County Caseworker ; Local Government - Lehigh County MH

As a County Caseworker 2 with Lehigh County MH/, you will play a meaningful role in helping residents manage challenging situations. You will work with a committed team that provides steady, thoughtful support to those in crisis. This position gives you an opportunity to learn, grow, and make a difference every day. Your work will help guide individuals toward hope, safety, and needed resources.

This position supports individuals who are facing mental health emergencies and need guidance connecting with services. The role also involves providing information, referrals, and crisis response in a fast paced setting. As a County Caseworker 2, you will perform the following duties:

• Client Support: Gather information from individuals and families to identify needs and connect them with appropriate services
• Crisis Response: Provide immediate support in urgent situations and evaluate requests for mental health or DHS services across phone, walk in, and outreach settings
• Clinical Assessment: Recognize symptoms of mental illness to determine service needs and help problem solve after assessments
• Safety and Outreach: Assess risks in crisis situations, use de‑escalation techniques, and conduct outreach assessments when needed
• Legal Procedures: Apply knowledge of the Mental Health Procedures Act and assist with documentation, petitioning, and review hearings

• Full time employment
• Work hours are 8:00 am through 4:00 pm, Monday‑Friday, with a 30 minute lunch
• May include occasional rotating shifts
• Telework:
  You will not have the option to telework in this position
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices

• Six months of experience as a County Caseworker 1; or
• Successful completion of the 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 service 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
• Applicants will be considered to have met the educational requirements once they are within two months of graduating with a qualifying degree or credits

• PA residency requirement is currently waived for this title
• You must be able to perform essential job functions

• You must pass a background investigation
• This position falls under the provisions of the Child Protective Services Law
  • Under the Law, a conditional offer of employment will require submission and approval of satisfactory criminal history reports including, but not limited to, PA State Police clearance, PA Child Abuse history clearance, and FBI Fingerprint clearance

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. §7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, visit (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). and click on Veterans

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals)

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law.

All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.