Caseworker Pt: Cya

**Position Summary**:
Discover a rewarding career with us

Our full-time positions come with an array of excellent benefits including comprehensive healthcare coverage, a pension plan, flexible spending accounts and even a student loan reimbursement program.

At Lancaster County, we understand the importance of work-life balance. That's why we offer paid time off for sick, vacation and holidays, an employee assistance program, and family medical leave.

**JOB SUMMARY**

This is a part-time casework position with the Permanency department of the Lancaster County Children and Youth Social Service Agency.

This employee will be available to assist Resource Unit members in completing kinship home studies, annual resource parent evaluations, pre-screening of potential Resource families and other unit functions as needed.

The employee will be able to conduct on-site inspections of resource homes to ensure compliance with DPW regulations and Agency procedures/policies and will be able to assess the resource parents’ training needs.

They will help temp licensed families with completing all paperwork, backgrounds, and necessary items to achieve full licensing approval.

The ability to understand, develop, adapt, and implement new laws and regulations surrounding fostering is essential.

**ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS**
- Conduct home studies and provide supportive services to assigned resource homes. Ensure that all these homes meet DPW requirements and Agency policies/procedures by completing on-site inspections and interviews. Compile information, maintain, dictate, and document family records.
- Provide case management services in a supportive manner. Provide support to resource parents and caseworkers and help to problem-solve when needed. Monitor and record changes within the resource homes.
- Evaluate and assess resource parent applicants by conducting pre-screen interviews, home studies, completing safety checks, collecting references and clearances, and analyzing their ability to provide appropriate, quality care to children.
- Evaluate training needs of resource parents, select, and maintain training materials appropriate to meet those needs.
- Attend, assist in planning and participate in Resource Parent events including but not limited to: Summer picnic, Fall event, Christmas event, and trainings.
- Maintain quality records and perform routine paperwork in a timely manner. Ensure records will pass DPW audit.
- Other Resource Unit responsibilities, such as working with the Resource Parent Association, arranging respite visits, and assisting with kinship placements, etc. can be assigned to this position at any time. Resource Unit responsibilities can be changed periodically from one caseworker to another to meet the needs of the Agency.
- Routinely provides own transportation to and from client’s homes, meetings, trainings, and other job-related appointments in a timely manner while being able to access those locations with reasonable accommodations.
- This position requires the worker to be available outside typical work hours. The worker will often be required to work earlier than 8:00 AM and later than 5:00 P.M. Weekend hours will be required.

**MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS**
- Six months of experience as a Caseworker Trainee; or
- Successful completion of the County Social Caseworker 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, human services, or other related social sciences and one year of professional social casework experience in a public or private social services agency: or,
- Any equivalent combination of experiences and training which includes 12 college credits in sociology, social welfare, psychology, gerontology, criminal justice, human services, or other related social sciences.

**KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES**
- Have an excellent understanding of the PA Juvenile Act, the Child Protective Services Law, and DPW Regulations.
- Knowledge and ability to use crisis intervention modality to initiate and deliver short-term services.
- Thorough knowledge of child development and family dynamics.
- Ability to establish relationships with clients that facilitate meaningful involvement, and the ability to relinquish the relationship at case transfer or closing.

**REQUIRED LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS/CLEARANCES**
- Must pass pre-employment drug screening test.
- Must have acceptable background check that includes criminal history and ChildLine clearances.
- A valid driver’s license and acceptable driving history in accordance with County policy.

**PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORK ENVIRONMENT**
- This position will require the ability to conduct home visits and other appointments and to access those locations with reasonable accommodation.
- This position has been identified as having the potential for exposure to Hepatitis B.