Case Aide

The work involves responsibility for providing support services to assist Caseworkers in implementing service plans and performing other para-professional functions. The work is performed according to Federal, State and local social service regulations under direct supervision of professional casework staff with independent judgement and action allowed for routine duties. Does related work as required.

• Monitors parent visitations following court orders as required for children in foster care including encouraging proper interaction, stopping inappropriate behavior and/or conversation, and terminating visit if necessary;

• Provides care for children when transporting to, and waiting for, doctor appointments, etc.;
• Makes home visits to follow up on cancelled appointments or gather routine information;
• Documents transports and visits, or other contacts, with recommendations submitted to Caseworkers, as appropriate;
• Transports clients for visitations, appointments, and/or to family court in accordance with service plans;
• Assists or refers clients in life skill areas of housing, employment, school attendance, recreation, money management, day care, shopping, laundry, transportation, and escort;
• Assists in communication between agency, client, and the community by clarifying agency programs to individuals and conveying community cultural patterns and attitudes to agency professional staff;
• Assists individuals in recognizing conditions contributing to social problems and in making efforts toward correcting these conditions by referring to higher level employees for assistance;
• Maintains and prepares a variety of records and reports;
• Gathers routine data, completes data-entry forms and inputs or uses information from computer databases such as the Welfare Management System (WMS);
• May make necessary contacts to obtain additional and/or current client information;
• Provides information to individuals or groups concerning services offered by public and private agencies;
• Reports orally and in writing to Caseworkers and Case Supervisors regarding cases with which he or she is involved;
• Attends case related meetings including Service Plan Reviews and Family Group Meetings and may testify in Family Court when necessary;
• Performs other duties as assigned.

B. Two (2) years of study (a minimum of 60 credit hours) at a regionally accredited or NYS registered college or university including 12 credit hours in the social sciences or behavioral sciences (psychology, sociology, anthropology, counseling, criminal justice, public justice, gerontology, human behavior, social work, vocational rehabilitation, economics, geography, history, political science); OR

C. Graduation from high school or possession of an equivalency diploma and two (2) years of para-professional experience in a social service or community service agency, hospital, or physician’s office which shall have involved client or patient contact; OR

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT:

Possession of a current, valid, New York State driver's license at time of appointment. Maintenance of license required throughout the course of employment.   The job requires the ability to work a flexible work schedule and/or work additional hours dependent upon the needs of the Department.

Good knowledge of social services programs and other community resources; Working knowledge of social services eligibility criteria; Working knowledge of modern principles and practices of social casework; Working knowledge of Federal, State and local social service regulations; Working knowledge of the social sciences, including sociology, psychology and/or human services; Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with social service providers, clients and co-workers; Ability to operate a personal computer and utilize common office software programs; Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing; Ability to interpret and follow written and oral instructions; Ability to organize and maintain accurate records and files.