5A07
PAY RANGE: EP18
(Bilingual)
(General)
GENERAL DEFINITION
This is social services work at the full performance level. An employee in this class performs a variety of counseling, referral, placement and/or adoptive functions related to services for children and youth, adults and the aging, the homeless, or services to incarcerated individuals. Work may include performing case management activities, assessing client and family needs, developing an appropriate service and/or treatment plan, developing group activities, providing on-going counseling and referral services and/or determining appropriate placement actions. Work in this class differs from the next lower level in that employees typically are assigned the more complex cases requiring them to perform social service functions of an advanced nature involving more independent judgment and a significant understanding and application of professional principles and departmental standards. Contact with individuals, their families, representatives of various private and public welfare agencies, representatives of professional and community groups, and the general public is of major significance to the work. Work is performed under the general supervision of a technical superior.
ALLOCATING FACTORS: (The following conditions must be met for a position to be allocated to this class.)
1. The position must be responsible for full performance level counseling, referral, placement and/or adoptive functions related to services for children and youth, adults and the aging, the homeless, or services to incarcerated individuals.
2. The position must be located in the Department of Human Services, Office of Supportive Housing or the Philadelphia Prisons.
TYPICAL EXAMPLES OF WORK (ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY)
Performs the duties shown below in one of the specialty areas with members of the English language speaking and designated non-English language speaking populations.
Attends periodic staff and personal conferences; confers with superior on difficult problems; prepares reports and correspondence; keeps records of all assigned cases.
Performs related work as required.
Conducts initial needs assessment and elicits information to determine client's socio-economic, family, medical, employment, educational, emotional and criminal justice background and history; reviews commitment and summary forms to ascertain accuracy and resolve problems; orients individuals with institution's policies and procedures, program alternatives, and assigned activities; advises on, and recommends most appropriate rehabilitation and treatment plan; reviews and discusses client's cases to identify accomplishments, deficiencies, and problems; evaluates individual's readiness to separate from program; develops recommendations for after-care plan; participates in inmate disciplinary hearings.
Reviews background information for individuals admitted to City's youth detention facility; orients individual and parents to rules and procedures and explains the judicial process; evaluates family relationships, interaction problems, and individual's needs, interests, extent of motivation and patterns of responsibility; provides on-going individual or group counseling to meet needs and resolve problems during stay in facility.
Counsels individual in dealing with and overcoming emotional problems; clarifies recommendations with appropriate treatment and rehabilitation personnel; contacts other social service agencies to aid inmate's family; prepares appropriate reports, forms, and documentation.
Performs a variety of counseling, referral, placement and/or adoptive services for assigned cases within respective program; conducts interviews with individuals requiring agency services including requests for temporary shelter, placement of children or unusual and difficult social service cases; may make home visits to families of emotionally disturbed and/or problem children; elicits data to ascertain nature and extent of complaint, severity of problems, potential danger to individual, and/or facts and circumstances relevant to requests; reviews case record for client's and family's profile, socio-economic history, previous treatment and service experiences, and/or special problems and family history, financial and social problems, individual perspectives and perceptions, attitudes and behavior and other factors; observes interactions of client, family members and peers; makes immediate decision as to eligibility for departmental services; obtains and evaluates social information concerning families with unusual or chronic social service problems; contacts professionals and members of community to discuss history of case and service needs.
Develops service plan to provide a variety of social services referrals and to define goals and objective; determines need for social, behavioral, medical and/or psychological services; provides individual or family counseling as needed; makes referrals to a variety of support agencies; monitors individual and family progress, cooperation, and acceptance of services.
Plans for the appropriate placement of individuals in a temporary or permanent care program, facility or institution; interviews prospective applicants, clients and providers; orients participants in program's goals and objectives, roles and responsibilities of various parties, and legal ramifications; arranges for any medical or psychiatric treatment prior to placement.
Monitors and evaluates activities of agencies contracted to provide a variety of social services; visits and inspects direct placement to evaluate progress, and/or problems of client; prepares and discusses written evaluations of agency; finds alternative placement for client when warranted; recommends services provided to client by agency be terminated.
Initiates court action when appropriate and prepares necessary work.
Department of Human Services Positions Only:
Learning Specialist
Consults with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), Senior Learning Specialists, and Division staff to inform the development of a new training curriculum; conduct training needs analysis for small teams and individuals; conducts training; implement interventions to help individuals and small groups with guidance from the Senior Learning Specialist; partners with managers and Divisions to create, edit and produce training materials.
Practice Coach
Provides guidance to and mentors provider agency staff on case management; assists case managers in navigating programs and technological systems in the department; assists case managers in navigating court processes; provides technical assistance to provider agency staff on required case documentation; conducts small group training; explains and interprets report data and service history; conducts emergency clearances using electronic databases; assists with identifying resources.
Quality Visitation Reviewer
Visits homes and meets with families to ensure that case documentation matches the family’s experience of services received.
Team Coordinator
Completes Family Finding and all other appropriate searches for extended family and supports utilizing electronic searches and databases; schedules team decision making meetings and invites all stakeholders to attend meetings; completes the initial Family Information paperwork to identify relatives to notify about placement; engages families and explains the purpose and importance of participating in the team meeting; attends the team meeting and records notes and recommendations that will drive the practice.
Schedules teaming decision making meetings.
Gathers information on, communicates with and schedules participants in the teamings.
Assists the Practice Specialist in preparation for each teaming; reviews any case documents such as the current status of cases and service plans and gathers pertinent information; provides any necessary support to ensure that teamings occur timely and successfully; tracks progress and maintains record of all teamings; prepares reports, forms, and correspondences as appropriate.
