Caseworker 2 - Information and Referral Emergency Services (IRES)

GENERAL PURPOSE
The Caseworker 2- IRES position is a fulltime professional casework position within a 24-hour emergency services unit designed to provide immediate response to life crisis situations for this residing in Northampton County.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED
This position reports directly to the County Casework Supervisor or Program Specialist/Manager.
   
SUPERVISION EXERCISED
This position does not exercise supervision over other functions.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES OF THE POSITION
Provides phone counseling or on-site counseling to human services clients who are in a crisis situation with the goal of gathering necessary information, exploring the presenting problem and alleviating the immediate crisis.

Facilitates both voluntary admissions and involuntary hospital commitments.

Provides direct temporary services such as outreach counseling to client by performing home visits daily living problem solving or other services until community agencies can be contacted to provide on-going services. If there is not accountable agency, or if the emergency occurs after normal office hours, including weekends, the emergency services worker will be directly involved in the procurement of services.

Accompanies clients to a hospital emergency facility, to a short-term inpatient hospital unit, to a receiving unit for alcoholism services, or to other locations as needed.

Serves as a delegate to the County Mental Health (MH) administrator. This involves completing 302 commitment forms in accordance with MH enabling legislation.  Individuals are committable for specific behaviors which involve dangerousness to self or others (suicidal threats/attempts, homicidal threats/attempts, self-mutilation or inability to care for self).  The worker must establish that commitment criteria are met (i.e. person has made threats to harm self or others and is making acts in furtherance of these threats).  Worker then meets with petitioner (person who has witnessed the committable behavior) and completes commitment forms including warrants to pick up and transport the patient for emergency evaluation and treatment.  The majority of commitments involve direct, on-site intervention by the MH delegate either at the point when committable behavior has occurred or at facilities such as hospitals or police stations.

Facilitates involuntary commitments by police and/or physicians in cases where on-site delegate intervention is not required.  Both types of commitment services involve a collaborative community approach with hospitals, ambulance crews, police, etc.

Documents and reports on the process and outcome of emergency incidents through the use of standard emergency reporting forms (i.e. emergency incident sheets, mobile crisis forms, telephone logs, etc.)

Links the client to additional services revealed necessary during the initial assessment.

Responds to referrals regarding elderly persons being abused or living in intolerable housing conditions, providing information and referral services as needed.

Assists parents and residential facilities when children run away.

Responds to police or neighbor or other persons’ complaints that children are left alone, in danger of being abused.

Responds to complaints of children being abused.

Responds to severe neglect situations where young children are left alone, there is no heat, or a condition where the child could be injured.

Responds to situations where parents are unwilling to continue caring for child.

Responds to runaway children apprehended in Northampton County.

Responds to clients who are in the state of crisis because of withdrawal from drugs and/or alcohol.

Responds to calls regarding drug or alcohol overdoses and requests for detoxification. Facilitates referrals and provides information on appropriate treatment programs available.

Serves as backup to Information and Referral Unit in situations when information and/or referral are requested.

Will maintain continuity of client care through supervisory consultation, review of daily log notes and attend case conference.

Serves 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.

Attends staff meetings and training programs for professional enhancement.

*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 – 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 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
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, private homes, etc. These work environments may range from quiet to loud.

SELECTION GUIDELINES
Formal application, rating of education and experience, oral 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 OT)
DESIGNATION:       CAREER SERVICE
PAY GRADE:            PS-35
UNION STATUS:     PSSU 

Updated August 2023