Caseworker I Lycoming County CYS

Would you like a rewarding career in the local government that can make a positive difference in the lives of others? If you have a passion for helping others, then the Lycoming Children and Youth Services (CYS) Program is interested in talking to you!

This entry level professional social service position is located in the Ongoing Services Unit of Lycoming Children and Youth Services. The primary responsibility of this position is to provide the full array of child welfare case management services to children and their families dealing with issues of child abuse and neglect. Services will be provided for children residing in their home, as well as to children placed outside their natural home. The goal of Ongoing Services is to assist parents/ caregivers to develop and maintain the skills and abilities to safely care for and parent their children. When a child has been placed outside the home, the goal is to achieve timely permanency through reunification, or while utilizing concurrent planning initiatives, to achieve permanency through, Adoption, Permanent Legal Custodianship, Placement with a fit and willing relative, or in Another Permanent Planned Living Arrangement.

The extent of caseworker involvement and frequency of contact with the child, family, courts and other stakeholders, will be determined by risk, need, and level of service being provided. At times, this will require flexibility in working after hours or weekends to provide the necessary crisis intervention and support to families and their children. This position will be supervised by the Ongoing Services Supervisor.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

An individual must be able to successfully perform the essential functions of this position with or without a reasonable accommodation.

· Provide ongoing comprehensive high quality casework services for families accepted for services either voluntarily or by court order as a result of child abuse or neglect, or risk factors that require Agency involvement.

· Continually assess and assure the safety of all children within the family at every contact and document status in casenotes. Safety worksheets and safety plans will be completed and maintained according to Agency policy and procedure.

· Conduct a minimum of one thirty calendar day face to face contact with all children open for services in their place of residence with additional contacts to occur as needed.

· Conduct a minimum of one thirty calendar day home visit with the family of origin who are open for services in their place of residence. With additional contacts to occur as needed to support the family in reaching objectives and goals.

· Complete all casenote entries into JCIS, including safety assessments in a clear, concise manner within 5 work days.

· When needed, begin resource home evaluations by assessing the family's capabilities, strengths, and appropriateness of becoming a formal kinship resource home should the need arise.

· Ensure that all members participate in the development, implementation and review of the FSP/CPP as part of the permanency and concurrent planning process.

· Develop and review Family Service Plans and Child Permanency Plans, utilizing family engagement and family teaming practices when agreed upon by the family. This will include all family members both custodial and non-custodial parents; all children as appropriate, other relatives, and any identified collateral service providers.

· Document all efforts of attempts to locate and engage non-custodial parents.

· For cases where children remain in the home, reviews of FSP must occur minimally every six months. This is in accordance with Agency policies to evaluate the need for continued services or the appropriateness of case closure. For children in placement FSP/CPP reviews will occur every three months with court permanency reviews. Family engagement and family teaming practices when agreed upon by the family should be utilized with each review.

· Ensure that family finding efforts are ongoing and in accordance to regulations.

· Promote and encourage the legal family's participation in visits, permanency planning, and other contacts with the child to preserve the child's relationship and attachment to the family.

· Assess, monitor and support the educational development of all case children while working closely with parents and the local educational systems.

· Provide behaviorally specific support and problem-solving for resource and biological families. Submit referrals for community supportive programs when appropriate.

· Work in coordination with Assessment services regarding any Child Protective Services allegations that are reported with an assigned accepted for services case.

· Address any General Protective Services allegations that occur while the case is accepted for services.

· Complete all required paperwork prior to the identified court distribution date. Effectively prepare for and provide testimony in court.

· Assist and encourage clients in developing and utilizing their own potential for more adequately meeting their social, health, emotional and economic needs.

· Make appropriate referrals, with follow-up, to other public and private social service agencies and community resources. Maintain regular contact with all collateral service providers and supports and document in casenotes.

· Ensure Agency clients have coordinated access to services and provide transportation to Agency clients when appropriate.

· Participate in doctor/dental appointments when appropriate.

· Participate in monthly case conference with supervisory staff to review contacts, case concerns, case progress, safety status and need for continued services.

· Actively participate in staff meetings, in-service training, and related Agency functions.

· Prepare and maintain required records and reports in accordance with DPW regulations and Agency policies and procedures, including any State reporting requirements.

· Maintain working knowledge of all policies, procedures and regulations pertaining to the provision of child welfare services, including adoption, PAE, and SWAN services.

· Maintain communication with any SWAN providers regarding preparation of child profiles or any other appropriate SWAN services.

· Maintain shared Outlook calendar for all appointments, meetings, and engagements.

· Provide office coverage when assigned to assure client’s needs are met.

· Maintain mandated client confidentiality.

· Perform related duties as needed.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS (Adoption):

· Assists with the written documentation in the case record that conveys the rationale for the selection process in matching a child with an adoptive family or for screening out the selection.

· Contact affiliates to match children with families and maintain monthly contact with the affiliate providing placement services to a child to assess the child’s safety and progress toward permanency.

· Effectively and efficiently perform adoption related functions such as interview and coordinate child visits with prospective adoptive families.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES:

The following physical activities are necessary to perform one or more of the essential functions of this position.

· Communicate effectively in person, by phone, text, letter or email.

· Input and gather data on a computer.

· Move and relocate work related items and, if applicable, assist clients with personal items without assistance.

· Move and/or relocate child(ren) without assistance, if applicable.

· Provide transportation to clients when appropriate.

· Travel to and from, enter, exit and move about multiple residential and office settings

· Operate standard office machines

This is a Civil Service Position subject to Civil Service Rules

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $42,099.20 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Evening shift
• Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person

Salary : $42,099 - $42,099