County Social Services Aide 3 (Local Government)

County Social Services Aide 3 (Local Government)

Salary

$53,959.00 Annually

Location

Lehigh County, PA

Job Type

Civil Service Permanent Full-Time

Job Number

CS-2026-57040-L0622

Department

Local Government

Division

HS Lehigh Co Child Welfare Ser

Opening Date

08/24/2026

Closing Date

9/6/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

Job Code

L0622

Position Number

80005658

Union

SEIU

Bargaining Unit

LG

Pay Group

LG

Bureau / Division Code

88212739

Bureau / Division

Lehigh County Children and Youth

Worksite Address

17 S. 7th Street

City

Allentown, Pennsylvania

Zip Code

18101

Contact Name

Danielle Guarna

Contact Phone

610.782.3171

Contact Email

danielleguarna@lehighcounty.org

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

THE POSITION

Lehigh County Office of Children & Youth is eager to welcome a County Social Services Aide 3 to our dedicated team. This role gives you opportunities to support families, guide children, and strengthen community connections. You will join a group of professionals committed to high standards of service, teamwork, and compassion. Come join our team and help make a difference in the life of others.

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

This position focuses on supporting children, youth, and families by connecting them with essential services, transportation, and community resources. The role includes lead responsibilities and requires flexibility to meet daily needs. As a Social Services Aide 3, you will perform the following duties:

• Client Support: Assist clients by offering guidance, transportation, and access to important community services
• Service Coordination: Arrange appointments, follow-up visits, and referrals to ensure timely and effective assistance
• Case Preparation: Prepare reports, documents, and supervised court testimony for required case activities
• Resource Linking: Connect families with public and private social service organizations that meet their specific needs
• Team Leadership: Provide training, direction, and support to new and existing case aides
• Vehicle Oversight: Manage agency vehicle and car seat inventory, including scheduling maintenance and organizing reports

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment
• Work hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday - Friday, with 30-minute lunch.
• Telework: You will not have the option to telework in this position.
• Salary: In some cases, the starting salary may be non-negotiable.
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE, TRAINING & ELIGIBILITY

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• One year as a County Social Services Aide 2; or
• Graduation from high school, or its equivalency, and three years of experience in public contact work in a human services agency which included one year of experience in interviewing and obtaining information; or
• An associates degree in sociology, social welfare, psychology, gerontology, criminal justice, or other related social sciences, and one year of experience in a human services agency; or
• Any equivalent combination of experience and training.

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:

• You must pass a background investigation.
• 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.

EXAMINATION INFORMATION

• 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.

Benefit packages are determined by the county and may vary. Please contact the applicable county human resource office directly to inquire about a specific benefit package.

01

Have you been employed by a Pennsylvania local government agency in a civil service covered position as a County Social Services Aide 2 for one or more years full-time?

• Yes
• No

02

If you are claiming experience in the above question, please list the employer(s) where you gained this experience in the text box below. The employer(s) and a description of the experience must also be included in the appropriate sections of your application if you would like the experience to be considered in the eligibility decision. If you claimed you do not have experience, type N/A in the text box below.

03

How many years of full-time experience in public contact work in a human services agency, which included one year of experience in interviewing and obtaining information, do you possess?

• 3 years or more
• 2 but less than 3 years
• 1 but less than 2 years
• Less than 1 year
• None

04

If you are claiming experience in the above question, please list the employer(s) where you gained this experience in the text box below. The employer(s) and a description of the experience must also be included in the appropriate sections of your application if you would like the experience to be considered in the eligibility decision. If you claimed you do not have experience, type N/A in the text box below.

05

What level of college education have you completed in sociology, social welfare, psychology, gerontology, criminal justice, or other related social sciences?

If you are claiming credits/degree, you must upload a copy of your college transcript(s) for this education to be considered in the eligibility decision. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. You must attach your transcript(s) prior to the submission of your application by using the "Attachments" tab on the left. You will not be able to add a transcript(s) to the application after it has been submitted.

If your education was acquired outside of the United States, you must upload a copy of your foreign credential evaluation report. We can only accept foreign credential evaluations from organizations that are members of the National Association of Credential Services (NACES). A list of current NACES members can be found by visiting www.naces.org and clicking the Evaluation Services Link.

You must attach your documentation prior to the submission of your application by using the "Attachments" tab on the left. You will not be able to add a document to the application after it has been submitted.

• Bachelors Degree or higher
• Associates Degree
• Some coursework
• None

06

You must complete the supplemental questions below. These supplemental questions are the exam and will be scored. They are designed to give you the opportunity to relate your experience and training background to the major activities (Work Behaviors) performed in this position. Failure to provide complete and accurate information may delay the processing of your application, or result in a lower-than-deserved score or disqualification. You must complete the application and answer the supplemental questions. Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position or to determine your score.

All information you provide on your application and supplemental questions is subject to verification. Any misrepresentation, falsification or omission of material facts is subject to penalty. If requested, you must provide documentation, including names, addresses, and telephone numbers of individuals who can verify the validity of the information you provide in the application and supplemental questions.

