Caseworker 2 - Info & Referral/emergency Services (part - time)

Caseworker 2 - IRES Position

The Caseworker 2 -- IRES position is a part-time professional casework position within the Information & Referral Emergency Services (IRES) division, a 24-hour emergency services unit designed to provide immediate response to life crisis situations for residents of Northampton County. The primary role of this position is to provide mental health crisis services to "adults, adolescents, children, and their families who exhibit an acute problem of disturbed thought, behavior, mood, or social relationships. Service is also provided to callers who represent or seek assistance for individuals who are exhibiting these behaviors."

This position reports directly to the County Casework Supervisor or Administrator. This position does not exercise supervision over other functions.

Essential duties of the position include: gathering necessary information, exploring the presenting problem, alleviating the immediate crisis through telephone counseling or site counseling as necessary, and providing linkage to additional services for on-going treatment. The role also involves screening incoming calls, providing appropriate telephone counseling, consultation, and referral to the above-named populations. On-site crisis intervention, assessment, counseling, referral, and follow up are also part of the role. The employee must document and report on the process and outcome of crisis interventions through the use of standard reporting forms. They will also delegate involuntary commitments, secure necessary insurance information, and maintain continuity of client care through supervisory consultation, review of alerts from prior shifts, and attendance at case conferences. The employee will serve by phone in a consultative and collaborative role with community personnel who are also involved in the provision of emergency services such as: emergency room physicians, nurses, police officers, ambulance crew members, staff of other community agencies and Human Services treatment staff. They will attend staff meetings and training programs for professional enhancement. Client confidentiality must be maintained at all times. Calls coming into the agency after hours telephone lines will be screened for referral to the appropriate on call worker.

Required minimum qualifications include: education and experience -- six months of experience as a County Caseworker 1; successful completion of the County Social Casework Intern program; a bachelor's degree with a social welfare major; 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; 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. Employee assigned to this title will be required to possess and maintain a valid and current motor vehicle operator's license. Must have an acceptable driving record. Personal vehicle required for County business, employee is eligible for mileage reimbursement.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities required include: knowledge of current social case management principles, techniques and methods; knowledge of the basic principles and methods of program interpretation and community organization; knowledge of current social, economic, and health problems and their impact on the growth and development of people; knowledge of individual and group development and behavior and ways of working effectively with adults and children who have social, economic, emotional, or health problems; knowledge of social welfare policy and law as they relate to agency function and purpose and societal structures; ability to work effectively with people and aid them to grow in the constructive use of their potential in adjusting to their specific problems; ability to understand and accept the needs and rights of others and to work with adults and children who are physically challenged, mentally disabled, emotionally troubled, and economically disadvantaged; ability to learn, interpret, and apply relevant laws, regulations, and policies governing agency services; ability to learn how to conduct individual and family interviews and to use them to identify individual and family problems; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, their families, other staff, outside agencies, and institutions, and the general public; ability to plan and organize work, prepare adequate records and reports, set priorities, and learn to maintain a caseload in an effective and timely manner; ability to plan, organize, and direct the work of others; ability to clearly express ideas verbally and in writing; ability to maintain confidentiality at all times; ability to read, write, speak, understand and communicate in English to perform the duties of this position.

Tools and equipment used include: telephone, personal computer (including word processing and spreadsheet software), calculator, writing implements, fax machine, copy machine, and paper shredder.

Physical demands include: walking, sitting, talking or hearing. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work environment characteristics include: moderately quiet office noise level. Employee may also work in other environments such as schools, private homes, etc.