordination and resource navigation.

This full-time role in Adams and Lancaster Counties offers telework opportunities after training, a 37.5-hour week, and duties including recordkeeping in the Commonwealth Workforce

Qualifications

• Two years of experience as Social Worker 1 or Forensic Social Worker 1 (Commonwealth title) or equivalent.
• Two years of experience as Social Worker 1 or a social work bachelor’s degree.
• Two years of professional experience providing direct social work services and a bachelor’s degree in social work or social welfare.
• Master's degree in social work or social welfare.
• Applicants may be within 3 months of graduating with a qualifying degree.

Responsibilities

• Provide student counseling to support goal-driven decisions.
• Coordinate services by linking students with community and educational resources.
• Explain available vocational rehabilitation services to students and families.
• Collaborate with school and agency staff to strengthen transition planning.
• Assist students in gathering information and materials for vocational rehabilitation applications.
• Enter and maintain detailed student information in the Commonwealth Workforce Development System.

Education

Bachelor's degree in social work or social welfare

Master's degree in social work or social welfare

Two years direct public/private social work services

Three months to graduate by time of hire

Job description

As an Early Reach Coordinator with the Department of Labor and Industry, you help students discover their strengths and plan for meaningful careers. Your efforts inspire young people with disabilities to imagine new possibilities and take their next steps with confidence. You work closely with schools and families to support smooth transitions. This position lets you make a direct and lasting impact.

This position supports students with disabilities as they prepare for the transition from school to employment and needed services. The work involves counseling, coordination, outreach, and collaboration with schools, families, and community partners. As a Early Reach Coordinator, you will perform the following duties:

• Student Counseling: Provide guidance that encourages strong decision making about future goals
• Service Coordination: Connect students with needed community and educational resources
• Information Sharing: Explain available vocational rehabilitation services to students and families
• Collaboration Support: Work with school and agency staff to strengthen transition planning
• Application Assistance: Help students gather information and prepare materials for vocational rehabilitation applications
• Record Management: Enter and maintain detailed student information in the Commonwealth Workforce Development System

Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the Position Description.

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment, 37.5 hours per week, Monday - Friday.
• Work hours are typically 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM with a 30-minute lunch but may be negotiable within a 7.5 hour work day. The position is eligible for AWS (alternate work schedule).
• This position will serve Adams and Lancaster Counties
• Telework: You may have the opportunity to work from home (telework) part-time upon successful completion of the training period. In order to telework, you must have a securely configured high-speed internet connection and work from an approved location inside Pennsylvania. If you are unable to telework, you will have the option to report to the headquarters office in York or an approved office in the caseload territory. The ability to telework is subject to change at any time. Additional details may be provided during the interview.
• Salary: Selected candidates who are new to employment with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will begin employment at the starting annual salary of $60,538 (before taxes).
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• Two years of experience as a Social Worker 1 or Forensic Social Worker 1 (Commonwealth title) (must have been employed in a commonwealth social worker job title on September 8, 2008, with continuous commonwealth employment) (Commonwealth job title or equivalent Federal Government job title, as determined by the Office of Administration); or
• Two years of experience as a Social Worker 1 or a Forensic Social Worker 1 and a bachelor’s degree in social work or social welfare; or
• Two years of professional experience providing direct public or private social work services, and a bachelor’s degree in social work or social welfare; or
• A master's degree in social work or social welfare.
• Applicants will be considered to have met the educational requirements once they are within 3 months of graduating with a qualifying degree.

Other Requirements

• You must meet the PA residency requirement. For more information on ways to meet PA residency requirements, follow the link and click on Residency Guidelines.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

Legal Requirements

• This position falls under the provisions of the Child Protective Services Law.
• Under the Law, a conditional offer of employment will require submission and approval of satisfactory criminal history reports including, but not limited to, PA State Police clearance, PA Child Abuse history clearance, and FBI Fingerprint clearance.

Veterans

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. §7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.pa.gov/agencies/employment/how-to-apply.html and click on Veterans.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS)

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.

• Completing the application, including all supplemental questions, serves as your exam for this position. No additional exam is required at a test center (also referred to as a written exam).
• Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions.
• Your score is valid for this specific posting only.
• You must provide complete and accurate information or:
  • your score may be lower than deserved.
  • you may be disqualified.
• You may only apply/test once for this posting.
• Your results will be provided via email.