Caseworker

Definition of Class

• In this professional social services work in a County Children & Youth, Mental Health/Intellectual Disabilities or other Human Services Agency, provides a full range of social and case management services to children, youth, and families who are mentally disabled, physically challenged and otherwise needing aid in attaining a more satisfactory living arrangement. Should employ casework skills in obtaining essential information, counseling clients/families and helping them utilize all available resources. Uses problem solving techniques, provides counseling to maximize service delivery and achieve treatment plan goals while monitoring client behavior. They may also supervise clerical and/or paraprofessional staff.

Nature of Work

• Obtains information from clients/families and others for the identification of problems and for assisting them in obtaining a wide variety of services based on established regulations and policies. Provides casework and counseling services to clients/families and protective and supportive services for abused and neglected children and adults, participates in team meetings to develop service plans and continually assesses the adequacy of client service plans and revises them to achieve goals and objectives.
• Should work collaboratively with social agencies, hospitals, courts and other community resources and teach clients/families home and budget management, child/adult care and assist with housing, employment and living arrangements. They may serve as a lead worker and/or supervise professional and/or clerical staff.
• The primary responsibility of this position is to provide a combination of case management services, casework interventions and social work strategies in the provision of direct services, collaborative interventions and supportive services to children and families that have been accepted for service due to child abuse or neglect.
• 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 current social case management principles, techniques and methods.
• Knowledge of current social, economic and health problems and resources and individual group development and behavior and ways of working effectively with adults/children who have social, economic and health problems.
• Knowledge of basic principles and methods of program interpretation and community organization.
• Knowledge of social welfare policy and law as how they relate to agency function and purpose.
• Ability to work effectively with people and to aid in their growth of potential in adjusting to their specific problems.
• Ability to plan and organize work, prepare adequate records and reports, set priorities, and maintain a caseload in an effective and timely manner.
• Ability to plan, organize and direct the work of others.
• Ability to interpret and apply relevant laws, regulations and policies governing agency services.

Minimum Requirements

• Minimum of 6 months Experience as a County Caseworker I or Completion of the County Social Casework Intern Program or a Bachelor's Degree in a Social Welfare Major or a Bachelor's Degree with 12 Credits Sociology, Psychology, Social Welfare or other related Social Sciences and 1 year Social Casework Experience or Equivalent Training and Experience including 12 Credits in Sociology, Psychology, Social Welfare or other related Social Sciences of Professional Social Casework Experience or the Equivalent Combination of Experience and Training which includes 12 Credits in Sociology, Psychology, Social Welfare or other related Social Services

Supervision Received

• Supervision provided by a Casework Supervisor during regular weekly meetings, peer group and as needed.

Conditions Of Employment

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