Read each work behavior carefully. Determine and select which "Level of Performance" most closely represents your highest level of experience/training. List the employer(s)/training source(s) from your Work or Education sections of the application where you gained this experience/training. The "Level of Performance" you choose for each work behavior must be clearly supported within the description of the experience and training information entered in your application or your score may be lowered. In order to receive credit for experience, you must have worked in a job for at least six months in which the experience claimed was a major function.

If you have read and understand these instructions, please click on the "Yes" button and proceed to the exam questions.

If you have general questions regarding the application and hiring process, please refer to our FAQ page.

• Yes

07

WORK BEHAVIOR 1 - MAINTAIN RECORDS AND SCHEDULES

Maintain record of contacts made and services delivered to the clients/ residents; maintain schedule of client/ resident contacts, meetings, and community contacts in order for services to be provided.

Levels of Performance

Select the "Level of Performance" which best describes your claim.

• A. I have experience maintaining a record of contacts made and services delivered to clients/residents, and maintaining a schedule of client/resident contacts, meetings, and community contacts, in order to provide services.
• B. I have experience maintaining a record of contacts made or services delivered to clients/residents, OR I have experience maintaining a schedule of client/resident contacts or meetings.
• C. I have successfully completed college-level coursework related to bookkeeping.
• D. I have NO experience or coursework related to this work behavior.

08

In the text box below, please describe your experience as it relates to the level of performance you claimed on this work behavior. Please be sure your response addresses the items listed below which relate to your claim. If you indicated you have no work experience related to this work behavior, type N/A in the box below.

• The name(s) of the employer(s) where you gained this experience
• Your role in maintaining record of contacts made or service delivered
• Your role in maintaining a schedule of contacts or meetings
• Your specific duties and responsibilities

09

If you have selected the level of performance pertaining to the college coursework, please provide the requested information in the text box below. Please be sure your response addresses the three items listed below. If you indicated you have no training related to this work behavior, type N/A in the box below.

• College/University
• Course Title
• Credits/Clock Hours

10

WORK BEHAVIOR 2 - ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING

Assists clients/residents and their families with activities of daily living (such as family budgeting, marketing, housekeeping standards, personal health and hygiene, nutrition, food preparation and storage, care of clothing and use of resources), directs clients/ residents in areas of childcare, and supervises interactions between children and parents per the caseworker.

Levels of Performance

Select the "Level of Performance" which best describes your claim.

• A. I have experience assisting clients/residents and their families with activities of daily living, directing them in areas of childcare, and supervising parent and children interactions.
• B. I have experience assisting clients/residents or their families with activities of daily living, or directing them in areas of childcare, or supervising parent and children interactions.
• C. I have successfully completed college-level coursework related to psychology, social work/welfare, or sociology.
• D. I have NO experience or coursework related to this work behavior.

11

In the text box below, please describe your experience as it relates to the level of performance you claimed on this work behavior. Please be sure your response addresses the items listed below which relate to your claim. If you indicated you have no work experience related to this work behavior, type N/A in the box below.

• The name(s) of the employer(s) where you gained this experience
• Your role in assisting with activities of daily living
• Your role in directing in areas of childcare
• Your role in supervising interactions between children and parents
• Your specific duties and responsibilities

12

If you have selected the level of performance pertaining to the college coursework, please provide the requested information in the text box below. Please be sure your response addresses the three items listed below. If you indicated you have no training related to this work behavior, type N/A in the box below.

• College/University
• Course Title
• Credits/Clock Hours

13

WORK BEHAVIOR 3 - PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION FOR APPOINTMENTS

Provide transportation for clients to medical, dental and other needed services, including the transport to foster homes or other facilities; assist clients/residents to make appointments for services needed; arrange for transportation or give the client/resident appropriate travel directions to appointments to ensure appointments are kept; and supervise the attendance and monitor the behavior of children during appointments and visits.

Levels of Performance

Select the "Level of Performance" which best describes your claim.

• A. I have experience providing transportation for clients/residents to medical, dental or other needed services or facilities; assisting in making appointments or arranging for transportation; ensuring appointments are kept; and supervising the attendance and monitoring the behavior of children during appointments and visits.
• B. I have experience providing transportation for clients/residents to medical, dental or other needed services or facilities; and assisting in making appointments or arranging for transportation.
• C. I have experience assisting clients/residents in making appointments or arranging for transportation.
• D. I have NO experience related to this work behavior.

14

In the text box below, please describe your experience as it relates to the level of performance you claimed on this work behavior. Please be sure your response addresses the items listed below which relate to your claim. If you indicated you have no work experience related to this work behavior, type N/A in the box below.

• The name(s) of the employer(s) where you gained this experience
• Your role in providing transportation, arranging transportation or assisting making appointments
• Your role in ensuring appointments are kept
• Your role in supervising attendance and monitoring behavior of children during appointments
• Your specific duties and responsibilities

Required Question

Employer Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Address 613 North Street

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 17120

Website http://www.employment.pa.gov