Definition
Assists professional social workers in the technical and paraprofessional aspects of a wide range of social work responsibilities that supports the provision and delivery of services to clients; performs related work as required.
Work Examples
Conducts client/family interviews to obtain information for case summaries and histories, prepares assessments, social histories, service plans, case records, referral summaries and financial information as directed. Makes recommendations to professional social work staff for casework planning and programming.
Maintains face-to-face, phone and written contacts with clients, families and providers regarding client well being, treatment progress and casework plans.
Compiles case or project statistical data, completes case narrative information, and prepares case correspondence in accordance with established procedures, policies, and standards.
Assesses client work/employment and living situations; provides information and advice to clients on available programs and services.
Organizes, maintains and oversees files and records of a confidential, complex or otherwise sensitive nature.
Prepares correspondence, legal instruments and reports to respond to varied and detailed requests without instruction or review; researches reference sources and compiles or prepares responses.
Responds to complaints and requests for information and assistance regarding program operations; applies/interprets rules, policies and regulations, and gathers background information to prepare an appropriate response.
Refer clients to the professional social worker or supervisor as necessary or required.
Serves on interdisciplinary treatment teams to recommend client services.
Attends staff meetings, workshops and in-service training as required.
Competencies Required
Knowledge:
Administrative – Administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
Communications – The science and art of delivering information.
Customer and Personal Service – Principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
English Language – Structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
Psychology – Human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Sociology and Anthropology – Group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
Abilities:
Deductive Reasoning – Apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Inductive Reasoning – Combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Information Ordering – Arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Problem Sensitivity – Tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
Speech Clarity – Speak clearly so others can understand you.
Speech Recognition – Identify and understand the speech of another person.
Written Comprehension – Read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Written Expression – Communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Skills:
Active Learning – Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Active Listening – Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Judgment and Decision Making – Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Reading Comprehension – Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Service Orientation – Actively looking for ways to help people.
Social Perceptiveness – Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Speaking – Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Writing – Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Minimum Qualification Requirements
Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements to qualify for positions in this job classification:
Graduation from an accredited college or university with an associate’s degree in social work, human services, case management, public administration, sociology, psychology, or nursing.
A total of two years of education and/or full-time experience in social work, human services, case management, public administration, sociology, psychology, or nursing, where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university coursework in social work, human services, case management, public administration, sociology, psychology, or nursing equals one year of full-time experience.
Notes
Travel, including overnight travel, may be required for positions in this class. Employees must arrange transportation to and from assigned work areas.
Some positions in this class may require a valid driver’s license.