Caseworker

The work involves performing social case work in connection with such social services as child and family welfare and protective services for adults; or health department clinical and home-based programs. The incumbent, after investigation, patient interviews and case assessment, formulates and carries out plans to meet the individual problems of cases assigned, and may act as case manager for a block of cases. Work is performed under the direct supervision of a higher-ranking administrative or supervisory employee. Does related work as required.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES:

If assigned to Social Services: Interviews applicants and referrals for child care, foster care, adoption, adult services, preventive services, in-home health care, nursing home or other services of the department and makes field investigations to verify intake information and to ascertain needs; Prepares case assessments for review by supervisor, including recommendations as to services required to attain defined goals; Assesses risk/safety of children; Recommends referrals to other agencies; Makes plans for services and assistance to meet individual problems of the cases assigned and after approval, puts plans into effect; Makes collateral contacts with other interested agencies and/or individuals to gather information coordinate services and guard against duplication of services; Reviews assigned cases periodically to determine changes affecting client circumstances and need for service, including follow-up field investigations; Gives advice and counsel to applicants and clients to assist in solving personal, family, domestic and financial problems; Determines categorical eligibility to assure appropriate Federal reimbursement for services provided; Utilizes information supplied by supportive services such as Resource Division and Home Economist’s Office, as applied to specific units of assigned caseload; Dictates case records, composes letters and reports as required; Maintains case records on computer system; Locates, studies and reports on family or foster homes and adoptive homes; Investigates and makes recommendations on boarding homes regarding certification; Investigates through inspection and interviews, as to whether child’s needs can best be met in natural home, foster home or institution; Plans with parents and relatives for care of children and re-establishment of the home, and promotes permanency planning for children, including adoption services; Attends in-service training programs and meetings; Investigates, through assessment and interviews as to whether client’s needs can best be met in client’s home or institution; Plans with client and client’s relatives for care of client and promotes optimum support from relatives and other interested parties; Assists in locating appropriate placement of clients deemed in need of protective environment; Makes court appearance as required; Inputs and retrieves information on computer systems relevant program assignment; Convenes and/or participates in case conferences; Manages client financial affairs in some adult service cases; Transports children; Prepares Family Court reports and related court work; May review cases for falsification and investigates to determine if there is overpayment of funds; May conduct field investigations as required; May assist in establishing accounts and arrangement of repayment schedules.

If assigned to Health Department: Interviews patients in clinic, home or office setting to gain information about patient psycho-social needs which may interfere with health care utilization, may make field investigations to verify information or complete case assessment; Prepares case assessments based on intake information and formulates a plan of action based on assessed needs; Executes plan in a timely manner and reviews cases to assure follow-up of assessed problems; re-assesses cases based on changing needs; Makes referrals to appropriate agencies for needed services; coordinates and advocates for services to assure that patient needs are most appropriately me; Provides information, education, counseling and referral services to patients to assist in maximum utilization of health care and maintenance of optimum physical and mental health; Records case assessment, plan, and follow-up activity in patient records; Writes letters and reports as required; Provides consultative and educational services to program staff and ancillary agencies as pertinent to patient and programmatic social service needs; Maintains updated referral information and liaison relationships with other provider agencies, institutions, and community groups appropriate to program mission and purposes; Attends meetings and in-service training programs; participates in appropriate continuing education programs and service development/coordination groups in the community.

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Good knowledge of modern principles and practices of social case work; good knowledge of Federal, State and local laws and programs relating to public welfare and the care of children; skill in interviewing; ability to apply knowledge in performance of duties; ability to establish and maintain successful relationships with others; tact; empathy; initiative; capable of performing the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Possession of a Bachelor’s Degree*** (see Note 3) and one (1) year of social case work experience*^* (see Note 4).

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Eligibility for a New York State driver license at the time of application. Possession of the license and use of a private automobile required at time of appointment. Applicants for designated positions in the Department of Social Services that may have access to federal tax information to perform his/her job duties shall be subject to a suitability background check investigation, including FBI fingerprinting, local law enforcement check, and verification check of citizenship/residency. A criminal record does not necessarily disqualify applicants from employment, rather an individualized determination will be made. The cost of the background check will be assumed by the Department of Social Services.Applicants for designated positions in the Department of Social Services that may have regular and substantial unsupervised or unrestricted contact with children shall be subject to background checks according to the New York State Justice Center’s Staff Exclusion List (SEL) and New York State Office of Children and Family Services Statewide Central Register of Abuse and Maltreatment (SCR). Inquiries on current employees shall be made annually and prior to promotion but no more often than once in any six month period (N.Y. Social Services Law 424-A.) Candidates/applicants with conditional offers of employment may be required to submit the necessary fee(s) for background screening and inquiries shall be completed prior to employment hiring/start date. Refusal to sign the necessary clearance forms, submit the required associated fees and/or participate in the review process shall be cause for an automatic non-selection. In addition, inquiry responses are subject to evaluation and may result in disqualification pursuant to Section 50 of the New York State Civil Service Law.

NOTE 1: *Per resolution (see L-2023-339 Item #1.7) presented to State Civil Service Commission on January 17, 2024, action approved and filed with the Department of State on January 24, 2024, under the Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement (HELP) Program this title is temporarily re-assigned to NON-COMPETITIVE Classification.

NOTE 2: **Candidates may be appointed as Caseworker Trainee (Job Grade VIII) with only the Bachelor’s Degree qualification. Upon satisfactory completion of the one (1) year training term an appointee shall be entitled to advance permanent status as a Caseworker (Job Grade IX) without further examination.

NOTE 3: ***Your degree/credits must have been awarded by a college or university accredited by a regional, national, or specialized agency recognized as an accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education/U.S. Secretary of Education. If your degree was awarded by an educational institution outside the United States and its territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency. A list of acceptable companies who provide this service can be found on the Internet at http://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/degrees.cfm. You must pay the required evaluation fee.

NOTE 4: *^*Possession of a Master’s Degree in social work may be substituted for one year of the required experience above. NOTE 5: Verifiable part-time and/or volunteer experience will be pro-rated toward meeting full-time experience requirements.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $55,590.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Work Location: In person

Salary : $55,590