Social Worker 1 - Torrance State Hospital

Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania; Torrance, Derry Township (CA, Dauphin County); On-site; USD 53,000 - 81,000; Full time

Job summary

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Department of Human Services at Torrance State Hospital is seeking a Social Worker 1. The role guides patients through care steps, conducts assessments, and supports treatment planning to strengthen communications across teams and enable progress toward recovery and community integration.

Responsibilities include interviewing patients and families, evaluating psychosocial needs, counseling, developing care plans, maintaining records, and coordinating discharge

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s or 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.
• You must meet the PA residency requirement.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.
• A conditional offer of employment will require a medical examination and a drug screening.
• This position falls under the Older Adult Protective Services Act (OAPSA).
• Under the Act, submission and approval of satisfactory criminal history reports, including PA State Police and FBI clearance, is required.

Responsibilities

• Conduct Interviews: Meet with patients, family members, legal guardians, and agencies to gather and update social and personal history
• Assess Needs: Evaluate psychosocial strengths, challenges, and service needs to support treatment planning
• Provide Counseling: Use various treatment approaches to guide individuals and families through personal and social concerns
• Develop Plans: Participate in creating care plans, establish goals, and help ensure needed services and benefits are obtained
• Maintain Records: Document assessments, progress, contacts, and case activity in accordance with policies
• Support Discharge: Coordinate discharge planning, complete summaries, and assist with transitions to community services

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in social work or social welfare

Job description

Salary

$53,008.00 - $80,646.00 Annually

Location

Westmoreland County, PA

Job Type

Civil Service Permanent Full-Time

Job Number

CS-2026-61776-40060

Department

Department of Human Services

Division

HS Torrance St Hosp

Opening Date

11/03/2026

Closing Date

11/17/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

Job Code

40060

Position Number

Multiple positions may be filled from this posting.

Union

SEIU Local 668

Bargaining Unit

F4

Pay Group

ST06

Bureau / Division Code

00210973

Bureau / Division

Torrance State Hospital

Worksite Address

121 Longview Drive

City

Torrance, Pennsylvania

Zip Code

15779

Contact Name

Sandra Schleicher

Contact Email

[e-mail]

THE POSITION

Start a rewarding career as a Social Worker 1 with the Department of Human Services (DHS) at Torrance State Hospital. In this role, you guide patients through important steps in their care by offering support, assessments, and steady encouragement. Your work strengthens treatment planning, improves communication across teams, and helps individuals move forward with purpose. Bring your dedication to a profession that changes lives, restores confidence, and supports hope every day.

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

This position provides social work services for adult patients by conducting assessments, supporting treatment planning, and helping individuals access needed services. It contributes to a coordinated care environment through direct support, documentation, and collaboration with treatment teams. As a Social Worker 1, you will perform the following duties:

• Conduct Interviews: Meet with patients, family members, legal guardians, and agencies to gather and update social and personal history


• Assess Needs: Evaluate psychosocial strengths, challenges, and service needs to support treatment planning


• Provide Counseling: Use various treatment approaches to guide individuals and families through personal and social concerns


• Develop Plans: Participate in creating care plans, establish goals, and help ensure needed services and benefits are obtained


• Maintain Records: Document assessments, progress, contacts, and case activity in accordance with policies and guidelines


• Support Discharge: Coordinate discharge planning, complete summaries, and assist with transitions to community services

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


• Work hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday - Friday, with a 30-minute lunch.


• Telework: You will not have the option to telework in this position.


• Salary: In some cases, the starting salary may be non-negotiable.


• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE, TRAINING & ELIGIBILITY

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• A bachelor's or 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:

• A conditional offer of employment will require a medical examination and a drug screening.


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

EXAMINATION INFORMATION

• 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.