What are the responsibilities and job description for the Youth Service Worker position at State of West Virginia?
General Description
Youth Service Workers manage and assess cases involving family preservation when youth are exhibiting mental, emotional, or behavioral concerns that place themselves and others at risk. This position is critical to the health and well-being of West Virginia's youth population. Upon completion of an in-house training program, these positions perform complex social casework that crosses programmatic lines into child protective services, foster care, and legal guardianship. Due to the needs of this position, travel is required and may include being on-call during non-traditional hours. Ongoing training is provided, as is access to support services for the worker. This position is eligible for overtime pay.
Applicants must possess a valid WV driver’s license, and reliable transportation. Applicants also must have strong communication skills, both oral and written, and maintain detailed case records and extensive documentation. Overtime hours and frequent travel may be required. Successful completion of a background check is required for employment.
The department has authorized a $5,000 hiring bonus for the positions of Child Protective Service Workers and Youth Service Workers. This requires a one-year employment commitment in Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan counties. Other counties identified are eligible for a $2,500 hiring bonus for the positions of CPS Worker and Youth Service Workers, which also requires a one-year employment commitment. Those counties are Boone, Braxton, Calhoun, Clay, Gilmer, Grant, Greenbrier, Hancock, Harrison, Kanawha, Marion, Mineral, Monongalia, Monroe, Pleasants, Pocahontas, Preston, Randolph, Ritchie, Roane, Taylor, or Webster counties.
OUR EEOP UTILIZATION REPORT MAY BE FOUND AT:
https://dhhr.wv.gov/vip/Pages/default.aspx
#DoHSJobs
Example of Duties and Responsibilities
- Prepare social assessments.
- Interact with a variety of professionals in the area of social work, mental health, developmental disabilities, education, juvenile delinquency, and counseling to assess client’s needs to provide appropriate services.
- Develop client case plans to accomplish habilitation and rehabilitation of the client and to provide social services to assist in attaining social, educational and vocational goals.
- Work within the court system for juvenile delinquency and status offense by preparing social assessments.
- Locate services for clients, which may include out-of-home care, such as foster care, emergency shelter, residential mental health treatment or transitional living.
- Counsel clients and families in achieving the goals of case plans.
- Counsel clients to correct delinquent and socially unacceptable behavior; prepare case plans, monitor the progress of clients, including those under the court’s supervision.
- Speak before educational and community organizations and groups regarding services available and develop community resources.
- Write reports on case findings and summaries of client social and financial circumstances.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
Licensure/Certifications:
None.
Experience:
None.
Special Requirements:
Valid driver’s license. Accessibility to a phone.
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