**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 an entry-level social service position within the Family Support department of the Lancaster County Children & Youth Agency. The Family Support unit provides casework services to families whose children are at risk of, or who have been exposed to, neglect, physical abuse and/or sexual abuse.

The caseworker assists the families in following through with plans to address concerns regarding drug and alcohol abuse, mental health challenges, domestic violence, housing, and parenting skills in order to help caregivers improve their functioning and to prevent repeated abuse and neglect.

The caseworker makes every effort to work with the families toward the goal of stabilizing and strengthening them so that they may remain a family unit and meet their children’s needs for safety and well-being. Most cases are successfully closed after the family has completed their Family Service Plan goals. The caseworker is responsible for providing services to 15 to 25 families.

This is entry level professional social service work in our County Children and Youth Agency. Employees who successfully complete a six-month probation in this classification are promoted to the Caseworker classification.

**MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- 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: 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**
- Demonstrate an understanding of the PA Juvenile Act, the Child Protective Services Law, and DPW Regulations.
- Understand the corollaries of child abuse and neglect; ability to identify these factors in families and to interpret them for case disposition and planning.
- The ability to gather and analyze information in such a way that consequent judgments maximize the safety of children and minimize unwarranted intrusion into family privacy.
- 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 that facilitate meaningful involvement, and the ability to relinquish the relationship at case transfer or closing.
- Ability to complete clear, concise written and verbal communication as related to record keeping, court testimony, service planning, dealing with community professionals, etc.
- Organization and time management skills to meet competing demands for client contacts, record keeping and related duties.
- Flexibility and energy to meet the unpredictable and emergency nature of caseload demands.
- Attitude of cooperation to enhance team functioning within the unit and to contribute to overall Agency goals.

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

**PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORK ENVIRONMENT**
- Does not pose a threat to the health and safety of the department
- Must have the ability to work independently.
- Must have the ability to transport self to various locations for meetings, visits, and other appointments.
- 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.

**ADDITIONAL INFORMATION**

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._