This professional social service position is assigned to a Joinder Assessment Services Unit B or C, which is the entry point for child welfare services in Lycoming County. Primary responsibilities include the assessment of general requests/referrals for services and may include the assessment of reports of serious abuse and/or neglect. Extensive telephone, office and community contacts with consumers are required to develop recommendations for appropriate Joinder and/or community-based services. Activities include safety assurance, intake, placement, short-term assessment, information and referral, case management and disposition recommendations. This position is under the supervision of a Joinder Assessment Unit Supervisor.

Essential Functions:

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

· Receive, process and assess all referrals and requests for services according to established procedures.

· Provide information and referral to other community and Agency resources when indicated, with follow-up to assure appropriateness of referral.

· Conduct short term comprehensive family assessments (maximum of 60 days) on all assigned cases to identify needs and formulate preliminary recommendations through a combination of face-to-face interviews, in-home contacts, and collateral contacts.

· Assure a minimum of 1 30 day face to face in-home contact by the assigned caseworker on all children open for services; additional contacts to occur as required by case specific needs. Notify supervisory staff if contact cannot occur. Contacts must evaluate safety, permanency and well being of the child. Also, there must a monthly contact, preferably in the home, with the parent or caregiver. Each child living in the home should be seen regularly, with safety being assessed.

· 30 day face to face contact in the child’s primary residence must be made by assigned caseworker, unless approved by supervisory staff.

· Assess initial and ongoing risk of harm and assure safety of all children within an assigned family.

· Initiate procedures to take protective custody when safety cannot be assured and perform court related functions as required.

· Complete relevant paperwork, develop Treatment/Service Plans, secure authorizations and liability forms prior to final case disposition.

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

· Maintain appropriate case records documenting contacts, nature of services provided and outcomes to be achieved through data entry into the applicable State and/or Joinder computer systems.

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

· Actively engage clients assisting them in developing and using their strengths and family resources to more adequately meet their health, social, emotional and economic needs.

· Maintain mandated client confidentiality.

· Participate in staff meetings, related Agency functions and attend required trainings to maintain appropriate certification.

· Perform other related duties as required.

· Communicate effectively in person or by using telecommunications equipment.

· Input and gather data on a computer.

· Proofread documents accurately.

· Understand oral and written information

· 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.

· Enter, exit and move about multiple residential and office settings

· Travel to client’s homes/residences in order to serve and meet their needs in their own environments as appropriate.

· Operate standard office machines

This is a Civil Service position and is subject to Civil Service Rules.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $47,548.80 per year

Benefits:

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

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Monday to Friday

Experience:

• Social work: 1 year (Preferred)

Work Location: In person