Caseworker CYA

Compensation Range:
$51,573.68 - $75,020.17

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

If you're passionate about making a difference, apply today to join us in serving the community!

Job Description:

JOB SUMMARY

- This is a casework position with the Permanency department of the Lancaster County Children and Youth Social Service Agency.
- The caseworker will be responsible for adoption preparation of children in Agency foster care, and adoption finalization for children who are adopted by resource parents.
- The employee will search for adoptive families using Agency Resource Parents, the Statewide Adoption Network (SWAN), and by collaborating with other outside agencies.
- This position will require extensive collaboration with adoptive parents, adoptees, biological families, Agency resource parents, SWAN, and other outside agencies who provide adoption resources and services to children in the Agency’s care.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

- The caseworker reports directly to the immediate supervisor of the unit.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

- Work will be performed in such a manner that the safety of children in reported families will be assured and timely, accurate assessments are completed and appropriate community or Agency referrals will be made.
- Caseworker will complete the National Adoption Competency Mental Health Training Initiative (NTI) to develop an understanding of the unique issues presenting in children being adopted and how to work with them, their adoptive parents, and mental health professionals.
- Assess the ongoing safety of the children in Agency custody on a routine basis.
- Develop and implement safety plans for children in Agency custody as necessitated by the safety assessment of the child and the family.
- Evaluate the quality of care provided to children in Agency custody by conducting regular visits to the placement setting of each child.  During these visits the child’s placement will be assessed to determine whether appropriate care and services are being provided to the child and to determine the ongoing safety and well-being of the child in this setting.  The relationship between the child and caregiver will also be assessed to ensure that this is the most appropriate ongoing placement for the child.  Any issues noted during these visits will be addressed in an appropriate manner and the Resource unit or provider agency will be notified of all concerns.
- Prepare court review petitions for children whose adoptions have not yet been finalized.
- Routinely provide own transportation to and from client’s homes, meetings, outreach visits and other job-related appointments in a timely manner and be able to access those locations with reasonable accommodations.
- Maintain quality records and perform routine paperwork in a timely manner.  Ensure records will pass DPW audit.
- Participate in Agency training, staff meetings and unit meetings; will attend additional approved trainings to ensure a total training time of no less than 20 hours per year.
- Coordinate services for children through the Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network.
- Participate in events through SWAN, including matching events, as needed to perform other job functions.
- Participate in collaborative discussions at the Permanency Planning Committee to determine if child will remain in the resource home for adoption. Locate adoptive resources for the child through registration of the child on various adoption exchanges and by collaborating with other agencies to locate adoptive families.
- Participate in the selection of the most appropriate adoptive family for the child, if necessary, taking into consideration the full spectrum of their physical and emotional needs.
- Assess family relationships, functioning, and stability to determine a family’s appropriateness, readiness, and ability to adopt special needs children who come from a traumatic background.
- Facilitate visitation between potential adoptive families and children.  In addition, facilitate the move of the child from their resource to adoptive home.
- Prepare the child and resource parents for adoption and arrange for any necessary services to facilitate this preparation.
- Perform on-site adoptive home studies and put together the adoption record with all relevant adoption paperwork.
- Review potential of financial subsidy for adoptive parents based on the special needs of the child.  Negotiate adoption subsidies with adoptive families and prepare written requests for adoption subsidies to be submitted to and approved by an Agency Director.
- Obtain all background information on a child’s mental health and medical history and determine whether special needs exist that need to be addressed through counseling or therapy.  Coordinate special services for children and adoptive families.  Gather background medical and mental health history from the child’s biological family and provide information to the adoptive family.
- Inform potential adoptive families of the special needs of the child and secure training for the adoptive parent which is necessary for the parents to address the child’s special needs.
- Prepare reports for the Court regarding the adoptive family, which must be submitted to the Judge prior to adoption finalization. File the resource parents’ Intent to Adopt, the Intermediary Reports and the Agency Consent with the Orphans’ Court Judge.  Attend the adoption hearing and testify concerning the natural parents, agency involvement, and termination procedure in child’s placement for adoption.
- Provide post-adoption services to adoptees, adoptive parents and to birth relatives of the adoptees according to Act 101.
- Answer questions and Assist other caseworkers with adoption related questions.
- Perform other job-related duties as assigned, including carrying foster care cases and performing all foster care job related duties prior to termination of parental rights being established.
- Routinely provide own transportation to and from client’s homes, meetings, trainings, and other job-related appointments in a timely manner while being able to access those locations with reasonable accommodations.
- The percentage of time spent on essential duties will vary as the job requires.  Initiative will be encouraged.
- 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.

OTHER SPECIFIC TASKS OR DUTIES

- The caseworker will perform other related duties as required by the supervisor.

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.
- Have an excellent understanding of the Adoption Act, Act 101 of 2010, and the Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network.
- Knowledge of the unique issues that present themselves in adopted children or children in the process of being adopted, including trauma, grief, and loss.
- 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 short-term 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 pre-employment drug screening test.
- Must have completed background checks that includes PA Criminal History, FBI and ChildLine certifications prior to beginning employment.
- A valid driver’s license and acceptable driving history in accordance with County policy.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORK ENVIRONMENT

- Does not pose a threat to the health and safety of the department.
- Must have the ability to work independently.
- Must have the ability to transport self to various locations for meetings, visits and other appointments.
- This position will require the ability to conduct home visits and other appointments and to access those locations with reasonable accommodations.
- This position has been identified as having the potential for exposure to Hepatitis B. Access to training and a voluntary vaccination against Hepatitis B is provided.

The County of Lancaster offers comprehensive benefits to our employees.   Read more about our benefits here .

Lancaster County Government provides Equal Employment Opportunity for all persons regardless of race, religion, age, sex, national origin, genetic information or disability. The County also observes all applicable laws regarding Veterans status. The County reflects this action in all areas of employment and compensation practices and policies. Employment with the County is based upon the ability to perform the job as well as dependability and reliability once an individual is hired.