Social Worker, Family Advocacy & Support Services

Performs basic social services casework; identifies client needs for more intensive casework services and provides referrals; carries a caseload of moderately difficult cases; manages a caseload of increasingly difficult cases; and performs other related work as assigned.

Working under close supervision, Social Worker I is the entry/trainee class in the professional Social Worker series. Employees in this class are learning casework methods, procedures, policies and carry a limited non‑complex social services caseload under close supervision and receive in‑service training; are given close and constant supervision while learning social work principles, social service programs, basic case work methods and techniques, and departmental rules, regulations and procedures.

Typical assignments are within child welfare and adult services programs; however, at the agency's discretion positions may be assigned to employment services to perform social services case work for employment services clients as required by department needs. As requisite skill and knowledge is developed, greater independence and the full scope of responsibility is exercised. Unless a position is permanently allocated to the Social Worker I level due to the nature of the work, employees are expected to advance to the Social Worker II after one year of satisfactory performance at the trainee level.

Incumbents in the Social Worker I/II classification receive direct supervision from a Social Worker Supervisor, or other higher-level supervisor or manager.

• Conduct interviews with clients, family members, and others in their home, in the office, or via telephone to assess the basic social, physical, and mental needs of clients and obtain health information in order to identify and provide social services.
• Perform case studies and evaluate individual and family case information to assess the safety of children and adults; determine appropriate types and methods of treatment.
• Assess reports of suspected abuse; may be required to work on‑call; may provide information to law enforcement or district attorneys.
• Develop and carry out culturally sensitive non‑complex to moderate treatment plans for an assigned caseload in conformance with agency, state and federal requirements; assist clients and family members to develop strategies to accomplish case plan goals.
• Refer clients to other staff members, or to community resources for direct and intensive services and specialized counseling as necessary; advocate on the clients' behalf for the most appropriate services including enabling services.
• Assist applicants and recipients in utilizing available resources.
• Interpret policies, rules, and regulations of the agency to applicants, clients and others within the scope of their responsibility.
• Make home visits in connection with casework assignments.
• Prepare and maintain case records and databases; communicate decisions, timelines, recommendations and case plans to clients, families and service providers.
• May testify in court.
• May be assigned to specialized functions.
• Participate in in‑service training and other staff development activities to increase knowledge of the social work processes and achieve technical competence.
• Receive casework consultation from professionally trained staff members.
• Provide community outreach for various agency programs.
• Maintain client confidentiality; perform all duties in conformance with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

• Principles and practices of organization, workload management and time management.
• Principles and practices of note taking, report writing, English composition, grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
• Phone etiquette and interview techniques.
• Socio-economic conditions and trends.
• Basic principles of individual and group behavior.
• Current issues in the field of social welfare.
• Role and responsibilities of social workers.
• Principles of interviewing and problem‑solving methodology.
• Basic public welfare programs on the Federal, State, and local level.
• General principles of public assistance…