Case Assistant

Examples of DutiesThe work involves assisting Caseworkers and Child Protective Workers in the performance of duties, which involve the coordinating of visits between children in foster care or placed with kin and their parents and siblings. The incumbent may provide transportation and/or supervision for the visits. The incumbent is responsible for orienting parents, foster parents and caretakers to the purpose, goals and content of visitation and to assist them in making visits beneficial to the child. Work is performed under the supervision of a higher-ranking employee and involves other casework/CPS related duties, as appropriated and directed. Does related work as required. Typical Work Activities Assists in interviewing applicants and referrals for childcare, foster care adoption, adult services, preventive services, or other services of the department; Assists in the review of cases periodically to determine changes affecting client circumstances and need for service; Assists in coordinating a visitation plan, which may involve the supervising and transporting of children for visits and appointments, as well as, establishing suitable locations for such visits; Documents interactions with clients and children, collateral information on cases and performs written work as directed; Designs and coordinates parent orientations and parent/child workshops, designed to promote positive visits between children, parents and foster parents/caretakers; Assists parents, foster parents and caretakers with providing positive experiences for their children and assists with transportation as directed; Prepares appropriate information for client files, court proceedings and other casework/CPS related events; Provides back-up assistance to the department in covering in-house and in-territory client related events, such as remanding children into care, overseeing children while parents are interviewed or taking/retrieving information to/from agencies, etc.; Provides case related and/or program related information in relevant meetings and conferences; Assists other staff with assessing the needs of clients and their children; Operates personal computer for word processing, e-mail and case recording; Assis in CPS Intake procedures and maintains confidential information. Minimum Qualifications(A) Completion of sixty (60) credit hours**; or: (B) Graduation from high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma and two (2) years experience coordinating a social service program, to include interviewing applicants, assisting in the determination for eligibility, and updating and maintaining case files; or: An equivalent combination of training and experience as defined by the limits of (A) and (B). Residence RequirementCandidates must be legal residents of Erie County at time of application. Special Requirements Possession of a valid New York State Drivers License at time of permanent appointment.