Are you passionate about enriching the lives of others? As a Social Worker 2 for the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (BVRS), within the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR), you will become an advocate for appropriate students with disabilities in local education agencies and identified schools in an assigned geographic area to implement the Early Reach Initiative. Join our team of dedicated professionals and enjoy the satisfaction of a rewarding career that serves to help others.

In this vital role, you will provide counseling, including vocational counseling, information, referral and advocacy to students with disabilities to enhance their successful transition from school to services provided by OVR and eventual employment. This position investigates student service needs by gathering and evaluating current student information, providing information on available services and making referrals to appropriate community and educational agencies. You can expect to act as a liaison to the staff of local education, public and private agencies. Our team will rely on you to attend meetings with students, families, and school and agency personnel to facilitate the successful transition from school to employment. You will have the opportunity to promote public awareness about the services offered by the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation by providing training and presentations, attending conferences and meetings, and by participating in other events attended by personnel that have interaction with students with disabilities and their families.

Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment
• Work hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday - Friday, with 30-minute lunch. Position's work hours are negotiable - 7.5-hour workday and lunch period is 30 minutes (or 60 minutes depending on work hours).
• Alternate Work Schedule eligible
• Telework: You may have the opportunity to work from home (telework) part-time, upon successful completion of a training period. 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 York. The ability to telework is subject to change at any time. Additional details may be provided during the interview.
• Salary: Selected candidates who are new to employment with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will begin employment at the starting annual salary of $59,345.00 (before taxes).
• 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:

• Two years of experience as a Social Worker 1 or Forensic Social Worker 1 (Commonwealth job title or equivalent Federal Government job title, as determined by the Office of Administration) (must have been employed in a commonwealth social worker job title on September 8, 2008, with continuous commonwealth employment); or
• Two years of experience as a Social Worker 1 or a Forensic Social Worker 1 (Commonwealth job title or equivalent Federal Government job title, as determined by the Office of Administration) and a bachelor’s degree in social work or social welfare; or
• Two years of professional experience providing direct public or private social work services, and a bachelor’s degree in social work or social welfare; or
• A master's degree in social work or social welfare.
• Applicants will be considered to have met the educational requirements once they are within 3 months of graduating with a qualifying degree/credit.

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.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

Legal Requirements:

• 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.
• All application materials and interview responses must reflect the applicant’s own experience, qualifications, and work. Applicants may use generative AI tools for preparation purposes only. Use of AI to misrepresent or falsify information, or to assist during interviews, is not permitted. Review the Guidance for Generative AI Tools & Job Seekers for additional information.

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):

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

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.