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County Caseworker 2 (Local Government) - Lehigh County Information and Referrals

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County Caseworker 2 (Local Government) - Lehigh County Information and Referrals

Salary

$52,260.00 Annually

Location

Lehigh County, PA

Job Type

Civil Service Permanent Full-Time

Job Number

CS-2025-27496-L0624

Department

Local Government

Division

HS Lehigh Information & Referr

Opening Date

07/16/2025

Closing Date

7/29/2025 11:59 PM Eastern

Job Code

L0624

Position Number

80007668

Union

SEIU Local 668

Bargaining Unit

LG

Pay Group

LG

Bureau / Division Code

88212839

Bureau / Division

Lehigh County Information & Referrals Unit

Worksite Address

17 South 7th Street

City

Allentown, Pennsylvania

Zip Code

18101

Contact Name

Danielle Guarna

Contact Phone

610.782.3171

Contact Email

[email protected]

+ Description

+ Benefits

+ Questions

THE POSITION

NOTE: THIS IS A REPOSTING OF CS-2025-27496-L0624. IF YOU APPLIED UNDER THE PREVIOUS POSTING WHICH WAS OPEN FROM JUNE 12, 2025, TO JUNE 25, 2025, YOU CANNOT SUBMIT A NEW APPLICATION.

The Office of Crisis Intervention provides vital support to all residents of Lehigh County who are experiencing a mental health emergency with the purpose of accessing treatment, recovery, and ultimately an improved quality of life. Come join our team and help make a difference in the lives of others.

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

This is a highly responsible Caseworker 2 position in the combined Information & Referral and Crisis Intervention Unit. The Crisis Intervention Unit is licensed for telephone, walk-in, and mobile services through OMHSAS and is a designated 988 call center. Regulations for licensing of these services require a crisis worker to qualify as a mental health professional. Crisis workers who are not mental health professionals must be directly supervised by a mental health professional. Information & Referral duties include processing referrals to all DHS offices and providing information about DHS services and community resources.

Obtain information from clients, members of their families, and others necessary for the identification of social, economic, emotional, health, or physical problems and for assisting clients in obtaining a wide variety of services on the basis of established policies, regulations, and statutes. Provide immediate support and de-escalate crises using intervention techniques. Screen, prioritize, and manage all requests for mental health and DHS services received by phone, outreach, or walk-in referrals. Recognize symptoms of mental illness for clinical assessments, determine service needs, and problem-solve post-assessment. Assess potential dangers in crisis situations, employ de-escalation techniques, conduct outreach assessments, and provide support prior to involuntary treatment.

Act as petitioner for 302/304 commitments if no alternative is available; attend mental health review hearings and assist petitioners when completing 302 documentation. Inform individuals of community resources, facilitate linkages, and assist with procedural intake requirements. Research and update community resource databases as necessary. Assist with daily operations, including copying, filing, and maintaining office. Collect and document 988 call data. Meet with Assistant Director and/or Director to review cases and discuss procedures as needed. Attend staff meetings, MH/ID and D&A staff meetings, in-service training by DHS, and approved external training sessions Complete other duties as assigned.

Must have a valid driver's license. Responsible to accompany, transport and assist individuals in crisis using either a personal vehicle or county vehicle.

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

+ Full-time employment.

+ Work hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday - Friday, with a 30-minute lunch.

+ There may be a rotation of shifts.

+ Telework: You will not have the option to telework in this position.

+ 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:

+ 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 service 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.

+ 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 (https://www.employment.pa.gov/Additional%20Info/Pages/default.aspx) is currentlywaivedfor this title.

+ You must be able to perform essential job functions.

Legal Requirements:

+ You must pass a background investigation.

+ 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 willnotbe 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 [email protected] .

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/testoncefor 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.

01

You must complete the supplemental question(s) below. Failure to provide complete and accurate information may delay the processing of your application or result in a lower-than-deserved score or disqualification. Youmustcomplete the applicationandanswer the supplemental question(s). Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents willnotbe reviewed for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position or to determine your score. All information you provide on your application and supplemental question(s) is subject to verification. Any misrepresentation, falsification or omission of material facts is subject to penalty. Read the question(s) carefully. Determine and select the option that most closely represents your highest level of experience/training/certification. The option you choose must be clearly supported if requested.

If you have read and understand these instructions, please click on the "Yes" button and proceed to the exam questions.

If you have general questions regarding the application and hiring process, please refer to ourFAQ page (https://www.employment.pa.gov/Additional%20Info/Pages/default.aspx) .

