County Caseworker 3 - CYF

POSITION SUMMARY

This employee investigates difficult and complex reports of suspected neglect, child abuse, and student abuse that come into York County’s Children, Youth, and Families (CYF). CYF is a highly visible Agency whose primary responsibility is to protect children who have suffered maltreatment, who are at risk for maltreatment, or who are under the care and placement responsibility of the County because it is unsafe for them to remain with their caregivers. CYF employees at all levels are expected to be committed to the mission, vision, and values of CYF which includes the safety, permanency, and well-being of children. This employee arranges for and monitors in-home and out-of-home care provided to selected clients of CYF. This employee may also be responsible for mentoring casework staff, performing as a lead worker for other social service staff, and supervising intern staff.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

• A 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 services agency; or two years of experience as a County Caseworker 2; 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.
• Knowledge of current social case management principles, techniques, and methods.
• Knowledge of current social, economic, and health problems and resources and the recognition of their impact on the growth and development of people.
• Knowledge of individual and group development and behavior and ways of working effectively with adults and children who have social, economic, emotional, or health problems
• Knowledge of the basic principles and methods of program interpretation and community organization.
• Knowledge of social welfare policy and law as they relate to agency function and purpose and societal structures.
• Ability to work effectively with people and aid them to grow in the constructive use of their potential in adjusting to their specific problems.
• Ability to understand and accept the needs and rights of others and to work with adults and children who are physically challenged, emotionally troubled, or economically disadvantaged.
• Ability to conduct individual and family interviews and to use them to identify individual and family problems
• Ability to provide advice, technical assistance, and training to agency staff regarding the requirements, structures, and operations of the court and legal systems
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, their families, other staff, outside agencies and institutions, and the general public
• 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.
• Ability to adequately express ideas orally and in writing.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Investigates difficult and complex reports of Suspected Neglect, Child Abuse, and Student Abuse.
• Assure the safety and risk of each child is assessed in a timely, thorough manner, in accordance with PA Dept of Human Services (DHS) Code and DHS Bulletins.
• Conduct in-depth interviews with the reporting party, child, parents, baby sitters, relatives, alleged perpetrator(s), and other persons as necessary.
• Investigate at various venues including home, jail, schools, and joint investigations with police.
• Determines the validity of concerns and the nature, extent, and cause of verified abuse or neglect.
• Conducts physical examination of injuries, takes pictures, and determines the level of severity.
• Inspects home environments to determine if reports of neglect have merit. Such conditions may include lack of food, unsanitary conditions, young children home alone, etc.
• Assesses the need for out-of-home placement and counsels adults and children regarding the need for placement and separation of family members.
• Provides immediate child protective services to those children remaining in the home.
• Completes investigations within regulatory guidelines.
• Refer clients to various community resources.
• Assist in completion of service referrals for clients
• Researches, generates, and maintains records and documentation.
• Inputs data into automated tracking and reporting systems.
• Maintains case records, required forms, and reports in prescribed Agency format.
• Meet with assigned children/families to monitor progress towards goals and complete assessment.
• Arranges and supervises visits between parent(s) and child(ren) in placement as per court order and foster care regulations. Arranges transportation for visits when necessary.
• Attends all scheduled court hearings associated with assigned cases and is prepared to appropriately present the case.
• Participates in various meetings and coordinates services for the child and family with community providers, service providers, schools, and medical professionals.
• Document case interactions by employing basic writing techniques to organize and structure information and observations in an objective, clear, concise, and complete manner.
• Develop appropriate case paperwork at designated intervals.
• Develops and implements appropriate initial Family Service Plans (FSP) when applicable. FSPs are to be goal directed, have specific behavioral objectives, be measurable, and be time limited.
• Ensure application of best practices in social service delivery through the implementation of Family Group Decision Making and Family Finding and other initiatives that improve the quality of service delivered to families, through direct supervision of agency staff.
• Complete paperwork and processes to ensure timely permanency for children.
• Explore career/educational opportunities for youth.
• Coordinate direct independent living/aftercare services for youth.
• Coordinate Independent Living Case Planning for youth 14 and older.
• Explore Life Skills education for youth.
• The incumbent may be required to assist with work in other Units for intermittent periods in exigent circumstances such as strikes, adverse weather conditions, emergencies, short-staff, etc.
• Attend a minimum of 20 training hours per year.
• Mentors staff by providing support and guidance when needed.
• Provide consultation and education services to the community; make presentations to the community related to services provided by the children and youth, mental health/Intellectual Disability, or human services agencies, or generalized social welfare issues.
• May function as a lead worker for other professional social service staff.
• May supervise student interns, paraprofessional and/or clerical staff.
• Prepare studies, reports, legal documents, and correspondence.
• Perform related work as required.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $22.45 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Referral program
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Evenings as needed

Work Location: In person

Salary : $22