Youth Service Worker

General Description:

This position will 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. 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. May perform other duties as assigned.

Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

• 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.

Applicants must possess a valid WV driver’s license, and reliable transportation.

Successful completion of a background check is required for employment.

**This position is eligible for a $2,500 incentive that may be provided to any candidate upon hire Boone, Braxton, Calhoun, Clay, Gilmer, Grant, Greenbrier, Hancock, Harrison, Kanawha, Marion, Mineral, Monongalia, Monroe, Pleasants, Pocahontas, Preston, Randolph, Ritchie, Roane, Taylor, and Webster counties.**

Minimum Qualifications:

Training: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

Licensure/Certifications: None

Experience: None

Special Requirement: Valid driver’s license. Accessibility to a phone.

Note: At the appointing agency’s discretion, competitive applicants may receive probationary appointment pending official verification of the qualifying training, examination or certification. Applicants may be appointed for a period not to exceed sixty (60) days from date of hire pending verification of licensure. Applicants must agree in writing to verify licensure within sixty (60) days and pass the competency exam after pre-service training or be dismissed. Employees working under this restriction shall not perform any social work duties until the license is verified.

Benefits Include:

• Paid vacation, holidays, and sick/family sick leave
• Health, dental, vision, retiree health, basic life, and supplemental life insurance
• Employee wellness programs
• Retirement
• Tuition reimbursement

The West Virginia Department of Human Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $44,850.00 - $74,750.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Day range:

• Monday to Friday

Shift:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift

Supplemental schedule:

• On call
• Overtime

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Marlinton, WV: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person