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Caseworker 2 (CYF) - Permanency Unit
Application Requirements
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.
Job Description
GENERAL PURPOSE
The Caseworker 2 - CYF Permanency Unit position is a fulltime, professional casework position focused on children in foster care whose goal of returning home is unlikely and who require another permanent plan. This plan may include adoption, placement with relatives, Kinship Foster Care, permanent legal custodianship, or independent living status. This position will emphasize “concurrent planning” so that permanency is explored as early as possible. Duties may include a full array of foster care and adoptive services, as well as the preparation of cases for presentation both in Juvenile and Orphans’ Court.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED
This position reports directly to the County Casework Supervisor or Program Specialist/Manager.
SUPERVISION EXERCISED
This position is not responsible for the supervision of other employees.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES OF THE POSITION
Evaluates the child and family’s individual needs, and provides services to meet those physical, emotional, social, and educational needs. Facilitates children’s return home where possible.
Arranges for sibling visitation/reunification.
Monitors the length of time in foster care and evaluates the current goal status. Where appropriate, seeks goal change when return home is unlikely.
Seeks permanent living arrangements for children in foster-adopt homes and homes that can accommodate siblings.
Searches out homes/permanent living arrangements for hard to place children who may have a variety of special needs.
Arranges for re-placement of children when necessary to meet the needs/goals.
Reviews adoptive family profiles, places children into selected homes, reviews adoption supervisory and investigators reports, and prepares consents for adoption.
Negotiates and prepares financial subsidy agreements and their annual reviews.
Provides supportive services/counseling to foster/adopt families that are considered a resource for the child.
Develops expertise in engaging the child and potential families in the adoption/permanency planning process to ensure a successful outcome.
Provides close monitoring of cases to prevent unnecessary delays to placing children in a permanent home during the legal process.
Works with other agency staff as part of the Permanency Unit to help familiarize them with the work of the unit, and to assist in discussing and developing appropriate and timely permanency plans.
Assists in developing and implementing independent living services or other services to provide another planned living arrangement intended to be permanent in nature.
Maintains case records and logs. Prepares and reviews case plans and other written documentation as required by agency policy and state law and regulations.
Prepares court petitions, summaries, and correspondence as related to the provision of Permanency services.
Maintains professional growth and development.
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 the variety of SWAN services available to children and resource families that support permanency.
Knowledge of services and programs to meet the needs of older adolescents for whom adoption/SPLC resources are not available.
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 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 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 twenty-five (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, 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.
The Caseworker 2 - CYF Permanency Unit position is a fulltime, professional casework position focused on children in foster care whose goal of returning home is unlikely and who require another permanent plan. This plan may include adoption, placement with relatives, Kinship Foster Care, permanent legal custodianship, or independent living status. This position will emphasize “concurrent planning” so that permanency is explored as early as possible. Duties may include a full array of foster care and adoptive services, as well as the preparation of cases for presentation both in Juvenile and Orphans’ Court.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED
This position reports directly to the County Casework Supervisor or Program Specialist/Manager.
SUPERVISION EXERCISED
This position is not responsible for the supervision of other employees.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES OF THE POSITION
Evaluates the child and family’s individual needs, and provides services to meet those physical, emotional, social, and educational needs. Facilitates children’s return home where possible.
Arranges for sibling visitation/reunification.
Monitors the length of time in foster care and evaluates the current goal status. Where appropriate, seeks goal change when return home is unlikely.
Seeks permanent living arrangements for children in foster-adopt homes and homes that can accommodate siblings.
Searches out homes/permanent living arrangements for hard to place children who may have a variety of special needs.
Arranges for re-placement of children when necessary to meet the needs/goals.
Reviews adoptive family profiles, places children into selected homes, reviews adoption supervisory and investigators reports, and prepares consents for adoption.
Negotiates and prepares financial subsidy agreements and their annual reviews.
Provides supportive services/counseling to foster/adopt families that are considered a resource for the child.
Develops expertise in engaging the child and potential families in the adoption/permanency planning process to ensure a successful outcome.
Provides close monitoring of cases to prevent unnecessary delays to placing children in a permanent home during the legal process.
Works with other agency staff as part of the Permanency Unit to help familiarize them with the work of the unit, and to assist in discussing and developing appropriate and timely permanency plans.
Assists in developing and implementing independent living services or other services to provide another planned living arrangement intended to be permanent in nature.
Maintains case records and logs. Prepares and reviews case plans and other written documentation as required by agency policy and state law and regulations.
Prepares court petitions, summaries, and correspondence as related to the provision of Permanency services.
Maintains professional growth and development.
- 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 the variety of SWAN services available to children and resource families that support permanency.
Knowledge of services and programs to meet the needs of older adolescents for whom adoption/SPLC resources are not available.
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 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 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 twenty-five (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, 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/GR35
UNION STATUS: PSSU
Updated March 2025
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