Children's Services Social Worker II​/III

Under general supervision, Children's Services Social Workers provide a wide variety of child and family welfare services in such areas as information and referral, case management, protective services, court services, education and employment coordination for children, preventative services, health and mental health coordination and services, and other welfare services within the Human Services Agency.

Children's Services Social Workers work under general supervision and provide highly skilled, intensive casework services to children and their families. Provision of services to a difficult caseload requires exercising discretion and using judgment in assessing and working with the needs of children and families and providing casework consultation within the Human Services Agency, Children and Family Services Branch, and to outside agencies.

This classification series is distinguished from the Social Worker classification series for having responsibility for children and family welfare service cases. It is further distinguished from the Psychiatric Social Worker Series in that the latter provides clinical counseling/therapy and requires a clinical license.

Entry level classification. Incumbents are given close and constant supervision while learning child social work principles, social service programs, basic case work methods and techniques, and departmental rules, regulations and procedures. Work scheduling techniques and routine decisions are subject to prior supervisory review. Employees at this level are expected to promote to the II level after meeting the required years of experience for this level outlined under the Education/Experience section below and upon demonstration of competence in performance of work.

Journey level classification. Incumbents exercise a substantially greater degree of independence and initiative in carrying out their assignments than employees in the Level I classification. Employees at this level work with minimal supervision and are expected to promote to the III level after meeting the required years of experience for this level outlined under the Education/Experience section below and upon demonstration of competence in performance of work.

Advanced journey level classification. Incumbents work with minimal supervision, provide comprehensive casework services of a tangible nature, and are expected to have acquired the high degree of diagnostic and treatment skills required to perform intensive non-clinical counseling and therapy in a variety of complex casework areas surrounding children and families. Lead responsibilities and other work duties may be assigned as circumstances dictate.

This level is distinguished from the next higher class of Children's Services Social Work Supervisor, which is a first level supervisor in charge of a children's service unit composed of social workers.

• Work with cases of child neglect and abuse, providing non-clinical counseling, support to children exhibiting emotional or behavioral problems.
• Provide intensive, highly skilled casework services with clients and their relatives.
• Utilize social work skills and techniques to attempt to motivate individuals and families toward self-support, self-care, and to improve social functioning.
• Carry a caseload of more difficult types of social services cases requiring a high degree of technical competence, and use of judgment and discretion, such as situations where environmental forces affect family life.
• Interview clients and evaluate problems presented.
• Develop and implement social treatment plans for an assigned caseload; ensure all services are delivered in a respectful culturally sensitive and appropriate manner and in conformance with agency, state, and federal requirements; assist clients and family members to develop strategies to accomplish case plan goals.
• Consult and cooperate with other divisions of the department and with community agencies and groups in carrying out treatment plans.
• Prepare social histories with emphasis upon…