Philadelphia Juvenile Justice Services Center Assignment
Performs above-mentioned duties and a variety of counseling and referral services for complex cases involving juvenile residents at the Juvenile Justice Services Center; acts as a liaison for residents by communicating with Court officers, probation officers, therapists, medical providers, families, educators and other social work agencies; administers assessments and screening instruments; documents case management and assessments in file system; write court reports; ensures quality of social work services provided to residents and implements best practices; completes training required under PA Code Chapter 3800.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
KNOWLEDGE OF:
·
the principles, practices and techniques of social
services work as applied to the assignment
·
the laws, regulations and rules governing the provision
of social services to individuals within the assignment
· philosophy and objectives underlying social services within the assignment
·
functions and resources of public and private welfare and
related agencies in the assignment
· social factors which contribute to attitudes and behaviors common to abandoned, neglected and/or dependent individuals
· current social, economic and health programs appropriate for the population served
· theories, principles and techniques of working with individuals with severe emotional, mental, and social problems
· the causes of social maladjustment and other social factors which necessitate the placement or institutionalization of children and adults
· the principles, practices, methods and techniques in the field of social service planning
· social, environmental, economic and psychological factors underlying the breakdown of the family structure
· concepts and methods utilized in the prevention of self-destructive behaviors
· English usage, spelling and grammar
ABILITY TO:
· observe, recognize, analyze and report on individual's behavioral, attitudinal, emotional and social problems, and develop a plan for their resolution
· evaluate program quality and effectiveness as they relate to an individual's or a group's needs, recommending modifications when appropriate
· establish rapport and cooperative relationships with individuals with social and emotional problems
·
employ tact and judgment in dealing with sensitive or
personal problems and hostile attitudes
· plan and implement group activities based on the assessed needs of participants
· establish and maintain effective working relationships with public and private social service officials, representatives of community organizations, associates and the general public
· prepare a variety of written reports
· present ideas effectively, both orally and in writing
· complete the Development of Trainer (DOT) course presented by the Pennsylvania Child Welfare Resource Center for the Learning Specialist and Practice Coach assignments
· determine training needs for the Learning Specialist assignment
· develop and conduct training programs for the Learning Specialist assignment
· complete staff trainings required by state regulations for positions in DHS assigned to the Philadelphia Juvenile Justice Services Center
· use medically reviewed and recognized Emergency Safety Physical Intervention (ESPI) techniques to physically restrain youths as needed for Philadelphia Juvenile Justice Services Center Positions only
· speak, read and write in a specified non-English language and in English fluently for the Bilingual Specialty
MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE (The following statement represents the minimum training and experience standards which will be used to admit or reject applicants for tests. Applications submitted by candidates for this class will be reviewed based on training and experience requirements as approved on 9/19.)
EDUCATION:
Completion of a bachelor's degree in social work, social services, sociology, psychology, criminal justice, behavioral health, public health, human services, human or child development, education or a closely related field at an accredited college or university.
EXPERIENCE:
Three years of case management work experience that has been accrued after completion of the bachelor’s degree program performing a variety of social services related to children and youth, adults and the aging, and/or correctional rehabilitation.
Any equivalent combination of education and experience determined to be acceptable by the Office of Human Resources, which has included a bachelor's degree as an educational minimum.
NOTE: This note does not apply to career advancement or in-position promotion. A master's degree in Social Work may be substituted for two years of experience.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT FOR THE BILINGUAL SPECIALTY
Sufficient training and/or experience to be able to understand and speak fluently and clearly in English and the designated non-English language.
PHYSICAL AND MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS
Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the environmental conditions required of a position in this class, if required by work assignment.
Ability to physically restrain youths using medically reviewed and recognized Emergency Physical Safety Intervention (EPSI) techniques in order to maintain safety and security of self and residents until assistance arrives for Philadelphia Juvenile Justice Services Center positions only.
Ability to escort residents throughout the facility including corridors, and climbing up and down stairs as required for Philadelphia Juvenile Justice Services Center positions only.
LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS AND/OR CERTIFICATES
Possession of a valid proper class motor vehicle operator's license as issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania prior to appointment and during tenure of employment as a Social Work Services Manager 2, if required by work assignment.
Note: This is not a licensed social worker position.
Department of Human Services Positions Only
Possession of Development of Trainer (DOT) certification by the Pennsylvania Child Welfare Resource Center coordinated through DHS university is required during tenure of employment as a Social Work Services Manager 2 for employees in the Learning Specialist and Practice Coach assignments.
Philadelphia Juvenile Justice Services Center positions:
As mandated by Pennsylvania Code Chapter 3800 governing Child Treatment Facilities, certification of completion of Crisis Intervention and Behavior Management training within 120 days of appointment and recertification on an annual basis during tenure of employment is required for the Philadelphia Juvenile Justice Services Center positions.
Note: Child Protective Service Law requires FBI criminal history background check as well as the PSP criminal history background check and Pennsylvania child abuse background check as a condition of initial employment and during tenure of employment.
NOTE: If the FBI/Pennsylvania State Police criminal background checks reveal the existence of a disqualifying offense, additional documentation must be submitted as required by the City of Philadelphia to determine eligibility for appointment to or continued employment in the class under the Child Protective Services Law.
Spec. Revision: CSC - 9/96; Ad. Board - 11/96
CSC - 8/09; Ad. Board - 9/09
CSC - 11/09; Ad. Board - 12/09
CSC - 9/12; Ad. Board - 11/12
CSC – 6/15; Ad. Board – 6/15
Spec. Change: CSC – 11/15; Ad. Board – 12/15
Spec. Change:
CSC – 5/16
Ad. Board – 6/16
Latest Spec. Revision:
CSC – 7/19
Ad. Board – 9/19
SA