Starting salary : $51,779 

The work involves responsibility for providing social work services for individuals and/or their families including children to assist them with their economic, emotional, social and environmental difficulties. Work is performed under the close supervision of a Senior Caseworker or Case Supervisor Grade B, with in-service training provided through the agency’s staff development program. The caseworker, in consultation with the supervisor, formulates and carries out plans to meet the individual problems of the cases assigned, coordinates treatment plans with other providers and provides case management services. Certain assignments made to employees in this class will require reasonable access to transportation to meet fieldwork requirements made in the ordinary course of business in a timely and efficient manner. Incumbents must successfully pass a background check. Does related work as required.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES 

• Formulates and carries out plans to meet the needs of the individual or family.
• Provides counseling to increase the individual’s or family’s capacity to solve problems.
• Studies the background and need for care of clients referred, securing information from the client, the
  family, relatives, schools, churches, family courts, and other agencies.
• When foster care (of a child) is necessary, determines whether the child’s needs can best be met in an
  institution or a foster family home.
• Plans with parents and relatives for the care of children and reestablishment of the home.
• Establishes a relationship with individuals and families to support them in using recommended social
  services.
• Identifies the need for services through in-depth discussions with clients.
• Makes home visits.
• Coordinates case plans with other service providers.
• Maintains liaison with various individual agencies to which individuals and families can be referred for services.
• Works closely with other staff personnel such as homemakers in carrying out the plan for services.
• Reviews existing case records for available information for use in formulating a plan of treatment.
• Periodically reviews cases to determine changes in the individual’s or family’s situations affecting need for service.

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, ABILITIES & PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS 

• Working knowledge of Federal, State and local public welfare laws and programs.
• Ability to establish and maintain purposeful relationships with people.
• Ability to prepare effective written correspondence, records and reports.
• Ability to use a variety of conceptual tools in interpreting human behavior and social processes.
• Respect for individual rights and sensitivity to individual differences.
• Good powers of observation and analysis.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Graduation from a regionally accredited college or university or one accredited by the New York State Board of Regents to grant degrees with a baccalaureate degree.

Starting salary: $43,827

The position involves responsibility for non-professional functions in the Onondaga County Department of Social Services in support of casework staff in implementing programs and delivery of services to clients. Duties are carried out under less direct supervision and with greater latitude for exercising independent judgment than allowed a Community Services Aide. Assignments relating to determining financial eligibility for the various programs administered by the local social services district are not typically performed by employees in this class. Functions typically assigned to Community Services Workers are primarily those relating to Children’s Division Programs. An employee in this class works under the direct supervision of a supervisory level employee. Supervision is not a responsibility of an employee in this class. Certain assignments made to employees in this class will require reasonable access to transportation to meet fieldwork requirements made in the ordinary course of business in a timely and efficient manner. Incumbents must successfully pass a background check. Does related work as required.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES

• Supervises and monitors visits between foster children and their parents.
• Transports clients to and from family visits, medical and other appointments.
• Provides information to individuals or groups concerning services offered by public and private agencies.
• Assists clients in completing necessary forms and obtaining information.
• May make home visits to follow up on broken appointments or gather routine information.
• Assists clients in areas of housing, employment, school attendance, recreation, money management, day care, transportationand escort.
• Assists individuals in recognizing conditions contributing to social problems and in making efforts toward correcting these conditions.

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, ABILITIES & PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

• Working knowledge of community resources and organizations.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative and courteous relationships with clients, agency staff and the general public.
• Ability to interpret agency programs, goals and eligibility requirements in language that promotes understanding of theagency.
• Ability to understand and follow instructions.
• Ability to read and write English and prepare brief accurate reports.
• Ability to relate well to children.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

A) Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university with an Associate’s Degree; or,
B) Two (2) years of work experience, or its part time equivalent, in a non-professional position supporting social servicesprograms in a public or private agency; or,
C) An equivalent combination of training and experience as defined by the limits of (A) and (B) above.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT
Possession of a valid New York State driver’s license at time of appointment.

Starting salary: $37,581

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS
The work involves responsibility for performing duties connected with the care, treatment and rehabilitation of emotionally disturbed children. As a member of the children’s treatment team, an employee in this class actively participates with children on a daily basis by carrying out pre-planned, supervised activities within the overall framework of the child’s treatment plan. The employee acts as a positive role model for children and assists in the classroom, socialization activities, group therapy and other scheduled activities in the child’s day, with the aim of establishing trust, building healthy relationships and enhancing emotional growth in the child. Children are assisted on a daily basis to reach individual treatment goals. Work is performed following the policies and procedures developed for the assigned program. Work is performed under the supervision of a Child Care
Worker II, Child Care Supervisor or a special education teacher. Incumbents must successfully pass a background check. Does related work as required.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES

