County Caseworker 1 (Local Government) - Luzerne County C&Y (Multiple Vacancies)

Social Service Case Management

Employees in this class participate in formal and informal county agency training programs which provide knowledge of the methods, procedures, rules and regulations necessary to perform social service and case management supportive services to children, youth, and families, people who are mentally disabled, people who are physically challenged, and others to assist them in attaining a more satisfactory social, economic, emotional, or physical adjustment. The work assigned is limited in scope and difficulty, and is performed under close supervision, but as knowledge and skills are acquired, more latitude in judgment and decision making is permitted. Work is performed under the close supervision of a professional social service or administrative supervisor and is reviewed through individual and group conferences, assignment of professional reading, attendance at training programs, and the reading of records and reports.

Examples of Work: Participates in formal and informal training programs which provide basic knowledge relative to agency purpose, services provided, client population characteristics, and applicable laws, methods, procedures, rules and regulations governing the operation of the agency.

• Learns about the network of available community resources by reviewing resource files, site visits, and working with and observing higher level caseworker staff.
• Receives instruction regarding the reason for and proper completion of applicable forms and paperwork.
• Performs a variety of entry level social services and case management duties designed to provide supportive services to children, youth and families, people who are mentally disabled, people who are physically challenged, and others.
• Assists clients and their families in developing and using their own potential for more adequately resolving their social, health, emotional and economic problems.
• Provides or assists in the provision of social services, such as placement of children and adults in foster or adoptive homes, day care centers, domiciliary care facilities, or institutions.
• Guides clients in home and budget management, housing, child care and parenting skills, employment, recreation and living arrangements.
• Schedules and conducts interviews and follow-up visits to provide service and counseling.
• Prepares and provides testimony in court under supervision.
• Makes referrals to other public and private social services and community agencies and resources to meet client needs; assists clients and their families in understanding and utilizing these resources.
• Attends and participates in case reviews and supervisory conferences and is exposed to a variety of learning experiences, including forms and on-the-job training programs, designed to develop professional and technical skills.
• Documents activities and services using designated agency methods and procedures, including social service summaries, correspondence and reports.
• Performs related work as required.

Adolescent Unit

• The Adolescent Unit provides services to adolescents and their families. Clientele are defined as abused, neglected adolescents who exhibit numerous adjustment difficulties such as: parent child conflict, truancy and school problems, abuse of drugs and alcohol, teenage pregnancy, psychological/emotional difficulties, learning disorders and delinquency problems. Youth are served within their own homes, foster care, community based facilities and residential facilities. The Supervisor of the Adolescent Unit works closely with contracted Specialized Adolescent Assessment Unit workers. SAAU provides assessment and refers families to community-based agencies in an effort to circumvent LCCYS involvement. When a family is in need of ongoing and/or court mandated services SAAU opens the case and an ongoing AU worker is assigned to the case.

Independent Living Unit

• The Independent Living Program is an educational life skill program that is mandated by the Department of Human Services. All foster children who have been "in care" after their 14th birthday are provided with a thorough comprehensive life skills education program. The program is offered either individually or in groups, and enhances life skills, prior to termination from agency services. The agency contracts 2 SIL workers to provide intensive case management with the adolescents in this group.

Concurrent Planning Unit

• The Concurrent Planning Unit consists of five Caseworkers and one Social Services Aide. This unit was developed as a response to the Adoption and Safe Families Act, in an effort to ensure that children placed in foster care placement achieve a permanent plan in a timely manner.
• The Child Welfare Standards of safety, permanence, timeliness, and well-being are woven through this unit's practice.
• It's main function, permanency planning, is achieved through the casework model. Each caseworker, along with the family, develops, monitors, and updates Family Service Plans which seek to aid the family in the return home of their children. Family visitation, court preparation, linkage to community services, family support, and ASFA related documentation comprise the duties of the Concurrent Planning Caseworker.
• As the name "Concurrent Planning" suggests, caseworkers in this unit are considering dual plans when working with families. If necessary, the goal of termination of parental rights and adoption is explored and considered when the grounds exist.
• As always, the best interest of children is always considered in the casework model, as are the standards of timeliness, safety, well-being, and permanence.

CPS Intake Unit

• The Child Protective Services (CPS) Intake Unit assesses all reports of sexual/physical abuse or neglect. Following Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public Welfare laws, regulations, and guidelines as well as Luzerne County procedures and policies, the CPS Intake department evaluates each child and family using a comprehensive risk and safety assessment methodology and case management techniques. The unit determines if the child is abused or neglected and takes appropriate measures to ensure safety. Services are provided within the home environment and sometimes through separation of the child(ren) from the family. The department assesses reports of abuse and/or neglect received through the Screening Unit or during the after hours crisis coverage. The unit evaluates the family's needs while ensuring the safety of the child(ren) and determine if the family should be served by Luzerne County Children and Youth Services and/or another community agency.
• Additional duties include assessing requests from the Juvenile Court to complete custody assessments, as well as providing short-term ongoing protective services. Court related issues of dependency; Protection From Abuse Orders are also part of the Intake Unit's job duties.
• Public information is provided to the community through speaking engagements and meetings with the community and workers such as medical staff, teachers, daycare workers, and foster parents.

GPS Unit

• The General Protective Services (GPS) unit provides treatment services to children and their families. The agency has GPS Intake, Ongoing and Protective Services units.
• The General Protective Caseworker provides casework services to children and families to obtain appropriate treatment services to meet the family's needs and to prevent further child neglect. The units work very closely with their families in order to keep families together or to reunite families as quickly as possible.
• Caseworkers utilize community resources, coordinate services and ensure that the children and family's needs are being met. They also work with families whose children are out-of-home placements, whether that be foster care, formal or informal kinship care. The goals of this unit is to ensure the safety of the children, to preserve families, to network family and community to equip families with the necessary knowledge to prevent future child abuse/neglect.

Intake Screeners

• This position is responsible for primary screening and telephone coverage to receive all new referrals to the agency regarding child abuse and neglect.
• This department receives all crisis sheets after clearing and determines appropriate distribution to CPS, GPS Intake, Hazleton, SAAU, and/or other community resources.
• The Intake Screeners determines the appropriateness of Children and Youth Services intervention and performs preliminary screening assessment on the child(ren) being referred. These workers refer families to community resources. They alert the Intake Supervisors of those referrals which may require an immediate response by the agency. Staff in this unit documents referral data on an agency intake assessment form as per agency procedures and completes accompanying computer data entry information. Intake Screeners provide a response to the referral source, including telephone, written and in-person contacts, when appropriate. The staff member will distribute the referral information to the appropriate unit.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of the basic principles of economics, sociology, psychology, and other social sciences.
• Knowledge of current social, economic, and health problems and their impact on the growth and development of people.
• Knowledge of human development and behavior including the individual, family, and group.
• Ability to understand and accept the needs and rights of others and to work with adults and children who are physically challenged, mentally disabled, emotionally troubled, and economically disadvantaged.
• Ability to learn, interpret, and