THE POSITION

Do you want to make a difference in the lives of children and their families? Consider becoming a Caseworker I for Huntingdon County Children & Youth. We strive to help families and improve the lives of the children in our care. Huntingdon County is a small, quiet town in Central Pennsylvania and a nice place to live and raise a family. If this opportunity appeals to you, please fill out an application and come talk with us.

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

As a Children & Youth Caseworker I, you will be assigned children and families that you will assist, and you will be assigned a Supervisor, who will oversee your work and help answer questions and give direction on problems that arise. You will get hands-on experience and see the result of your labor. During regular hours, you will speak with callers contacting our agency and also respond to referrals. You will need to rotate an on-call schedule with co-workers after regular, working hours and on holidays. This position conducts investigations and assessments and develops service plans for children and their families, who are accepted for services.

The Caseworker I provides direct service to children and their families as per their service plan. This individual also conducts case reviews and judicial reviews of the service plans and maintains compliance with laws, regulations, and policies. The Caseworker I is a valuable asset to Huntingdon County and the children who reside here.

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• 
  Full-time employment
• Work Hours: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM; Monday - Friday; 1 hour lunch period
• There is no quarantine requirement for employees who have exposure to COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status. Employees who have been exposed will be required to wear a mask at all times while in county buildings for 10 days following their exposure. Employees who test positive for COVID-19 must isolate for 5 full days from the onset of their symptoms. If the employee has been fever-free for 24 hours and has a clearance from their physician, they may return on the 6th day from symptom onset. These employees must wear a mask at all times while in county buildings until 10 full days have passed since the onset of their symptoms. Testing is available through the county. Exposures and positive test results are required to be reported to your supervisor.
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE, TRAINING & ELIGIBILITY

QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• 
  Two years of experience as a County Social Services Aide 3 and two years of college level course work which includes 12 college credits in sociology, social welfare, psychology, gerontology, criminal justice, or other related social sciences; or
• A bachelor's degree which includes or is supplemented by successful completion of 12 college credits in sociology, social welfare, psychology, gerontology, criminal justice, or other related social sciences; 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 and one year of experience as a County Social Services Aide 3 or in a similar position performing paraprofessional case management functions.
• Applicants will be considered to have met the educational requirements once they are within two months of graduating with a qualifying degree/credits.

Other Requirements:

• PA residency requirement is currently waived for this title.
• Hiring preference for this vacancy will be given to candidates who live within Huntingdon County. If no eligible candidates who live within Huntingdon County apply for this position, candidates who reside in other counties will be considered.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

Legal Requirements:

• You must pass a background investigation.
• A conditional offer of employment will require drug screening.
• This position falls under the provisions of the Child Protective Services Law.
  • Under the Law, a conditional offer of employment will require submission and approval of satisfactory criminal history reports including, but not limited to, PA State Police clearance, PA Child Abuse history clearance, and FBI Fingerprint clearance.

How to Apply:

• Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
• If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
• Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.
• Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.

Veterans:

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. §7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.employment.pa.gov/Additional%20Info/Pages/default.aspx and click the Veterans’ Preference tab or contact us at ra-cs-vetpreference@pa.gov.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS):

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.

EXAMINATION INFORMATION

• Completing the application, including all supplemental questions, serves as your exam for this position. No additional exam is required at a test center (also referred to as a written exam).
• Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions.
• Your score is valid for this specific posting only.
• You must provide complete and accurate information or:
  • your score may be lower than deserved.
  • you may be disqualified.
• You may only apply/test once for this posting.
• Your results will be provided via email.

Benefit packages are determined by the county and may vary. Please contact the applicable county human resource office directly to inquire about a specific benefit package.