Caseworker 2 (Mh) - Administrative Case Manager

In order to be considered for this position, applicants must successfully submit a completed application prior to the posting deadline. Applications submitted with incomplete or missing education and/or work experience sections will be considered incomplete and disqualified from consideration. The attachment of a resume to the application does not fulfill this requirement and will not prevent incomplete applications from being rejected.

BE SURE YOUR APPLICATION REFLECTS YOUR ENTIRE WORK HISTORY AS YOUR RESUME IS NOT REVIEWED TO QUALIFY YOU

Please answer any supplemental questions truthfully and completely. Use the employment history section of your application to substantiate your answers to supplemental questions.

Once the posting closes, all applications will be reviewed. The information provided on the application will be utilized to determine whether or not each applicant meets the minimum requirements for this position.

Please read the Minimum Requirements thoroughly and then demonstrate that you meet these requirements on your application. Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements will not be considered for the position.

Qualified, eligible applicants will move on to the next step, an Education and Experience Review, in which points will be assigned to each applicant's education and relevant work experience provided on their application.

We encourage all applicants to share a comprehensive, concise history of their education, certification, licensing, and employment on their employment application so that we are able to accurately assess their experience.  Eligible candidates will be ranked on an Eligibility List based on their total score on the Education and Experience Review.

For questions regarding this posting, please contact County of Northampton Human Resources at dhsjobs@norcopa.gov or 610-829-6366.

Equal Employment Opportunities - It is the policy of Northampton County to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, sex, gender identity, gender expression, age, genetic information, disability, or any other status protected by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and any other state, federal, or local law.GENERAL PURPOSE

The Caseworker 2 - Mental Health Administrative Case Manager is a fulltime professional case management position responsible for the provision of a full range of social services to forensically involved individuals in need of assessment and/or services.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

This position reports directly to the County Casework Supervisor for case management.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

This position does not exercise supervision over other functions.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES OF THE POSITION

Conducts intake interviews.

Reviews referral material and available medical or psychiatric records concerning a consumer's physical or mental condition, social and/or economic status, attitudes and personality traits.

Determines financial eligibility by conducting a sliding scale fee liability.

Upon completion of an intake, makes referrals to a selected provider for outpatient treatment and sets up the initial clinic appointment. Authorizes funding for initial appointment. Completes provisional treatment plan to outline needs of consumer and services to be accessed and ongoing monitoring for continued funding eligibility.

Assists consumers in accessing community services in areas of employment, shelter, medical benefits and financial assistance, in order to maintain their overall well-being, including their physical and mental health evaluation and treatment, education, vocational training and socialization.

Maintains ongoing records of each consumer's progress and arranges for services related to the MH service plan. This includes ongoing documentation of notes and maintaining important consumer records electronically, in a computer database.

Participates in and documents regular service/treatment planning and review activities that may include attendance at inter-agency and/or intra-agency meetings for the purpose of developing, monitoring and updating individual service/treatment plans.

Updates sliding-fee-scale liabilities annually or more frequently as dictated by changes in client income, insurance, marital status and/or number of family dependents.

Makes home visits when required by needs of clients.

Provides life management services for consumers when due to their disability, they require this service.

Makes referrals in-house to other MH workers who process said referrals for longer-term housing services; for sheltered employment and for consumers requesting or needing Targeted Case Management (e.g. ACT, ICM/BCM, Older Adult Outreach and Adult Transitional services).  Workers may also make referrals for consumers needing emergency shelter, peer services or to community programs that offer financial assistance for immediate needs such as food, clothing or medication.

Completes intakes and assessments at the prisons and jails.

Serves as an intricate member of a team for the Mental Health Court proceedings. This may include testifying in court, writing court summaries, entering Mental Health Court statistics and data in the computer, completing mental health assessments and treatment plans.

Serves as a member of the ORLTSR treatment team.

Attends treatment team meetings and court-related hearings for individuals participating in the ORLTSR program.

May carry a caseload of individuals who receive THRIVE case management services.

May assist with state prison inmate releases, which would include locating housing, mental health services, and other needed services.

Assists in the transportation of or arranges transportation for consumers.

Ensure that initial authorizations for services performed by contracted providers are completed on a timely basis and that routine re-authorizations are kept current.

Reviews and prepares cases for discharge. Serves as liaison to designated human service organizations, provider agencies, treatment facilities, and/or consumer groups, in order to facilitate communication and continuity of care.

Is knowledgeable about Recovery and adheres to Recovery Principles while performing case management duties.

Serve consumers in any areas of Mental Health where needed.

Duties and responsibilities of this position involve work of a confidential nature in dealing with consumer interviews, records, information and contacts. Confidentiality is to be maintained at all times in accordance with current regulations and policies concerning use of consumer records.

Perform other related duties as directed or required.

• An employee assigned to this title shall perform a majority, but may not perform all, of the duties listed in this job description. Conversely, minor level duties performed on the job may not be listed.
  
  The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

REQUIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE - Six months of experience as a County Caseworker 1; OR

Successful completion of the County Social Casework 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, 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 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

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 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 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 work with a forensically involved population without judgement or prejudice.

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 read, write, speak, understand and communicate in English to perform the duties of this position.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT

Telephone, personal computer (including word processing and spreadsheet software), calculator, writing implements, fax machine, copy machine, and paper shredder.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to walk, sit, talk or hear.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

The noise level in the office is moderately quiet. Employee may also work in other environments such as schools, jail, private homes, etc. These work environments may range from quiet to loud.

SELECTION GUIDELINES

Formal application, rating of education and experience, interview, and reference check as well as job related tests may be required.

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

FLSA STATUS:      FLSA NON-EXEMPT (ELIGIBLE FOR OVERTIME)

DESIGNATION:     CAREER SERVICE

PAY GRADE:         PS-35

UNION STATUS:   PSSU

Updated January 2024