Preventive Services Caseworker

Job Summary:

The Preventive Services Caseworker provides individual case planning services to families that are referred from Erie County Department of Social Services (DSS).  This purpose of the Caseworker is to help children remain safely in their homes and to prevent placement outside of their home.  This position works with families of children that are placed in foster care to return home.  By partnering and collaborating with the family, this position works to reduce the likelihood that a child will return to a foster care program.  The Caseworker maintains strong communication with the family to work towards stabilizing and strengthening the family unit.  This is done through counseling, parent training, home management, support and advocacy services.  In addition, the Preventive Services Caseworker works closely with referral sources, community service providers, and all family members to ensure there are collaborative efforts towards permanency goals.  These stakeholders build networks for each family to ensure adequate and stable supports are in place prior to discharge.
 
Essential Job Duties:

1. Develop and maintain regular contact and therapeutic rapport with each family.  Face-to-face contact in the family home must occur regularly, at minimum two times a month with the caretaker and all the children living in the home. Must meet a minimum of 32 billable units weekly.
2. Communicate and collaborate with stakeholders to monitor service provision and ensure effective communication.  Stakeholders may be Case Managers, Physicians, School/Education staff, CSE, Health Home Care Managers, Drug Treatment Court, Family Court, Juvenile/PINS, Community Providers for support with drug/alcohol addiction and mental health treatment.
3. Completes thorough and accurate family/children progress notes, court/permanency reports, court summaries, Individual Service plans, Family Assessment Service Plan (FASPs), monthly summaries, comprehensive assessments, and other case-specific documentation in accordance with regulatory requirements in a timely manner. 
4. Teaches models and evaluates effective parenting and family management techniques. These techniques include parenting skills, behavioral management, appropriate discipline, etc.
5. Assists parents/caretakers in addressing safety, behavioral, educational, psychological needs.  In addition, will provide crisis intervention to families, as needed.  
6. Ensure all court mandated and/or recommended services are offered, utilized, and maintained via referral/linkage or provided directly to minimize risk, while enhancing the family’s cohesiveness and overall well-being.
7. Assists with transportation for children and/or families to services/meeting/court and must have a safe, reliable vehicle. 
8. Complies with agency policies, federal and state regulations.
9. Performing other job-related duties as assigned by Supervisor.
 
Skills:
• Computer skills
• Knowledge of electronic record system
 
Education:
Minimum Degree Required: Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, Human Services, Criminal Justice or other related field.
 
Experience:
A minimum of one year paid experience working with children and families is required. Experience with case management providing in-home or community services is preferred.
 
Required License/Registration/ Certification:
• NYS Driver’s License
 
Training:
- New Hire Orientation
 
Physical Requirements: 
The overall nature of the position is sedentary requiring little physical effort with occasional light physical exertion required. There is little, if any, exposure to environmental conditions
• The constant physical demand of the position is sitting.
• The frequent physical demands of the position are standing, walking, climbing, talking, hearing, repetitive motions, and eye/hand/foot coordination.
• The occasional physical demands of the position are lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, balancing, stooping, crouching, reaching, handling, grasping, and feeling.