County Children And Youth Service Caseworker

Overall Descriptions of the Position:

This is professional social service work with Mercer County Children and Youth Services. Caseworkers provide a full range of social and casework/management services to children, youth and families to assist them in attaining a more satisfactory social, economic, emotional, or physical adjustment. An important aspect of this work is the employment of casework skills in obtaining essential information, counseling clients and members of their families, and helping them to utilize all available resources.

Work also involves the application of problem- solving techniques, providing counseling to maximize service delivery and to achieve service plan goals, monitoring client behavior, and interacting with agencies which make up the service network. Work is performed in accordance with established regulations, policies, and procedures but employees are expected to exercise initiative and judgment in discharging their duties.

(Below listed requirements will determine if a new hire begins employment as a CWI or CWII. Training period for a CWI is approx. 6 months, prior to transitioning to a CWII.

• Required Minimum Experience and Training: A bachelor’s degree which includes or is supplemented by successful completion of 12 college credits in sociology, social welfare, psychology, gerontology, criminal justice, or other related social sciences.

• Required Minimum Experience and Training: Six months of experience as a County Caseworker 1;
  OR Successful completion of the Child Welfare Education for Baccalaureates (CWEB) program or County Social Casework 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, or other related social sciences and one year of professional social casework experience in a public or private social services agency.
• Child Welfare Direct Service Worker Certification

• Standard hours of Work are M-F 8:30AM to 4:30PM with a ½ hour lunch (37.5 hrs./week).
• Additional time at work may be required and flexibility of work times may be required to accommodate clients.
• Must have the ability to fulfill on-call client services on nights and weekends on a rotation basis.
• Once training is complete, remote work from home is an available option in order to provide flexibility.
• All Required Child Abuse Clearances
• Valid Driver’s License
• Demonstrates the ability to professionally express ideas.
• Demonstrates the ability to complete written documentation that is not only grammatically correct, but also professionally prepared. Possesses the ability to articulate and communicate the roles and responsibilities for the Agency.
• Provides casework and counseling services to clients and members of their families to aid them in achieving a more satisfactory adjustment to their specific problems or situations.
• Provides protective and supportive services for clients who are in situations detrimental to their well-being or that of the community, or who are undergoing treatment or hospitalization.
• Possesses a clear understand of the Child Protective Service Law, the Juvenile Act, and all regulations governing child welfare practices, as well as Agency policies and procedures. Possess clear understanding of child welfare principles, philosophy and mission.
• Demonstrates knowledge of current social, economic and health problems and resources and the ability to understand and accept the needs and rights of others.
• Possesses the ability to engage clients and works with a light level of resistance.
• Possesses the ability to engage clients and works with a high level of resistance.
• Possesses excellent crisis management skills to de-escalate hostile, angry situations.
• Ability to complete thorough initial and ongoing risk and safety assessments, child and family assessment. Ensure that children are provided a safe, stable environment and will take emergency measures if child appears to be at risk.
• Possesses the ability to conduct individual and family interviews to…