Juvenile Services Caseworker

Caseworker for Juvenile Services Department

The City of Lynchburg is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The City of Lynchburg is hiring for a Caseworker for the Juvenile Services Department.

Essential duties and responsibilities include:

• Provides regularly scheduled individual counseling
• Coordinates and conducts treatment plan meetings
• Makes decisions and exercises judgment in program policies and operations
• Documents casework services and prepares reports
• Assists and counsels treatment staff
• Meets with adolescents and their families to monitor behaviors
• Coordinates educational and vocational opportunities
• Meets and confers with legal, medical, school, court, and other professionals
• Performs tasks to maintain compliance with State and Federal guidelines
• Coordinates and transports adolescents to appointments
• Testifies in court
• Responds to emergencies and serves on-call duty
• Monitors compliance with standards
• Administers first aid and CPR as required
• Intervenes and mediates disputes
• Participates on family assessment planning teams

Additional duties may include:

• Assisting subordinate staff with management of detainees
• Conducting staff meetings and assisting in program planning
• Accompanying detainees to medical evaluations
• Requesting petitions to be filed by Court Services Intake Worker
• Supervising adolescents during assigned shifts
• Assisting in screening, interviewing, selection, training, supervision, and scheduling of staff
• Assisting in training of student interns and volunteers
• Overseeing program in the absence of the Superintendent
• Working a flex schedule to provide intensive services for assigned residents
• Fostering relationships with appropriate mentors for adolescents
• Providing follow-up and after care services
• Performing responsible professional casework involving home-based treatment and care of high-risk adolescents
• Conducting intake/orientation meetings with youth and their families
• Meeting with participants and families on a regular basis
• Conducting random curfew checks
• Responding immediately to violations of electronic monitoring program
• Recommending further action to adolescent court authorities
• Encouraging participants to expand their repertoire of legal leisure activities
• Providing intense services and case management for at-risk youth and their families
• Monitoring progress and adherence to court-ordered obligations
• Providing crisis intervention to youth and families
• Maintaining compliance with those youth on electronic monitoring
• Making both announced and unannounced visits to the juvenile's home, school, or job site
• Conducting random curfew checks in person on a weekly basis
• Maintaining schedules for those youth on electronic monitoring and reporting any violations
• Participating in Family Assessment and Planning Team as needed
• Responding to emergencies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Assisting supervisor in oversight of subordinate program staff

Minimum education and experience required:

Bachelor's degree from a four-year college or university in social work, psychology, counseling, or a related field, and two years related experience. Equivalent combination of education and experience may also be considered.

Additional requirements:

Valid State Driver's License required and acceptable driving record according to City criteria. Prior to employment must have Criminal Record Check and reference checks, driving record check completed, and Child Protective Services check. Prior to onset of employment must have tuberculin and drug screen as part of physical examination. Must successfully complete IS100 and IS700 National Incident Management (NIMS) training within 90 days of employment.

May also be required to complete higher levels of NIMS training as determined appropriate for the position.

The City offers an array of benefits combined with direct salary/wages in order to establish a total compensation package that supports the City's goals of attracting, rewarding, and retaining employees who are both representatives of the community and are also able to deliver exceptional services.

Employees in full-time positions are eligible for the following benefits:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Retirement through the Virginia Retirement System (VRS); the City's contribution is based on a rate determined bi-annually by the VRS Board and employees pay 5% of base pay (pre-tax) towards their VRS benefit
• Life insurance at no cost to the employee
• Optional benefits such as 457 deferred compensation, Roth IRA, flexible spending accounts, etc.
• Eligibility for parental leave and tuition assistance
• Paid Time Off

Employees in hourly and part-time positions may be eligible for benefits depending on the position.

Employees of the City of Lynchburg may also be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program for federal student loans.

Additional information about City benefits can be found on our website and in the Employment Policies & Procedures.