Impactful Social Services Case Manager

Lancaster County; Lancaster (Lancaster County); On-site; USD 49,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Lancaster County seeks a Caseworker to provide psychosocial support to clients through the Public Defender’s Office during criminal representation. You will work with Assistant Public Defenders to assess needs across mental health, housing, and education while identifying sentencing alternatives and preparing relevant reports.

You will gather records, connect clients to services, assist in disposition planning, and collaborate with county agencies. Travel to county facilities may be required.

Qualifications

• Two years of experience as a Caseworker for Lancaster County or comparable agency.
• Bachelor’s degree in sociology, social welfare, psychology, gerontology, criminal justice or other related social sciences and three years of professional social casework experience in a public or private social service agency.
• Any equivalent combination of education, experience and training which includes 12 college credits in sociology, social welfare, psychology, gerontology, criminal justice and/or other related social sciences that provides the required knowledge, skills and ability to perform this job.

Responsibilities

• Provide clients with psychosocial support services on behalf of staff attorneys of the Public Defender’s Office during the course of legal representation of criminal matters.
• Assess client psychosocial needs at all phases of legal representation, including mental health, substance abuse, employment, education and housing.
• Identify, assess and recommend sentencing alternatives to incarceration and prepare written reports identifying client needs and recommended courses of action.
• Gather treatment records from clients and providers to assist and prepare competency/criminal responsibility determinations by the Court.
• Connect clients to social service and community-based programs and testify in court about said needs and programs, if necessary.
• Aid attorneys in formulating and implementing disposition and sentencing plans to reduce incarceration and costs.
• Assists in preparation of mitigation investigation for serious cases, including capital homicide.

Skills

Casework experience

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Confidentiality

Independent work

Analytical thinking

Collaboration

Organizational skills

Bilingual English/Spanish

Computer literacy

Education

Bachelor’s degree in sociology, social welfare, psychology, gerontology, criminal justice or related social sciences

Three years of professional social casework experience

12 college credits in related social sciences

Job description

Lancaster County seeks a Caseworker to provide psychosocial support to clients through the Public Defender’s Office during criminal representation. You will work with Assistant Public Defenders to assess needs across mental health, housing, and education while identifying sentencing alternatives and preparing relevant reports.

You will gather records, connect clients to services, assist in disposition planning, and collaborate with county agencies. Travel to county facilities may be required.