The Organization
Rooted in South Philadelphia, Greater Philadelphia Community Alliance (GPCA) is the result of a strategic merger between Diversified Community Services (DCS) and United Communities Southeast Philadelphia (UCSEP). Both organizations share a long history in the settlement house movement of the late 1800s.
Over the last several years, DCS and UCSEP have experienced a resurgence and extraordinary growth. Capturing the regard of colleagues and funders, locally and nationally, we have earned a reputation as an entrepreneurial trailblazer. GPCA's mission is to break the generational poverty cycle by ensuring equitable resource distribution for vulnerable children, families, and communities. We aim to be Philadelphia's catalyst for community empowerment, partnership, and the upward mobility of families and communities. We are committed to a nonprofit model that promotes social enterprise, an inspiring and safe environment, and a team-oriented culture.
GPCA’s current operating budget is approximately $24 million, with 200+ employees across more than nine programs and eight locations.
GPCA’s programming areas include:
- Children & Youth Development
- Family Development
- Housing & Economic Empowerment
- Community Development
Building on this solid platform, DCS and UCSEP's strategic merger to become GPCA will strengthen our mission impact, fill our need to expand community impact across South Philadelphia and beyond and increase our organizational stability.
Greater Philadelphia Community Alliance seeks a CUA Case Manager who is passionate about working with children and their families to provide Case management support. Join Us!
COMMUNITY UMBRELLA AGENCY (CUA) CASE MANAGER
Position Summary:
- This is human services case management work at the full performance level. An employee in this position performs a variety of counseling, referral, placement, and adoptive functions related to services for children and youth.
- Work includes performing case management activities, assessing client and family needs, developing an appropriate service and treatment plan, developing group activities, providing ongoing counseling and referral services, and determining appropriate placement actions\
- This work requires the employee to perform social service functions of an advanced nature involving independent judgment and a significant understanding and application of professional principles and CUA standards.
- Contact with individuals, their families, representatives of various private and public welfare agencies, representatives of professional and community groups, and the public is of significance to the work. Work is performed under the general supervision of a technical superior.
Typical Examples of Work:
- Performs a variety of counseling, referral, placement, and/or adoptive services for assigned cases within the CUA
- Maintains a caseload of ten (10) families at one time, or such other number as they may be assigned by the CUA Case Management Supervisor or CUA Case Management Director
- Conducts interviews with individuals requiring agency services including requests for temporary shelter, placement of children or unusual and complex social service cases; make home visits to families of emotionally disturbed and/or problem children; elicits data to ascertain nature and extent of complaint, severity of problems, potential danger to individual, and/or facts and circumstances relevant to requests; reviews case record for client's and family's profile, socio-economic history, previous treatment and service experiences, and/or unique problems and family history, financial and social problems, individual perspectives and perceptions, attitudes and behavior and other factors; observes interactions of client, family members and peers; makes decisions related to eligibility for CUA services; obtains and evaluates social information concerning families with unusual or chronic social service problems; contacts professionals and members of community to discuss history of case and service needs.
- Develops service plan to provide a variety of social services referrals and to define goals and objectives; determines the need for social, behavioral, medical, and/or psychological services; provides individual or family counseling as needed; makes referrals to a variety of support agencies; monitors individual and family progress, cooperation, and acceptance of services.
- Plans for the appropriate placement of individuals in a kinship or family foster home, care program, facility, or institution; interviews prospective applicants, clients, and providers; orients participants in the program's goals and objectives, roles and responsibilities of various parties, and legal ramifications; arranges for any medical or psychiatric treatment before placement.
- Monitors and evaluates activities of agencies contracted to provide a variety of social services; visits and inspects direct placement to assess progress and/or problems of client; prepares and discusses written evaluations of agency; finds alternative placement for a client when warranted; recommends services provided to the client by the agency be terminated.
- · Initiates court action when appropriate and prepares necessary work.
- Attends periodic staff and personal conferences; confers with superiors on complex problems; prepares reports and correspondence; keeps records of all assigned cases.
- Obtains a minimum of twenty (20) hours of training per fiscal year.
- Performs related work as required.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge of:
- The principles, practices, and techniques of casework as applied in child welfare
- The laws, regulations, and rules governing the provision of social services to individuals in child welfare
- Philosophy and objectives underlying social services in child welfare
- Functions and resources of public and private welfare and related agencies in child welfare
- Social factors that contribute to attitudes and behaviors common to abandoned, neglected, and/or dependent children and youth
- Current social, economic, and health programs appropriate for the population served
- Theories, principles, and techniques for working with individuals with severe emotional, mental, and social problems
- The causes of social maladjustment and other social factors which necessitate the placement of children and youth
- The principles, practices, methods, and techniques in the field of social service planning
- Social, environmental, economic, and psychological factors underlying the breakdown of the family structure
- Concepts and methods utilized in the prevention of self-destructive behaviors
Proficiency in English and Spanish is preferred but not a hard requirement
Ability to:
- Observe, recognize, analyze, and report on an individual's behavioral, attitudinal, emotional, and social problems, and develop a plan for their resolution.
