Salary: $32,967.20 Annually
Location : Wilkes-Barre, PA
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: 01694
Department: Children & Youth
Opening Date: 06/18/2024
Closing Date: 7/1/2024 11:59 PM Eastern
Description

The Social Service Aide 3 is utilized by a unit of caseworkers and a supervisor to provide a wide variety of services. The primary work of the employee in this position centers on implementing various services identified in a Family Service Plan developed uniquely for each family. The Aide 3 will be required to understand the overall goals and objectives with the families that are accepted for services.

The Social Service Aide 3 is responsible for providing direct personal services to children and families accepted for services with Luzerne County Children and Youth Services, a public-child welfare agency.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
The Social Service Aide 3 will work closely with and take direction from the unit supervisor regarding work assignments to assist families in attaining goals in their Family Service Plan. The Aide 3 will meet with the supervisor and caseworker together at least once a month to discuss safety issues and FSP compliance for families the Aide 3 is assisting.

• The Social Service Aide 3 needs to have a working knowledge of the physical, cultural, developmental, and social factors impacting on child abuse and neglect. The Aide 3 must possess the ability to identify safety issues and assist the caseworkers within the unit to provide appropriate community resource referrals.
• The Social Service Aide 3 will enhance his/her existing skills by participating in in-service training and other training that is relevant to the job functions. The worker in this position will complete a minimum of twenty hours of training per year.
• Families may be in need of assistance in functioning in any of the following areas:
• Household organization and maintenance
• Household budget
• Meal Preparation/Nutrition
• Obtaining medical care from professionals
• Assist in making appointments for services, notifying the client of such appointments, making arrangements for clients to get to appointments and following up to make sure clients attended the appointment(s) and if not what problems prevented attendance and assist in resolving these problems
• Parenting instruction & child development education. The Social Service Aide 3 is expected to provide information and instruction to parents regarding parenting skills and techniques. Work with families experiencing difficulties in supervision and discipline of children
• Transportation for families and children to medical visits, visitation and to other community services
  • Other Duties will include :
• Communicating with clients by means of telephone contact and through in-person visits with the children and families within their homes
• Gathering information from clients and conferring with caseworkers in developing the Family Service Plan
• Completion of various agency and DPW forms, birth certificate and social security applications, and transportation forms
• Monitoring & supervising visitation between parents and children at the office, at the parent's home, or where the caseworker has arranged for visits to take place. The Social Service Aide 3 will then discuss observations with the caseworker and Supervisor
• Documenting all contacts with clients, keep case notes, and make entries into the LCC&YS computer system
• Serving parents with court related paperwork and testifying in court as warranted
• Keeping a variety of statistical information, completed, monthly, quarterly and annually The Social Service Aide 3 is expected to:
• Participate in agency staffing
• Have a working knowledge of available community resources and link client(s) to services(s) that assist him/her to reach his/her goal(s)
• Provide information and instruction to clients regarding the availability of community services and the specific procedures to obtain the services, such as food, heat, medical assistance, etc.
• Relate and communicate with clients and agency staff in a professional, positive manner
• Have some knowledge of child development
• Be flexible in regard to unit assignment and/or provision of assistance to other units-this may be requested as the needs of the agency change
• Perform other duties as required

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of interviewing methods and techniques.
• Knowledge of community resources.
• Knowledge of normal and dysfunctional behaviors.
• Knowledge of federal, state and county rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of office practices and procedures.
• Ability to evaluate and analyze information obtained through interviews and general observation, reports, records, and other sources and to provide information to clients, families and social service and/or administrative staff.
• Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with clients, families, agency staff and other community agencies.
• Ability to implement developed training programs.
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to assign and review the work of paraprofessional and clerical staff.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

Minimum Qualifications
RECRUITMENT METHODS:
Applicants must meet one (or more) of the following method(s) to be considered for this vacancy:

• Seniority Promotion: Bidding employees within the designated seniority unit, when collective bargaining unit obligation(s) have been met then the following recruitment methods may be used:
• Promotion Without Examination
• Transfer
• Reassignment
• Voluntary Demotion
• Reinstatement
• Civil Service Lists

