County Caseworker 2 (Local Government) - Lehigh County MH/ID

Salary

$53,959.00 Annually

Location

Lehigh County, PA

Job Type

Civil Service Permanent Full-Time

Job Number

CS-2026-51374-L0624

Department

Local Government

Division

HS Lehigh Co Mh/Id Unit

Opening Date

06/09/2026

Closing Date

6/22/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

Job Code

L0624

Position Number

80002538

Union

SEIU Local 668

Bargaining Unit

LG

Pay Group

LG

Bureau / Division Code

88213439

Bureau / Division

Lehigh County Mental Health-Crisis

Worksite Address

17 South 7th Street

City

Allentown, Pennsylvania

Zip Code

18101

Contact Name

Danielle Guarna

Contact Phone

View phone number on click.appcast.io

Contact Email

View email address on click.appcast.io

THE POSITION

As a County Caseworker 2 with Lehigh County MH/ID, you will play a meaningful role in helping residents manage challenging situations. You will work with a committed team that provides steady, thoughtful support to those in crisis. This position gives you an opportunity to learn, grow, and make a difference every day. Your work will help guide individuals toward hope, safety, and needed resources.

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

This position supports individuals who are facing mental health emergencies and need guidance connecting with services. The role also involves providing information, referrals, and crisis response in a fast paced setting. As a County Caseworker 2, you will perform the following duties:

• Client Support: Gather information from individuals and families to identify needs and connect them with appropriate services
• Crisis Response: Provide immediate support in urgent situations and evaluate requests for mental health or DHS services across phone, walk in, and outreach settings
• Clinical Assessment: Recognize symptoms of mental illness to determine service needs and help problem solve after assessments
• Safety and Outreach: Assess risks in crisis situations, use de escalation techniques, and conduct outreach assessments when needed
• Legal Procedures: Apply knowledge of the Mental Health Procedures Act and assist with documentation, petitioning, and review hearings

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full time employment
• Work hours are 8:00 am through 4:00 pm, Monday-Friday, with a 30 minute lunch.
• May include occasional rotating shifts
• Telework: You will not have the option to telework in this position.
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE, TRAINING & ELIGIBILITY

QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• Six months of experience as a County Caseworker 1; or
• Successful completion of the County Social Casework Intern program; or
• A bachelor's degree with a social welfare major; or
• A bachelor's degree which includes or is supplemented by 12 college credits in sociology, social welfare, psychology, gerontology, criminal justice, or other related social sciences and one year of professional social casework experience in a public or private social service agency; 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.
• Applicants will be considered to have met the educational requirements once they are within two months of graduating with a qualifying degree/credits.

Other Requirements:

• PA residency requirement is currently waived for this title.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

Legal Requirements:

• You must pass a background investigation.
• This position falls under the provisions of the Child Protective Services Law.
  • Under the Law, a conditional offer of employment will require submission and approval of satisfactory criminal history reports including, but not limited to, PA State Police clearance, PA Child Abuse history clearance, and FBI Fingerprint clearance.

How to Apply:

• Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
• If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
• Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.
• Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.

Veterans:

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. *7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to and click on Veterans.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS):

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.


The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.
EXAMINATION INFORMATION

• Completing the application, including all supplemental questions, serves as your exam for this position. No additional exam is required at a test center (also referred to as a written exam).
• Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions.
• Your score is valid for this specific posting only.
• You must provide complete and accurate information or:
  • your score may be lower than deserved.
  • you may be disqualified.
• You may only apply/test once for this posting.
• Your results will be provided via email.