- Evaluate program quality and effectiveness as they relate to an individual's or a group's needs, recommending modifications when appropriate.
- Establish rapport and cooperative relationships with individuals with social and emotional problems.
- Employ tact and judgment in dealing with sensitive or personal problems and hostile attitudes.
- Plan and implement group activities based on the assessed needs of participants.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with public and private social service officials, representatives of community organizations, associates, and the general public.
- Prepare a variety of written reports.
- Present ideas effectively, both orally and in writing
- Use personal computers and relevant software packages and applications comparable to Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint.
- Other Desired Skills and Behaviors
- Administration/Organization completes paperwork and other responsibilities in a timely and accurate manner; maintains organized work environment.
- Commitment: is dedicated to the success of Turning Points for Children and to the provision of services that meet the organization's vision, mission, and goals; determines a course of action and is willing to persevere to make it happen; persists in the face of obstacles to reach objectives.
- Communication: speaks clearly and effectively in communicating information to others; prepares written materials clearly, completely, and within deadlines; encourages open and honest interaction among staff and peers.
- Conflict Management: Negotiates with others to resolve conflicts or disputes; helps others find common ground to resolve their conflicts; establishes an atmosphere where others feel comfortable bringing disagreements into the open.
- Continuous Learning: continually upgrades knowledge and skills; quickly grasps new assignments; is open to innovative ideas, methods, and program developments; is willing to take on new assignments to advance the agency's vision, mission, and goals.
- Culturally Competent: demonstrates sensitivity to cultural and socioeconomic characteristics and has a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of ethnic and cultural differences and the role they play in individual, family, and community functioning.
- Decision Making: makes tough decisions that may be unpopular but maintain long-range agency goals as their basis; draws upon other's expertise and input in making decisions.
- Dependable: can be relied upon to perform and maintain a high level of functioning while working independently.
- Detail-oriented: pays rigorous attention to detail; verifies all work thoroughly to ensure accuracy.
- Innovation/Process Improvement: improve processes and systems while facilitating input and suggestions from others; find the best approach to get the work done.
- Listening: actively listens to others; pays careful attention to complex communications.
- Planning/Project Management: assigns tasks, develops schedules, milestones, and standards; coordinates multiple activities at the same time to accomplish a project; appropriately allocates and utilizes resources (staff, time, dollars) required to perform tasks.
- Problem-solving: diagnoses underlying or hidden problems and develops logical and effective solutions.
- Professionalism: establishes relationships that are ethical, client-oriented, and not self-interested; represents Turning Points for Children by maintaining appropriate appearance and behavior; interacts respectfully with all clients and colleagues; conducts employment relations in accordance with the Employee Handbook.
- Relationship Building: establishes smooth and cooperative working relationships with diverse staff, other colleagues, and external contacts, including all callers and visitors; provides information and assistance to all; maintains a supportive working environment; uses diplomacy and tact, especially during tense or stressful situations.
- Resourceful: finds solutions using alternative ideas or resources; finds other resources when limited by time, budget, or staff; seeks innovative ideas from diverse sources; leverages the experience, expertise, and involvement of others; uses imagination in solving problems; finds new ways to help; focuses on what it takes to get the job done.
- Takes Responsibility/Monitors Own Work: performs tasks directed by well-established or less formal procedures; determines workflow and pace with limited direction from others; performs assignments with minimum supervision.
- Teamwork: exhibits the ability to work in a team; promotes open communication for self and others; facilitates sessions to ensure group participation and desired results.
- Works Under Pressure responds positively to frequent and/or tight deadlines; maintains composure in stressful situations.
Minimum Acceptable Training and Experience
Education
- Must have a bachelor's degree in social work or related fields, including sociology, psychology, counseling, criminal justice, education, divinity, or public health administration. Candidates with an unrelated degree need at least four years' experience working in child, youth, and family serving systems and an approved waiver from the Department of Human Services.
Physical and Medical Requirements
- Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the environmental conditions required of this position.
- Licenses, Registrations and/or Certificates
- Possession of a valid proper class motor vehicle operator's license as issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (or state of residence) prior to appointment and during tenure of employment
Background Checks
- A background check will be completed for all potential hires to verify education, employment history, and vehicular and traffic history (PA Driver Information or other state driver information if applicable.
- The employee in this position must pass a PA Criminal Background Check, Federal Bureau of Investigation Clearance, and PA Child Abuse History Clearance on the first date of hire.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $60,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible schedule
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Philadelphia, PA 19104