• Participates in the child’s daily scheduled activities in the classroom, socialization, recreation and other planned programs.
• Provides emotional support to the children through out the day.
• Instructs, guides, and counsels children by example, direction and advice to assist them in achieving better patterns of social behavior, personal hygiene and academic success.
• Observes and evaluates assigned children’s behaviors during the day including group interactions, and classroom and recreation activities; makes notations and advises other treatment team members about these observations.
• Attends team meetings to discuss treatment progress, problems and revisions.
• Oversees cafeteria meals and helps maintain a safe, clean organized workplace.
• Prepares a variety of routine records, notes, and reports as required.
• Observes, learns and applies basic techniques and principles employed by the child care team.
• Reports on progress of children towards reaching their treatment goals.
• Attends training and stays current on such procedures as CPR and therapeutic techniques.
• May operate a light motor vehicle for field trips, summer camp, etc.

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGES SKILLS, ABILITIES & PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS 

• Working knowledge of child development and behavior.
• Working knowledge of the techniques and procedures for the care and treatment of emotionally disturbed children.
• Ability to care for and understand children with mental and emotional problems.
• Ability to relate well and to establish a rapport with children and tolerate deviant behavior.
• Ability to conduct recreational activities for children with mental and emotional problems.
• Ability to observe behavior and prepare anecdotal reports.
• Ability to promote efficient group and team functioning.
• Ability to work efficiently and effectively with a multi-disciplinary team.
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
A) Successful completion of fifteen (15) semester credit hours in the behavioral sciences, human services, education, recreation, child care or a field closely related to child care from a regionally accredited college or university or one accredited by the New York State Board of Regents to grant degrees; or,
B) Six (6) months of work experience, or its part time equivalent, as a teacher or teacher’s aide or assistant in a school, education program or day care center; as a therapy aide in a center for the mentally or developmentally disabled; as a psychiatric aide in a public or private mental health hospital; as a recreation leader/manager responsible for scheduling and planning activities in a recognized recreation program within a facility; or in a human services position in a closely related field.

Starting salary: $40,790

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS

The work involves responsibility for assisting the professional counseling staff by performing a variety of routine yet critical tasks necessary to the operation of a detention home. These tasks are performed to free the professional staff from routine responsibilities, allowing the counselors to concentrate on functions of leadership and discipline. Typical Detention Home Aide assignments would include the implementation of daily and evening activities and schedules, monitoring residents while they are asleep or assigned to their rooms, and assisting counselors in meeting the needs of residents. Other typical duties include such functions as transportation of youth, screening or assisting visitors with rules and regulations, admission of new residents and operation of the facility’s control panel. Assignments depend on the size of the facility’s population, discipline problems, and availability of professional staff. Direct supervision is received from a Detention Home Counselor 2. Supervision of employees is not exercised by an employee in this class. Does related work as required.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES

• Instructs children regarding Detention Home rules and regulations, discipline and personal habits, and enforces their application.
• Transports detained juveniles to and from scheduled appointments outside of the facility such as medical appointments or court appearances, and maintains security and control procedures while transporting juveniles.
• Oversees, participates in and controls a group of juveniles during recreational and other activities, in accordance with the policies and procedures of the facility.
• Makes bed inspections and security inspections at night.
• Makes oral and written reports of all unusual occurrences or accidents happening during the shift.
• Performs routine general security checks throughout the building, both day and night.
• May be assigned to transport persons in need of supervision (PINS) who have been placed by the courts in a facility in New York State but outside of Onondaga County.
• May supervise one or more youths who have been isolated from the general group population because of medical or disciplinary restrictions.
• May process new admissions during the night shift by completing required forms, searching children for weapons or contraband material, assigning quarters and issuing clothes.
• Screens visitors on visiting days, verifying that all necessary forms have been completed and explaining rules and regulations of the facility.
• Monitors the visiting area while visits are in progress then searches residents and inspects the visiting area upon completion of visits.
• Operates the main control panel, which involves answering incoming calls; controlling access to and from the facility, including distribution and controlling the issuance of building keys to staff; screening visitors and monitoring the walk-through weapons and metal detector; assisting in the transfer of communications between staff members on duty; and monitoring areas of the facility for security and safety.
• Records general institutional information in the main log book.

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

• Good knowledge of basic institutional safety and security policies and procedures.
• Good knowledge of the principles and practices of group leadership and recreation, and of a variety of games, sports and crafts.
• Working knowledge of the rules, regulations and policies governing a detention home facility.
• Ability to understand, interpret and follow written and oral instructions.
• Ability to explain to residents, guests and visitors the rules and regulations of the facility.
• Ability to enforce regulations with firmness, tact and impartiality.
• Ability to gain and hold the confidence of juveniles.
• Ability to maintain a sympathetic, empathetic and understanding attitude toward delinquent juveniles.
• Ability to keep routine records, and to make oral and written reports.
• Good judgment in dealing with juvenile residents.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

None.

Learn more about the Hillbrook Juvenile Detention Center here.