ELIGIBILITY: ALL CANDIDATE(S):
1.) Must meet the minimum experience and training (METS) required for the job. The METs for this position are:
One year as a County Social Services Aide 2; or Graduation from high school, or its equivalency, and three years of experience in public contact work in a human services agency which included one year of experience in interviewing and obtaining information; or An associate's degree in sociology, social welfare, psychology, gerontology, criminal justice, or other related social sciences and one year of experience in a human services agency; or Any equivalent combination of experience and training.
2.) Be a resident of Pennsylvania.
3.) State Civil Service Commission Approved Additional Special Requirements: None
4.) Must be eligible for selection in accordance with Civil Service rules.
5.) Be eligible for selection in accordance with merit system employment regulations
ELIGIBILITY - COMPETITIVE PROMOTION WITHOUT EXAMINATION ONLY:
CLASS RESTRICTIONS:
1.) Have held regular civil service status in the following classifications:

• County Social Service Aide 2

We will consider applications from employees who hold, or have held, regular civil service status in a lower-level class for which there is a logical, occupational, functional, or career development relationship with the posted position and/or there is a linkage between most of the required knowledge's, skills, and abilities with those of the posted position.
SELECTION CRITERIA:
1.) Meet the minimum experience and training required for the job.
2.) Meritorious Service - defined as:
The absence of any discipline above the level of written reprimand during the 12 months preceding the closing date on the posting,
The last due overall regular or probationary performance evaluation was higher than unsatisfactory. Seniority - a minimum of one year in the next lower class(es) by the closing date of this posting 07/01/2024.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
1.) Interested qualified applicants must submit all the requested materials as specified in the "How to Apply." Failure to comply with the above application requirements will eliminate you from consideration for this position.
2.) Additional information may be obtained by contacting:
Heather Mulero
Human Resources Analyst, OHS
272-808-2835
Heather.mulero@Luzernecounty.org
POSITION DETAILS:
Full time
Civil Service
Permanent
Union
Class Code: L0622
Hours: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM (75 hours bi-weekly)
Ray Rate: 30
HOW TO APPLY:
** YOU MUST HOLD CIVIL SERVICE STATUS IN ORDER TO APPLY FOR THIS POSTING **
All EXTERNAL CANDIDATES must apply and submit an application via:
https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/pabureau/jobs/4491350/county-social-services-aide-3-local-government-luzerne-county-cy?location(0)=luzerne county&sort=PositionTitle|Ascending&page=2&pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs
If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations for the interview due to a disability, please advise the interviewer of the accommodations you require well in advance of the scheduled date.
LUZERNE COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY & AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER.
I. Medical Insurance
The coverage begins for the employee the on the first of the month following the first full 30 days of full-time employment for employees and their eligible dependents. Cost to the employee to participate in the plan varies by the coverage selection and the number of dependents; and may be subject to collective bargaining agreement. The employee may also elect to opt out of the County's medical insurance if proof of coverage is provided. Under this arrangement, the employee is provided with an annual opt out payment.

II. Vision and Prescription
The coverage begins for the employee on the first of the month following the first full 30 days of full-time employment for employees and their eligible dependents. Contributions may vary, subject to collective bargaining agreement.

III. Dental Coverage
The coverage begins for the employee on the first of the month following the first full 30 days of full-time employment for employees and their eligible dependents. Contributions may vary, subject to collective bargaining agreement.

IV. Life Insurance
A $50,000 life insurance policy is afforded to full-time employees, unless specified differently in a collective bargaining agreement. It remains in effect as long as the employee is actively employed and terminates upon resignation or retirement.

V. Retirement
All full-time employees and part-time employees working more than 1,000 hours per year qualify for Luzerne County retirement benefits, in which employees must contribute 5% of their earnings, and may choose to add to an additional voluntary contribution, not to exceed an additional 10%.
01

Do you have or have you ever had regular Civil Service status as a County Social Service Aide 2?*** Note*** You must possess Regular Civil Service Status to apply to this posting. If you do not, you must apply via Civil Service at https//www.governmentjobs.com/careers/pabureau

• Yes
• No

Required Question