Job Description

Position: Social Service Aide I

Nature of Work

• This position serves as a specialized worker, known as a Social Services Aide I or II, (SSA) within the structure of the Erie County Office of Children and Youth and involves the ability to function as a positive and self-motivated team member working with parents and children involved with the Agency due to abuse or neglect concerns. The SSA is charged with the task of assuring supportive services to both the children and families involved with the Agency and the casework staff. This work is challenging due to the nature of abuse and neglect on children and because abusive and neglectful parents generally have suffered their own trauma as children, and they themselves need to experience a relationship in which their dependency needs are met and in which they are helped to achieve independence.

Duties & Responsibilities

• The SSA must be prepared to carry out, or invest in training to carry out, a variety of tasks including:
• Scheduling, transporting and supervising visits between children placed in out of home settings and their parents and siblings. The SSA must be able to carry children, car seats and other paraphernalia needed, i.e., diaper bag, medical equipment, etc. The SSA is also responsible for separating the children from the parents after visits. This can be a difficult time. The SSA must be physically able to handle tantruming children. This task includes being responsible for scheduling and in the event of a visit being canceled, canceling visitation rooms on the Outlook calendar in a timely manner.
• Preparing monthly visitation calendars (which include visitation times and who is responsible for transportation) and distributing them to all involved parties (parents, foster/kinship parents, service providers involved in the visit, caseworker/supervisor, etc.).
• Preparing parents for visits with their children by educating them on such things as appropriate parenting techniques and discipline strategies, nutrition and the preparation of healthy meals and snacks, etc.
• Intervening in a visit when the opportunity presents itself to model an appropriate strategy with the parent or when a child’s safety is in jeopardy.
• Meeting parents following a visit providing both positive feedback regarding the visit and areas in need of improvement for the next visit.
• Providing transportation for appointments such as medical appointments, group meetings, Court hearings, school appointments, etc.
• Collaborating with other SSA’s to assist in meeting client transportation needs, including one time transports.
• Assisting parents and children with the completion of their Court ordered treatment plans by being knowledgeable about the plan and community resources.
• Completing home visits with the parents focusing on such things as home management, budgeting, time management and other aspects of successful parenting.
• Providing assistance for families when their caseworker is not available at the discretion of the case supervisor.
• Completing accurate, concise and detailed case documentation as required by regulations, laws and Agency policy.
• Attending caseworker’s supervision as requested to provide case updates to both the caseworker and supervisor.
• Participating in multiple case staffing/meetings as requested.
• Composing accurate, concise and detailed Court reports as requested and in a timely and professional manner.
• Attending Court hearings as requested for multiple reasons including providing testimony as needed.
• Being accountable for their own whereabouts at all times including, but not limited to, keeping their schedules up to date and accurate on Outlook calendars, notifying the supervisor in emergencies, using AOD to request time off and to accurately record time worked.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Other required skill sets and expectations include, but are not limited to:
• Being knowledgeable of Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Regulations and Agency policies and procedures.
• Having the ability to effectively communicate and establish positive, working relationships with children, parents, placement providers, community partners and Agency staff.
• Having the ability to learn and apply required computer software and data entry skills.
• Having the ability to maintain accurate and complete records as to conversations, observations, etc.
• Having a working knowledge of the goals, practices, and regulations/policies of the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services and the Erie County Office of Children and Youth.
• Demonstrating the ability to meet deadlines, schedules, and appointments in terms of accuracy, thoroughness, punctuality and communication.
• Necessary talents and professional traits include the following:
• Conduct all assigned duties in a professional, ethical manner which protects the rights and dignity of all children and adults – whether biological families or foster care families.
• Requires a self-starter attitude with excellent communication and decision making skills.
• Successful ability to work as a team member.
• Act as a representative of the Erie County Office of Children and Youth with various agencies, school systems, human service agencies and the Courts.
• Demonstrate understanding and effective utilization of job related information, technical skills and procedures.
• Demonstrate compliance with written procedures as well as supervisor’s verbal and written instruction.
• Ability to appropriately communicate with legal, physical and behavioral health professionals, all Agency staff, foster families, parents, schools and community partners.
• Ability to adapt to multiple demands, changing priorities and to accommodate emergencies.
• Ability to learn new skills and assume new responsibilities, as needed.
• Ability to meet the physical demands of this position.

Minimum Requirements

• High School Graduate or GED and two years' experience in a human services agency; OR an associate's degree in sociology, social welfare, psychology or other related social sciences; OR any equivalent combination of experience and training.

Supervision Received

• Supervised by an Erie County Office of Children and Youth Casework 1 Supervisor.

Conditions Of Employment

• Required to provide and are subject to Pennsylvania criminal and child abuse clearances as well as an FBI fingerprint clearance prior to the start of employment.