Job Description

Posting number: 202600162

Department: Department of Social Services

Job classification: Senior Caseworker

Posting type: Open

Categories: Community Services, Social Services, Community and Social Services

Summary

The civil service title, Senior Caseworker, is classified as competitive class. Senior Caseworker is part of the civil service HELP program that does not require a written exam at this time.

Employees in this class work at an advanced professional level in a local social services department. They are responsible for determination and recommendation for need of services and formulation and supervision of particular plans to meet individual problems of cases assigned. The work performed under general supervision of a higher-ranking professional social services employee with latitude allowed for more independence of action than that granted to Caseworkers. The Senior Caseworker may supervise a small group of subordinate workers and volunteers, does related work as required.

Examples of duties

• Investigates reports of abuse or neglect of children or adults and assesses the safety of the environment they are residing in to determine validity and need of intervention;
• Provides casework counseling to motivate individuals, families and children to increase their capacity and confidence in their ability to solve problems and make better choices for themselves and/or family;
• Gathers information regarding children and families by interviewing neighbors, family members, school personnel, physicians and any others familiar with the family;
• Reviews existing case records for available information for use in formulating a plan of treatment;
• Develops service plans with parents, relatives and/or foster parents for the care and reunification of the children with their parents;
• Make the necessary community service referrals on behalf of the individuals, children and families assigned;
• Monitors service plans with individuals and/or families by maintaining on-going contact with service providers and routinely updates supervisor of progress;
• Conducts service plan reviews with individuals, families, and service providers to update the service goals and report progress;
• Establishes a relationship with individuals and families to persuade them to avail themselves of recommended social services;
• Recruits and trains prospective foster and adoptive parents;
• Conducts home study evaluations to include certification and placement recommendations of prospective foster boarding homes, adoptive homes and/or relative homes;
• Assesses the placement needs of children and determines whether a child’s needs can best be met in a foster home, group home, or an institution and makes the referral on their behalf;
• Identifies and places children in adoptive homes and assists them through the adoption process by making service referrals and providing casework counseling until finalization;
• Visits the homes of parents, foster parents, adoptive parents, family daycare providers, institutions or other agencies and coordinates the delivery of service;
• Petitions, testifies, and reports to Family Court;
• Maintains liaison with various community agencies to which individuals and families can be referred for services;
• Works closely with service providers such as therapists, homemakers, Public Health Nurses and any others deemed by the incumbent as pertinent to the case;
• Provides casework counseling in a number of areas including disability benefits, medical benefits, available community services, financial management and parenting in an effort to guide them through the system;
• Conducts case history searches by retrieving data stored in a State wide computer system;
• Prepares a variety of reports, case notes, service plans, and court summaries on a personal computer;
• May supervise a small number of Caseworkers and related paraprofessional employees in formulating service plans, assess clients progress and to ensure proper procedures are being followed;
• May train new Caseworkers and periodically evaluate performance;
• Assists Case Supervisor in administering the work of the unit.

Qualifications

Good knowledge of modern principles and practices of social casework and social group work including child welfare services; working knowledge of Federal, State and Local Social Services Laws and programs; ability to apply knowledge in performance of duties; skill in interviewing; knowledge of the techniques of preparing social studies; ability to establish and maintain successful relationships with people; ability to direct work of others; ability to interpret the work of the agency; initiative; good powers of observation and analysis; imagination; sensitivity to the reaction of others; tact; emotional maturity; good judgment; good health.

Supplemental information

Open Competitive: Either:

1. Possession of a Master's Degree, or higher, in social work AND one (1) year of full-time paid experience, or its part-time equivalent, in social work with a public or private agency adhering to acceptable standards; OR
2. Possession of a Bachelor's Degree AND two (2) years of full-time paid experience, or its part-time equivalent, in social work with a public or private agency adhering to acceptable standards.

SPECIAL NOTE: EDUCATION: Your degree must have been awarded by a college or university accredited by a regional, national, or specialized agency recognized as an accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education/U.S. Secretary of Education. If your degree was awarded by an educational institution outside the United States and its territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency. A list of acceptable companies who provide this service can be found on the Internet at http://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/degrees.cfm. You must pay the required evaluation fee.