Social Worker ; Children's Services

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES

This is professional-level work involving the provision of both direct and indirect services to clients and/or their families. Clients generally have specific problems that require well-established patterns of service. Work focuses upon the restoration of the client's physical, social, and economic functioning. Direct services are provided through a variety of Public Health, Mental Health or Social Services programs.

Duties include interviewing the client, relatives, and other contacts to obtain information; incorporating the information into a social history, and planning for required services. Work involves tasks such as establishing eligibility for specific programs or services and the most appropriate client services. In some settings, employees serve as the portal-of-entry for the agency they represent; this requires employees to explain agency policies, programs, and procedures to their clients, determine eligibility for programs, and certify clients for services.

However, once services have been established, caseloads are generally transferred to other units that specialize in the particular program or service.

Employees at the Social Worker I level explain social work alternatives and benefits, answer factual questions, give explanations and interpretations of agency policies and procedures that concern the client, and make referrals for other services. Supportive counseling and education are provided to clients or their care givers. Work is distinguished from that of other Social Worker classifications by the more limited range of cases and the less difficult and intensity of personal contacts.

The work performed in higher-level social worker positions require greater independence of action, problem-solving, and theoretical knowledge. Employees report to a higher level professional or Social Work Supervisor.

Variety and Scope – Employees establish client eligibility for services, obtain client histories, perform initial assessments, develop a plan to provide basic services, explain available services and programs, and refer clients to appropriate programs/agencies for other needed services. Employees evaluate and document client progress and may assume a case manager role to follow client through the provision of agency and/or external services.

Employees utilize a variety of basic assessment tools to help identify needs; obtain medical, financial, and social history; and develop a service plan for each client. Clients may have multiple problems that require referrals to other services. Service plans include provision of basic services such as supportive counseling, coordination of day care, transportation, medical, vocational, or in-home services, and referral to other programs, services, or agencies.

Work requires a knowledge of the basic elements of social work, of program to which assigned, knowledge of basic assessment tools, how to develop service plans, how to plan for provision of needed services, and knowledge of other agencies/programs so that appropriate referrals can be made.

Employees utilize agency guidelines and federal or state standards. Guidelines are generally specific and applications of these determine program eligibility and services provided.

Work is performed independently according to established procedures. Employees are familiar with the aims and objectives of the program to which assigned and minimum daily instruction is required. Supervision is generally immediately available when problem situations are encountered. On-the-job training is provided by a higher level social work professional.

Work is reviewed by assessing program practices to determine compliance with regulations that govern the specific program or services. Work is also reviewed through submission of periodic reports and routine conferences with supervisor; work may be subject to review while in progress.

Decisions impact on individual clients, their families and the services for which they are eligible;…