Jurisdiction:
Jurisdictional Class:
Competitive
Adopted: 10/20/05
Amended: 6/19/09
CASEWORKER
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS:
The work involves responsibility for
providing casework services to individuals, including children, families and/or
caregivers. An incumbent assists clients
with economic, emotional, social and environmental difficulties by making the
necessary service referrals and providing direct assistance to address the
social problems identified throughout the course of a case. The Caseworker, in consultation with a
higher level supervisor, formulates and carries out plans to meet individual
and/or family problems of the cases assigned.
The work is performed under the general supervision of a higher level
supervisor, with extensive mandated training provided through the State and the
agency. Does related work as required.
TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES:
Investigates reports of abuse or neglect of children or adults assesses the safety of the environment and provides the necessary interventions, such as placement out of the home, or Family Court, when warranted;
Responsible for on-call services;
Provides social work counseling to motivate individuals,
families and children to increase their capacity and confidence in their
ability to problem solve and make better choices for themselves and/or family;
Gathers information regarding children, families and adults
by interviewing neighbors, family members, school personnel, physicians and any
others familiar with the family;
Reviews existing case records and available information for
use in formulating a plan of treatment;
Makes the necessary community service referrals on behalf of
the individual, 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;
Develops service plan with parents, relatives and/or foster
parents for the care and reunification of the children with their parents;
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;
Visits the homes of parents, foster parents, adoptive
parents, family daycare providers, institutions or other agencies and
coordinates the delivery of service in accordance with rules and regulations;
TYPICAL
WORK ACTIVITIES: (Con’t.)
Petitions, testifies, and reports to Family Court;
Maintains professional relationships with various community
agencies to which individuals and families can be referred for services;
Periodically reviews cases to determine change in the individual’s or family’s situations affecting the need for services;
Provides casework counseling in a number of areas including disability benefits, medical benefits, available community services, financial management and parenting;
Prepares and maintains a variety of reports, case notes, service plans, and court summaries on a personal computer;
Conducts searches by retrieving data stored in a state wide computer system;
May identify and place children in adoptive homes and assists them through the adoption process by making service referrals and providing casework counseling until finalization.
FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS,
ABILITIES, AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Good knowledge of State and Federal laws and rules governing social services program;
Good knowledge of community service agencies and programs;
Good knowledge of interviewing techniques and practices;
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others;
Ability to counsel individuals in the areas of economic, social, emotional and vocational problems;
Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing;
Ability to operate a personal computer and utilize common office software programs;
Ability to develop and implement a service plan for individuals, children and/or families;
Ability to understand and empathize with the needs and concerns of others;
Ability to analyze and organize data and prepare records and reports;
Physical condition commensurate with the demands of the position.
MINIMUM
QUALIFICATIONS:
Graduation from a regionally accredited college or university or one accredited by the New York State Board of Regents to grant degrees with a Bachelor’s degree or higher.
SPECIAL
REQUIREMENT:
Possession
of a valid