+ Yes

02

Have you been employed by a Pennsylvania local government agency in a civil service covered position as a County Caseworker 1 for at least six months full-time?

+ Yes

+ No

03

If you are claiming experience in the above question, please list the employer(s) where you gained this experience in the text box below. The employer(s) and a description of the experience must also be included in the appropriate sections of your application if you would like the experience to be considered in the eligibility decision. If you claimed you do not have experience, type N/A in the text box below.

04

Have you successfully completed the Child Welfare Education for Baccalaureates (CWEB) internship?

+ Yes

+ No

05

If you answered "Yes" to the above question, please answer the questions below regarding this internship. If you answered "No", please type N/A in the text box below.

+ The name of the employer where you completed your internship

+ The type of internship and duties performed

+ The number of hours completed

06

Have you successfully completed the County Social Casework Intern program in a civil service covered position with a Pennsylvania local government agency?

+ Yes

+ No

07

If you answered "Yes" to the above question, please answer the questions below regarding this internship. If you answered "No", please type N/A in the text box below.

+ The name of the employer where you completed your internship

+ The type of internship and duties performed

+ The number of hours completed

08

Have you completed a bachelor's degree with a major in social work or social welfareORare you currently enrolled in a bachelor's degree program in social work or social welfare and have completed at least 90 creditsandare within two months of graduation?

If you are claiming credits/degree, you must upload a copy of your college transcript(s) for this education to be considered in the eligibility decision. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. You must attach your transcript(s) prior to the submission of your application by using the "Attachments" tab on the left. You will not be able to add transcript(s) to the application after it has been submitted.

If you answer "Yes" to this question based on education acquired outside of the United States, you must also upload a copy of your foreign credential evaluation. For more information on foreign education credentials, please visithttps://www.employment.pa.gov/Additional%20Info/Pages/default.aspx#q3and click on Other Information.

+ Yes

+ No

09

If youhave notcompleted a bachelor's degree as indicated in Question 8, but you are within two months of graduation, please provide themonthandyearof your anticipated graduation date. If you have already graduated, or you answered "No" to Question 8, type N/A in the text box below.

If you are claiming credits/degree, you must upload a copy of your college transcript(s) for this education to be considered in the eligibility decision. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. You must attach your transcript(s) prior to the submission of your application by using the "Attachments" tab on the left. You will not be able to add transcript(s) to the application after it has been submitted.

If you are claiming credits/degree based on education acquired outside of the United States, you must also upload a copy of your foreign credential evaluation. For more information on foreign education credentials, please visithttps://www.employment.pa.gov/Additional%20Info/Pages/default.aspx#q3and click on Other Information.

10

Have you completed 12 or more semester credits in sociology, social welfare, psychology, gerontology, criminal justice, or other related social sciences?

If you are claiming credits/degree, you must upload a copy of your college transcript(s) for this education to be considered in the eligibility decision. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. You must attach your transcript(s) prior to the submission of your application by using the "Attachments" tab on the left. You will not be able to add transcript(s) to the application after it has been submitted.

If you answer "Yes" to this question based on education acquired outside of the United States, you must also upload a copy of your foreign credential evaluation. For more information on foreign education credentials, please visithttps://www.employment.pa.gov/Additional%20Info/Pages/default.aspx#q3and click on Other Information.

+ Yes

+ No

11

How much full-time professional social casework experience in a public or private social services agency do you possess?

+ 1 year or more

+ Less than 1 year

+ None

12

If you are claiming experience in the above question, please list the employer(s) where you gained this experience in the text box below. The employer(s) and a description of the experience must also be included in the appropriate sections of your application if you would like the experience to be considered in the eligibility decision. If you claimed you do not have experience, type N/A in the text box below.

13

How much graduate coursework in the behavioral sciences have you completed?

If you are claiming credits/degree, you must upload a copy of your college transcript(s) for this education to be considered in the eligibility decision. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. You must attach your transcript(s) prior to the submission of your application by using the "Attachments" tab on the left. You will not be able to add transcript(s) to the application after it has been submitted.

If you answer "Yes" to this question based on education acquired outside of the United States, you must also upload a copy of your foreign credential evaluation. For more information on foreign education credentials, please visithttps://www.employment.pa.gov/Additional%20Info/Pages/default.aspx#q3and click on Other Information.

+ 30 credits or more

+ Less than 30 credits

+ None

Required Question

Employer

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Address

613 North Street

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 17120

Website

http://www.employment.pa.gov