SOCIAL WORK SPECIALIST

Code: 03732 Local Competitive

Official job specification

The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.

Definition

Under supervision of a Social Work Supervisor, performs complex professional social work, provides preventive and rehabilitative services to clients and their families, conducts varied types of social investigations involving the collection, analysis, and recording of significant social facts, and provides technical social work information; does other related duties as required.

Examples of work

• Provides advice and counsel to clients who may have a multitude of social problems.
• Provides professional social services to socially maladjusted clients for the rehabilitation of the family and preservation of the home for the children.
• Secures recommended medical, training, or protective services for clients.
• Counsels single parents concerning their own social adjustment and plans for the welfare of their children.
• Works with families to prepare them for return of absent family members.
• Collaborates with staff members and representatives of closely related ancillary bureaus and/or agencies to protect neglected children, rehabilitate families, and secure employment or job training for adults.
• Prepares special reports and social histories.
• Answers difficult inquiries.
• Maintains liaison with community councils and with religious, civic, and social agencies.
• Analyzes social and financial data on persons applying for assistance.
• Records diagnostic analyses and plans for services.
• Maintains essential records and files.
• Instructs and advises social service workers in the coordination and utilization of auxiliary services including community organization and group work in complex situations, and in new techniques of providing social services.
• Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

Education

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's degree in Social Work.

License

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

Knowledge of social work theory, practices, procedures, and of methods and principles of social work administration. Knowledge of problems likely to be encountered in doing social work with dependent, abandoned, and/or neglected children and their mothers, with children who are to be or have been placed in foster homes or with adoptive parents, with persons who are mentally and/or physically maladjusted, and with patients/clients suffering from alcoholism or drug addiction. