CASE WORKER - City of New York : Job Details

Job DescriptionIF YOU ARE HIRED PROVISIONALLY IN THIS TITLE, YOU MUST TAKE AND PASS THE CIVIL SERVICE EXAM WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT.Adult Protective Services (APS) is mandated by the State of New York to provide social, legal and protective services to individuals 18 years of age and older, who because of mental or physical impairments are unable to meet their essential needs for food, shelter, clothing, or medical care, secure benefits and entitlements or protect themselves from physical or mental injury, neglect, maltreatment, or financial exploitation; are in need of protection from actual or threatened harm, neglect or hazardous conditions and have no one available who is willing and able to assist them responsibly.Caseworkers in this role perform community-based work, consisting of home visits and other related community-based meetings to access essential services, are a vital component of the APS caseworker role. Community-based work/home visits are conducted for the purpose of performing assessments, coordinating psychiatric evaluations, heavy duty cleanings, court hearings, obtaining benefits, and other critical services. During the home visit, the APS caseworker assesses the living conditions and the environment in which the individual resides in and determines if the individual's physical and basic needs are met. The caseworker also interviews the individual, and any other household members, and observes the dynamics in the home to assess for any potential abuse, neglect and/or exploitation so a comprehensive understanding of the individual's risk can be established to determine their safety and well-being. On average, APS caseworkers work in the community anywhere between 3-4 days a week.Four of APS' units deliver specialized services: Undercare, Assessment, Eviction and Preventive Service Program. The Undercare Unit is responsible for the processing of client's cases for APS' services. Assessment Unit is responsible for conducting assessment within 60 days of the referral, determining eligibility for APS services, developing service plans. Eviction Unit operates pursuant to an agreement with the NYC Department of Investigation Marshals Bureau. Preventive Service Program (PSP) is responsible for maintaining services and monitors stabilized cases with the assistance of community resources by conducting field visits every four months.'*ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION*Newly hired Caseworkers are now eligible to receive a bonus of up to $6000 during a two-year period between April 2024 to March 2026. Caseworkers hired and onboarded by April 1,2024 and who remain active on payroll through this period will have the opportunity to earn up to four (4) bi-annual $1,500 bonus payments, for a possible maximum of $6,000. Criteria are that staff remain on active status during the entirety of each six-month period listed here:*RETENTION BONUS*- April 1, 2024 - September 30, 2024- October 1. 2024 - March 31, 2024.- April 1, 2025 - September 30, 2025.- October 1, 2025 - March 31,2026.*ASSIGNMENT DIFFERENTIAL*APS CASEWORKERS RECEIVE A YEARLY DIFFERENTIAL OF $3,799.Adult Protective Services (APS) is recruiting for twenty-four (24) Caseworkers for various field offices, who will:Field Operations Unit- Provide health-related and social services to consumers, who are risk or are involved in evictions.- Conduct home visits to consumers designated for monthly visits. Inspect home environments to assess and determine service needs.- Interview consumers, relatives, neighbors, and other agency staff regarding the physical, social, emotional, and financial problems of APS' consumers to formulate an initial or on-going service plan including counseling.- Perform initial and on-going medical and social services assessment of consumers confronted with imminent danger or risk situation to resolve emergencies and stabilize consumer's condition in accordance with established policies and procedures.- Prepare referrals for services including court petitions to the Office of Legal Affairs for the appointment of article 81 Guardian Ad Litem referrals and temporary restraining orders. Refer customers for services not available through APS.- Prepare reports on work activities, documenting information on APS cases, referrals processed, cases closed and transferred cases to other services programs.- Testify in court hearing and other formal proceedings to provide information upon which judgements regarding customers and their situation can be made.Central Intake Unit- Receive referrals of potential clients.- Conduct customer intake interviews using appropriate scripts, forms, procedures, and interviewing techniques.- Establish potential customer's eligibility for APS through history taking, conferring with consultants, community resources and other agencies to provide requisite services.- Provide linkages to case work unit and other HRA, community and outside agencies to enable clients to receive services.Borough Field Caseworker- Conduct mandated and as needed home visits to prospective family home providers to complete home evaluations and assist them in establishing eligibility for a state license; obtains required documentation for submission to the State to determine eligibility and verification of information.- Interface and maintain liaisons with cooperating external agencies and community organizations to monitor and ensure the services being provided for DVPHA residents are appropriate for the resident's needs.- Provide initial orientation for the prospective provider and family concerning program mandates and HRA policy and procedure; provides ongoing instruction in changes and monitor compliance of licensed providers with State regulations.- Perform a thorough analysis of new resident needs by conducting an in-depth interview to ensure the appropriate placement into family homes and ultimately participates in the development of the resident's Individual Service Plan to ensure that the needs of the resident are being accomplished.- Conduct collateral visits to the aftercare, day program, etc. in which the DVPHA residents are involved to evaluate the level of client care and services being provided.- Prepare reports, letters, memos, narratives, and statistical reports within required deadlines while adhering to State regulations and to document the progress of the DVPHA residents and to evaluate the need for alternate placement; compiles monthly caseload productivity statistics and verifies Special Needs expenditures and monthly fieldwork expenses.- Assist in the resolution of problematic situations regarding SSI benefits, public assistance and Medicaid by contacting the appropriate agency.- Ensure the validity of State licenses for family home provider and initiates the application for renewals when notified via the DWELL system and assists in closing enforcement action due to unsatisfactory performance or client problems.- Maintain client records, admissions, transfers, and discharges with the use of the DWELL tracking system.- Consult regularly with Unit Supervisor to ensure the appropriate services are being rendered especially in complex multi-situational cases and emergency situations and gives input regarding the effectiveness of current procedures and recommends new needs or revisions; accompanies the Unit Supervisor to seek corrective action for homes which are deemed unlicensed by the State.Home/field visits are mandated for all caseworker positions. Caseworkers will be expected to routinely (i.e., multiple times per week) be in the field conducting home and field visits.Various Field Offices:Manhattan South 400 8th Avenue New York, NY 10001Manhattan North 400 8th Avenue New York, NY 10001Queens 165-08 88th Avenue Jamaica, NY 11432Brooklyn North 250 Livingston Street Brooklyn, NY 11201Brooklyn South 250 Livingston Street Brooklyn, NY 11201Bronx 2500 Halsey Street Bronx, NY 10472Staten Island 215 Bay Street Staten Island, NY 10301Central intake 109 East 16th Street New York, NY 10003Salary Range: $46,689 - $53,692Work Location: NYC - ALL BOROSHours/Schedule: 9:00am-17:00pm (Flexible)Qualifications1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university accredited by regional, national, professional, or specialized agencies recognized as accrediting bodies by the U.S. Secretary of Education and by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).Additional Information: Section 424-a of the New York State Social Services Law requires an authorized agency to inquire whether a candidate for employment with child-care responsibilities is or has been the subject of an indicated child abuse and maltreatment report on file with the State Central Register for child abuse and maltreatment. State Central Register screening will be conducted prior to considering a candidate for employment as a Caseworker. Candidates who have been the subject of an indicated child abuse and maltreatment report will not be assigned to any position which requires child-care responsibilities. Employees who have been the subject of such a report may be reassigned or terminated from employment from their positions as Caseworker.Additional InformationThe City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.