Caseworker-Senior 37.5 FT

Starting Compensation:

$49,588.50/Annually

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Job Description:

JOB SUMMARY

• Employees in this class are assigned a variety of social services duties and responsibilities which are distinguished from those assigned to lower-level classes by their difficulty and complexity.
• This caseload will take on Dually Diagnosed individuals within both Mental Health and Intellectual Disability/Autism components.
• They will provide intensive case management to clients and their families, conducting difficult and complex investigations, and providing consultation and education services to new hires.
• Work assignments may include coordinating and reviewing documents prepared by case management staff to ensure they meet Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) and Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) requirements.
• Work may also involve functioning as a lead worker for support coordinator staff, and training new hires along with other agency staff.
• Work is performed with considerable independence under the supervision of an assistant chief caseworker and is reviewed through conferences, reports and results attained.

 

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

• Work is reviewed by the assistant chief caseworker through regularly scheduled individual and group conferences, and the review of records and reports.     

 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

This position's primary function is to support the IDD unit to serve individuals with legal system involvement or who are at risk of legal system involvement.

A support coordinator completes functions in three areas of support coordination: locating, coordinating and monitoring.    

Locating activities include, but are not limited to:

• Participating in needs assessments, which requires travel to client locations
• Locating supports and informing clients and provider of needs, requesting funding for paid supports assisting clients in completing fair hearing rights regarding supports.
• Assisting clients with gaining access to non-IDD supports
• Coordinating activities include, but are not limited to:
• Developing the Individual Support Plan (ISP) with the client and team, entering the Home and Community Service and Information System (HCSIS), and disseminating information to the team, which requires travel to client locations.
• Coordinating the provision of support with client/family and providers for both paid and natural supports.
• Monitoring activities include but are not limited to:
• Monitoring ISP implementation and health and safety by face-to-face contact per ODP requirements which require travel to client locations.
• Modify service delivery and ISP as needed to reflect changing needs
• Respond to and assess emergency situations and incidents and report incidents as needed.
• Act as a lead worker for support coordinator staff, which includes:
• Provide structured 1:1 mentoring and training for new support coordinators (SCs) hired for the unit
• Accompany and observe new Scs to scheduled appointments and provide feedback regarding strengths and needs
• Review written documentation completed by new SCs for accuracy, clarity, and timeliness
• Provide feedback to the Assistant Chief Caseworker regarding the new SCs abilities and progress toward independently performing essential job functions.
• Arrange joint discussions between new SCs and Assistant Chief Caseworker to encourage open communication and provide clear direction.
• Guide new SCs to Assistant Chief Caseworker or other appropriate staff when questions posed are beyond the scope of the SCIII duties/knowledge.
• Serve as a resource person for all staff to answer questions regarding routine policy, procedures and paperwork activity.
• Brainstorm possible solutions for unique client situations for SCs when appropriate.
• Provide first level crisis and complicated case consultations for Sc when appropriate, prior to Assistant Chief Caseworker for review.
• Handle urgent or emergency situations in the absence of the Assistant Chief Caseworker
• Assist Assistant Chief Caseworker with the planning and scheduling of pertinent meetings. Occasional compensation for flex time may be requested to meet the needs of the individual clients, families or service providers.
• Work with a focus on serving individuals on the special offenders (SOS) caseload including:
• Taking the lead on cases for individuals who have legal involvement or who are identified as at risk of having legal involvement. 
• Serve as a resource to other SCs and the IDD unit on legal issues impacting our individuals.
• Consult with other SCs on legal issues impacting their individuals.
• Serve as a liaison between BH/DS and law enforcement agencies regarding our individuals and legal issues.
• Participation in any other community groups or outreach as identified
• This caseload comes with a cap of 45 individuals.

 

OTHER SPECIFIC TASKS OR DUTIES

• The employee will work in collaboration with the Directors of Support Coordination and Administrative Entity (AE) staff to promote a cooperative work effort within the other Support Coordination Units. 
• They will promote a cooperative work effort within MH/IDD’s various components, e.g., administrative, mental health, as well as with contracted service providers and with the community at large.
• Support coordinators will complete other duties as specified by the Supervisor, Directors and AE staff.

 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 

• Two years of experience as a case worker for Lancaster County OR
• A bachelor's degree in sociology, social welfare, psychology, gerontology, criminal justice, or other related social sciences and three years of professional social casework experience in a public or private social services agency; OR
• Any equivalent combination of experience and training which includes 12 college credits in sociology, social welfare, psychology, gerontology, criminal justice, or other related social sciences.

 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Communication - personal responsibility to give and receive information and feedback to provide more complete result. This includes presenting information to a group, facilitating meetings and the ability to communicate verbally and in writing in a factual, clear and concise manner.
• Interpersonal - the ability to demonstrate respect for and awareness of others, good judgment in responding to conflict and flexibility to adapt to changes in one’s work environment.
• Accountability - the ability to contribute to one’s very best to the County with a focus on continuous improvement and excellence. This includes meeting task deadlines.
• Customer Focus - the ability to understand and anticipate customer wants and resolve customer needs.
• Judgment and Problem Solving - focus is on enhancing services, improving performance, and resolving problems independently.  Prevents problems by effectively anticipating problems and guiding others to manage outcomes.
• Project Management - breaks down complex projects and develops schedules.  Creates an environment where innovative thinking is valued and facilitates effective brainstorming.
• Developing Others - provides peer-to-peer training to improve unit reliability in areas of accuracy, speed, and efficiency.
• Team Leadership - actively works to draw on expertise, ideas, and opinions of other members of the group. 
• Intellectual Disability - must have advanced knowledge of field of expertise including eligibility requirements and clinical definitions, as well as related fields, e.g., Medicaid Waiver, Mental Health, Person-Centered Planning, Self-Determination, etc. Must also have knowledge of services available.
• Knowledge of the legal system and how interaction with it impacts the individuals we serve.

 

REQUIRED LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS/CLEARANCES

Required prior to active employment:

• Pennsylvania Childline Child Abuse History Clearance
• Acceptable-PA State Police Criminal Record Clearance
• Acceptable FBI fingerprint clearance
• Acceptable Drug screening
• Clearances of no more than one year old at time of employment will be accepted.
• PA Driver's License and acceptable driving history

 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Case Management must be able to work in a busy and open environment. Case Management must be able to routinely provide his/her own transportation to and from consumer's homes, meetings, outreach visits and other job-related appointments in a timely manner and be able 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 physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

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.