County Social Services Aide 3 (Local Government) Westmoreland County Children & Youth

Would you like to make a positive impact on children and families in the community? The Westmoreland County Children's Bureau is eager to welcome engaged and highly motivated County Social Service Aides to our dedicated team. Social Service Aides play a vital role by providing a variety of services and support to our children and youth programs. If you are passionate about working in an environment that serves to help others, this is the perfect job for you!

The primary responsibility of a County Social Services Aide 3 is the provision of supportive and supplemental services to children in placement, their foster families and their natural families. A Social Services Aide normally joins with caseworkers and social workers in a teamwork relationship to increase the intensity and effectiveness of service delivery. This position coordinates with client and family/foster parents/vendor placement staff the process of accessing benefits for client/family; develops with worker and client a plan for independent living to include planning for a source of income, establishing a living situation budgeting and money management, and appropriate connections with family and/or community support systems; cooperates with the primary worker while the child/adolescent is in placement to arrange family visits, evaluations, therapy sessions, shopping for clothes and any other necessary tasks to provide services to client while in placement; provides follow up support to facilitate a young person's adjustment to an independent living situation; meets with family, worker and other members of agency team to review and revise service plan to include goals, objectives, specific tasks, responsibilities and time frames.

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment
• Work hours are 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday - Friday, with 30-minute lunch.
• Telework: You may have the opportunity to work from home (telework) part-time, after 6 months and as agreed upon by management. In order to telework, you must have a securely configured high-speed internet connection and work from an approved location inside Pennsylvania. If you are unable to telework, you will have the option to report to the headquarters office in Greensburg. The ability to telework is subject to change at any time. Additional details may be provided during the interview.
• Salary: The starting salary is non-negotiable.
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• One year as a County Social Services Aide 2; or
• Graduation from high school, or its equivalency, and three years of experience in public contact work in a human services agency which included one year of experience in interviewing and obtaining information; or
• An associate's degree in sociology, social welfare, psychology, gerontology, criminal justice, or other related social sciences, and one year of experience in a human services agency; or
• Any equivalent combination of experience and training.

Other Requirements:

• You must meet the PA residency requirement. For more information on ways to meet PA residency requirements, follow the link and click on Residency.
• Hiring preference for this vacancy may be given to candidates who live within Westmoreland County. If no eligible candidates who live within Westmoreland County apply for this position, candidates who reside in other counties may 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 a 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.pa.gov/agencies/employment/how-to-apply.html and click on Veterans.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS):

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.

• 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.