Social Worker IV

Overview

Under general direction, the Social Worker IV performs casework of an advanced nature dealing with complex individual and family problems; undertakes intensive treatment plans and counseling requiring professional knowledge and training; performs other related work as assigned.

Salary: $72,626.03 – $89,320.86 Annually

Hourly: $34.92 – $42.94
Monthly: $6,052.17 – $7,443.41

Social Worker IV requires a master’s degree and social work case management experience in a public or private social services agency. This is the highest non-supervisory level in the series. Incumbents perform casework requiring the application of high level and sophisticated social services expertise and techniques, generally in areas such as adult and child protective services.

Social Worker IV differs from the next higher class of Social Worker Supervisor I in that the latter is the first supervisory level. Social Worker IV differs from Social Worker III in that the latter does not require both a master’s degree and qualifying experience.

Social Worker IV receives supervision from a Social Worker Supervisor or other higher-level supervisor or manager pursuant to California Department of Social Services (CDSS) Manual of Policy and Procedures (MPP) Division 31 regulations (31.070). A Social Worker IV may provide lead direction to lower-level Social Workers or service employees.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Performs case studies for the purpose of assessing problems and determining appropriate types and methods of treatment.
• Develops intensive long or short-term treatment plans, which require a comprehensive fund of professional knowledge with the aim of improving or restoring individual or family functioning.
• Ensures all services are delivered in a respectful, culturally sensitive and appropriate manner.
• Acts as a casework consultant to staff members without professional training.
• Functions at a highly skilled level in areas such as counseling, protective services, medical social work, family services, community organization and research.
• May perform counseling types including marital, family inter-relationship, protective services for children or adults incapable of self-care.
• Investigates and provides services to children in situations of neglect, abuse, or other risk factors; assesses and intervenes to protect vulnerable individuals; may testify in court and support witnesses as needed.
• Assesses prospective foster and adoptive parents; matches children with families and counsels foster/adoptive families.
• Refers clients to other staff members; coordinates and monitors family visitations; interprets and explains rules, regulations and policies to clients.
• Maintains casework records, prepares court reports, case plans, narratives and safety plans in automated systems.
• Operates a computer and other office equipment; enters and retrieves data and narratives from automated systems.
• Communicates decisions, timelines, recommendations, and case plans to clients, families, and service providers.
• Maintains confidentiality and adheres to NASW Code of Ethics; performs related duties as assigned.

• Principles and practices of organization, workload management, and time management.
• Note taking, report writing, English composition, grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
• Phone etiquette and interview techniques.
• Principles and practices of counseling, bio-psychosocial assessments and therapy.
• Physical and mental health principles and their impact on personality.
• Local socio-economic conditions and public social services methodologies.
• Laws, rules, and regulations governing public welfare agency operations and social work roles.
• Community resources and crisis intervention techniques; basic principles of interviewing and recording casework.
• Current issues in social welfare and standard public assistance programs.
• Confidentiality, data analysis, and reporting requirements.

• Apply child psychology and family relationship principles.
• Evaluate psychological factors in family situations and recognize abuse indicators; assess risk and…