Caseworker (Resource) - Cya Permanency Unit - Lancaster, United States - Lancaster County, PA

Lancaster County, PA

Verified Company

Lancaster, United States

3 weeks ago

Posted by:

Mark Lane

beBee recruiter

Description

Position Summary:

Discover a rewarding career with us

Our full-time positions come with an array of excellent benefits including comprehensive healthcare coverage, a pension plan, flexible spending accounts and even a student loan reimbursement program.

At Lancaster County, we understand the importance of work-life balance.

That's why we offer paid time off for sick, vacation and holidays, an employee assistance program, and family medical leave.

The Lancaster County Children and Youth Social Service Agency is a public child welfare agency mandated to provide protection services to Lancaster County's children and their families.

The Agency investigates all reports of child abuse and neglect and provides intervention services to address safety threats and risk factors and stabilize the family.

The Agency's mission is to address the safety, permanency and well-being of children and youth at risk of abuse and neglect.

JOB SUMMARY
This is a casework position with the Permanency department of the Lancaster County Children and Youth Social Service Agency. The caseworker engages in home finding for children in the Agency's care. This position recruits, retains, evaluates, and schedules and arranges training for the Agency's pool of resource parents. Emphasis is given to home finding, resource parent retention, safety, and permanency for the children and resource parents. This position requires a thorough knowledge of resource parenting issues as well as fostering regulations and bulletins.

This employee will be available to assist Resource Unit members in completing kinship home studies, annual resource parent evaluations, pre-screening of potential Resource families and other unit functions as needed.

The employee will be able to conduct on-site inspections of resource homes to ensure compliance with DPW regulations and Agency procedures/policies and will be able to assess the resource parents' training needs.

The ability to understand, develop, adapt, and implement new laws and regulations surrounding fostering is essential.

This position requires the worker to be available outside typical work hours. The worker will often be required to work earlier than 8:00 AM and later than 5:00 P.M. Additionally, some weekend hours may be required.

**MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Six months of experience as a Caseworker Trainee; or
Successful completion of the County Social Caseworker 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, human services or other related social sciences and one year of professional social casework experience in a public or private social services agency: or,
Any equivalent combination of experiences and training which includes 12 college credits in sociology, social welfare, psychology, gerontology, criminal justice, human services, or other related social sciences.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Have an excellent understanding of the PA Juvenile Act, the Child Protective Services Law, and DPW Regulations.
Knowledge of resource parent regulations is helpful.
Ability to complete clear, concise written and verbal communication as related to record keeping, court testimony, service planning, dealing with community professionals, etc.
Strong writing skills are necessary.
Computer literacy, including familiarity with spreadsheets, is needed to maintain required documentation.
Organization and time management skills to meet competing demands for client contacts, record keeping and related duties.
Have an understanding of the corollaries of child abuse and neglect; ability to identify these factors in families and to interpret them for case disposition and planning.
The ability to gather and analyze information in such a way that consequent judgments maximize the safety of children and minimize unwarranted intrusion into family privacy.
Knowledge and ability to use crisis intervention modality to initiate and deliver shortterm services.
Thorough knowledge of child development and family dynamics.
Ability to establish relationships with clients that facilitate meaningful involvement, and the ability to relinquish the relationship at case transfer or closing.
Flexibility and energy to meet the unpredictable and emergency nature of caseload demands.
Attitude of cooperation to enhance team functioning within the unit and to contribute to overall Agency goals.

REQUIRED LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS/CLEARANCES

Must pass preemployment drug screening test.
Must have acceptable background check that includes criminal history and ChildLine clearances.
A valid driver's license and acceptable driving history in accordance with County policy.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORK ENVIRONMENT