County Caseworker 2 (Local Government) - Lehigh County MH/ID

This is a highly responsible position in the combined Information & Referral and Crisis Intervention Unit. The Crisis Intervention Unit is licensed for telephone, walk-in, and mobile services through OMHSAS and is a designated 988 call center. Regulations for licensing of these services require a crisis worker to qualify as a mental health professional. Crisis workers who are not mental health professionals must be directly supervised by a mental health professional. Information & Referral duties include processing referrals to all DHS offices and providing information about DHS services and community resources.

Caseworkers obtain information from clients, members of their families, and others necessary for the identification of social, economic, emotional, health, or physical problems and for assisting clients in obtaining a wide variety of services on the basis of established policies, regulations, and statutes. Must work effectively with individuals, families, staff, agencies, and the public, accommodating diverse needs.

Responsibilities include:

· Provide immediate support and de-escalate crises using intervention techniques. Screen, prioritize, and manage all requests for mental health and DHS services received by phone, outreach, or walk-in referrals.

· Recognize symptoms of mental illness for clinical assessments, determine service needs, and problem-solve post-assessment.

· Assess potential dangers in crisis situations, employ de-escalation techniques, conduct outreach assessments, and provide support prior to involuntary treatment.

· Interpret and apply relevant laws and regulations. Understand Mental Health Procedures Act, including voluntary (Section 201) and involuntary (Section 302) procedures.

· Review all 302s and Act 77s for accuracy. Act as petitioner for 302/304 commitments if no alternative is available; attend mental health review hearings and assist petitioners when completing 302 documentation.

· Inform individuals of community resources, facilitate linkages, and assist with procedural intake requirements. Research and update community resource databases as necessary.

· Must have a valid driver's license. Responsible to accompany, transport and assist individuals in crisis using either a personal vehicle or county vehicle.

· Data entry and documentation on a regular basis.

· Meet with Assistant Director/Director to review cases and discuss procedures as needed. Attend staff meetings, MH/ID/D&A staff meetings, in-service training by DHS, and approved external training sessions.

· Other duties as assigned.

· Full-time employment

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

· Shifts may rotate.

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

· Six months of experience as a County Caseworker 1; or

· Successful completion of the County Social Casework Intern program; or

· A bachelor's degree with a social welfare major; or

· A bachelor's degree which includes or is supplemented by 12 college credits in sociology, social welfare, psychology, gerontology, criminal justice, or other related social sciences and one year of professional social casework experience in a public or private social service agency; or

· Any equivalent combination of experience and training which includes 12 college credits in sociology, social welfare, psychology, gerontology, criminal justice, or other related social sciences.

· Applicants will be considered to have met the educational requirements once they are within two months of graduating with a qualifying degree/credits.

· PA residency requirement is currently waived for this title.

· Hiring preference for this vacancy will be given to candidates who live within Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, and Schuylkill counties. If no eligible candidates who live within these counties apply for this position, candidates who reside in other counties may be considered.

· You must be able to perform essential job functions.

· You must pass a background investigation.

· This position falls under the provisions of the Child Protective Services Law.

o 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.