Caseworker - Children & Youth

Do you desire to be a part of a supportive team that makes a difference in the lives of children and their families? Do you consider yourself to be someone who is patient, organized, has sound judgment and communicates well with all ages? If so, then this position at Wayne County Human Services Children and Youth Agency is for you!

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

Conduct interviews to obtain information from clients, their family members, and others to identify economic, emotional, health or physical barriers which impede children’s ability to improve and thrive. Provide information about agency programs, determine/verify eligibility for program services. Assist families in formulating plans to change behaviors, circumstances, etc. to effect a healthier and more productive lifestyle for their children. Make referrals as appropriate. Manage a caseload. Keep reports and records well organized, understandable and current.

Responsible, with supervision, to provide family services. Complete and process all procedures necessary to establish family eligibility for a wide variety of services on the basis of established policy. Responsible for the provision of counseling services to clients and members of their families to aid them in achieving a more satisfactory adjustment to specific problems or situations. Assist and plan for supportive services for clients who are in situations detrimental to their well being or that of the community. Assist in providing protective and supportive services for abused or neglected children. Prepare social studies, case histories and home studies. Communicate orally and in writing in a professional manner. Responsible, with supervision, to attend court hearings, prepare and/or present testimony on case progress and make recommendations to the court regarding specific cases, if asked.

Duties are not limited to desk work and may include frequent standing, climbing steps and walking distances. Able to climb flights of steps in homes or apartment buildings where no elevators are present. Often works more than eight hours per day. Frequent driving both in and out of County. Some out of county, overnight travel. Required to drive County vehicle while transporting children and parents. 37.5 hours (full-time) per week, plus non-traditional and on-call hours when required. Manage multiple tasks, paying close attention to details under a constantly changing work environment which includes completion of paperwork and meeting strict deadlines. Completion of daily deadlines on paperwork and work assignments. Frequent involvement in abuse, neglect and other situations where children are involved to determine appropriate and necessary steps needed to protect the children.

Work Hours: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm (M-F) with a 1 hour lunch
**On-call 24/7 on rotating basis. Irregular hours including evenings and weekends. Once a caseworker is trained, normal working hours 8am to 4:30pm may be flexed to coincide with consumer needs.**

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE, TRAINING & ELIGIBILITY

Qualifications:

• You must have successfully examined and have a current score on file. If you have not already done so, you must first apply to the COUNTY CASEWORKER 1 – CHILDREN AND YOUTH (ONLINE EXAM) posting and follow the directions provided.
• PA residency requirement is currently waived for this title.
• Hiring preference for this vacancy will be given to candidates who live within Wayne, Pike, Monroe, Susquehanna, or Lackawanna counties. If no eligible candidates who live within these counties apply for this position, candidates who reside in other counties may be considered.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

Legal Requirements:

• A conditional offer of employment will require submission of criminal history reports at your expense. See hiring agency contact information.

• You must pass a background investigation.

• A conditional offer of employment will require a drug screening.

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.

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 www.employment.pa.gov/Additional Info/Pages/default.aspx and click the Veterans' Preference tab.

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.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $35,254.58 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday
• Night shift
• On call
• Weekend availability

Work Location: One location