TEST ANNOUNCEMENT

NUMBER 2011-156

ISSUED  DECEMBER 14, 2011

 

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

State Civil Service Commission

 

Examinations

 

for

 

SOCIAL WORKERS 1

 

Exam

No.

 

Job Titles

Job

Codes

Pay Schedule

and Range

1.

Social Worker 1

40060

ST06

2.

Forensic Social Worker 1

40061

ST06

 

When completing your application, please make sure you apply for all job titles for which you want to be tested.  You will NOT be permitted to add job titles after you test.

 

APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

 

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 and opportunities for veterans, visit the Commission’s website www.scsc.state.pa.us; visit one of our offices; or call our veterans information line, (717) 787-6039.

 

NATURE OF WORK

 

Social Worker 1 - You will interview individuals, their families or legal guardians, and others to obtain, update, and document information regarding the individuals’ physical, mental, emotional, and social functioning.  You will discuss with interdisciplinary staff the development and implementation of individual care and treatment plans.  You will be involved in documenting each individual’s progress in meeting the social services treatment program plan goals and objectives.

 

Forensic Social Worker 1 - You will perform the same duties as Social Workers 1 within secure Forensic Psychiatric Units on the grounds of Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare state mental health hospitals, working with patients who have been committed through the criminal justice system for diagnosis, evaluation, and intensive treatment.

 

JOB REQUIREMENTS

 

You will be tested before your qualifications are reviewed.  Your test results will count only if you meet all job requirements.  If after reading the requirements you are not sure you qualify, contact one of the Commission's offices listed at the end of this announcement.

 

For some jobs, offers of employment will be made only if you are willing to travel.  Travel expenses will be paid.

 

You must be a Pennsylvania resident, of good moral character and able to perform the essential functions of the job.

 

If you are a final candidate for a position covered by the Child Protective Services Law, you will have to provide reports on your background, at your own expense, from such sources as the Pennsylvania State Police and the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare. 

 

If you are a final candidate for a position covered by the Older Adults Protective Services Act, you will have to obtain a report of criminal record information, at your own expense, from the Pennsylvania State Police, or a statement that the State Police Central Repository contains no information relating to you.  If you have not been a resident of Pennsylvania for two years prior to the date that you received notification that you are a final candidate, you are also required to furnish a report of Federal Criminal History Record Information, at your own expense, from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

 

For positions with the Pennsylvania Departments of Military and Veterans Affairs and Public Welfare:

After you receive a conditional offer of employment, you must undergo a medical examination.

 

Minimum Requirements

A bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work or social welfare.

 

Clarification of Requirements

You may take the test if you have completed 90 or more credit hours and expect to receive a bachelor's degree within the next 7 months.  You must provide proof of your degree before you start work.

 

Social welfare is a specific degree title used at some colleges and universities.  Degrees in social sciences such as Psychology and Sociology are not equivalent.

 

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

 

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

 

Social Workers 1 and Forensic Social Workers 1 are employed by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare in state mental health hospitals and mental retardation centers.  Social Workers 1 are also employed by the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

 

Lists created by these tests will be used to fill future vacancies as they occur due to retirements, promotions, transfers, resignations and so forth.

 

For the most recent information on job opportunities, contact the state facility or office where you are interested in working.  See the local telephone directory under “Government Offices-State” for telephone numbers.

 

TESTING

 

The test will be administered on a computer.  Information about computerized testing is available online at www.scsc.state.pa.us OR in paper form at any State Civil Service Commission office. 

 

You will have a maximum of 3 hours to complete the test which will cover the following subject areas:

 

Subject Area

Number of Questions

Written Communication

40

Casework

40

Counseling

40

Total

120

 

The test will be administered in the Harrisburg, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh State Civil Service Commission offices, Monday through Friday.

 

The test also will be held approximately 10 days a month at additional test centers located in Allentown, Erie, Johnstown, Lock Haven, and Scranton.  For further details on test dates, contact the Commission’s Information Services Unit; Telephone (Voice) (717) 787-7811, Text Telephone (Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing callers only) (717) 783-8896.

 

If you take the test and want to take it again, you may be retested after 6 months from the date of your test.  You must submit a new application to be retested.

 

If your name is on an eligible list for these job titles and you take this test, your most recent examination result will be the only one counted.

 

TEST RESULTS

 

Employment and promotion lists will be established.  You will be notified in writing of your test results.

 

HOW TO APPLY

 

Apply online at www.scsc.state.pa.us or submit your completed paper application to:

 

State Civil Service Commission

ATTN:  Applications

P.O. Box 569

Harrisburg, PA  17108-0569

 

Applications and further information can be obtained from:

 

1.

State Civil Service Commission:

 

 

 

Harrisburg:  2nd Level, Strawberry Sq. Complex, 320 Market St., P.O.

 

Box 569, Hbg., 17108-0569; Telephone (Voice) (717) 783-3058, Text

 

Telephone (Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing callers only) (717) 772-2685

 

 

 

Philadelphia:  110 North 8th St., Suite 503, Phila., 19107; Telephone

 

(Voice) (215) 560-2253, Text Telephone (Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing

 

callers only) (215) 560-4367

 

 

 

Pittsburgh:  411 Seventh Ave., Room 410, Pgh., 15219; Telephone

 

(Voice) (412) 565-7666, Text Telephone (Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing

 

callers only) (412) 565-2484

 

 

 

Internet:  www.scsc.state.pa.us

 

 

2.

PA CareerLink offices

 

 

3.

The Human Resources offices listed under the "JOB OPPORTUNITIES" section of this announcement

 

For further information on testing, assistance for persons with disabilities, veterans' preference and other items, refer to the instructions provided with the "Application for Employment/Promotion."