Foster Care Caseworker

About COBYS Family Services

Motivated by Christian faith, COBYS Family Services educates, supports and empowers children and adults to reach their full potential. Located in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, COBYS Family Services provides a range of foster care, adoption, permanency, family life education and counseling services throughout the region.

At COBYS, you can expect an organization environment where kindness and respect matters, where colleagues work collaboratively and strive for excellence in the care provided to our clients. Delivering direct human services is not an easy job, but we believe it is our organization’s calling in assisting those we serve in our community. We encourage you to be your best self and to serve joyfully, while practicing empathy, grace and humility.

Title Position: Foster Care Caseworker

Work Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Reports to: Foster Care Coordinator or Foster Care Supervisor

Summary: Responsible for the day-to-day casework services in accordance with regulations of the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services and COBYS Family Services.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Fiscal:

1. In cooperation with Foster Care Coordinator or Supervisor, assure foster children are assigned the proper per diem rate and assure necessary paperwork is completed for billing purposes.

2. Identify needs within the foster care program and report needs to Foster Care Coordinator or Supervisor.

Program Responsibilities

1. Conduct contacts with foster children as follows: once weekly during the first month and during times of crisis, bi-weekly after the first month with at least one contact every 30 days in the resource home.

2. Arrange family visitation to meet guidelines set by the county caseworker/court. Supervise and document visitation as requested by the county caseworker.

3. Assure transportation for foster children to visits. Transportation is primarily the responsibility of the resource family. Transportation by caseworkers should be a last resort.

4. Complete written reports as follows: Individual Service Plan/Initial Adjustment Report within 30 days of placement, Monthly Reports, ISP reviews every six months, and Discharge Summaries. ISP’s are written in cooperation with the county caseworker, birth family, foster child, and resource family.

5. Coordinate supportive services to the foster child to meet the needs of the foster child and resource family.

6. Ensure that the foster child receives appropriate and timely medical care as outlined in DHS requirements.

7. Participate in significant appointments, including evaluations of any kind, school meetings, unusual medical appointments, etc.

8. Monitor the foster care placement by conducting regular home visits to ensure that the foster child’s needs are being met and that the resource family is capable of appropriately parenting the foster child.

9. Document all in person, telephone and electronic contacts in log notes and keep current (within two weeks).

10. Conduct monthly safety assessments of foster children.

11. Obtain medical, educational, legal, and background information on foster children.

12. Assist in enrolling foster child in school.

13. Provide family work sessions twice a month with birth parents as requested by county caseworkers. At least one session is to be held in the birth parent’s home. The caseworker service provided is case management of the court ordered family service plan.

14. Complete or assist Foster Care Coordinator or Supervisor in completing injury/unusual incident reports (HCSIS).

15. Address issues with resource families, when necessary.

16. Complete caseworker section of resource family’s annual evaluations.

17. Arrangement of respite care as needed and requested.

18. Supportive casework services to resource parents who need to resolve issues related to foster care. Any social services required are referred to a third party.

19. Removal of a foster child when the situation is not in the best interest of the child and/or the resource family.

20. Provide on-call services as needed in the absence of an on-call caseworker.

21. Participate in monthly Foster Care Unit Meetings, Kid Meetings, and Staff Meetings.

22. Participate in bi-weekly supervision with Foster Care Coordinator or Supervisor.

Training:

1. Participate in a minimum of 40 hours of training annually. Half of these hours may involve casework supervision and/or training by Foster Care Coordinator or Supervisor. The remaining is to be obtained through special training in senior caseworker's area of interest, area for growth.

2. Provide documentation to Director of Placement Services of training through certificates or by completing training forms.

3. Career planning/development as part of supervision (graduate school, specialization, attending specific trainings for specializations).

Required Skills:

1. Personal characteristics and commitment to enhance COBYS mission.

2. The ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing with clients, their families and professionals.

3. The ability to establish relationships with clients that will facilitate development and implementation of case plans which balance the helping role with child protection role.

4. Flexibility and energy to meet unpredictable and emergency nature of caseload demands.

5. The ability to gather sufficient information to analyze complex situations accurately and respond to stressful situations in a constructive manner.

6. The ability to analyze complex situations accurately and pursue effective courses of action.

7. The ability to work cooperatively to enhance team functioning within the unit, and to contribute to the overall agency goals.

8. Some remote work.

Corporate Involvement:

1. Assists COBYS in establishing annual goals and following through with assigned projects.

Qualifications:

1. Minimum of a four year college degree in a social science field.

2. Must pass pre-employment medical appraisal as well as State Police, Childline, and FBI clearances.

3. Must possess a valid driver’s license, vehicle insurance, and vehicle registration.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $1.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Referral program
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person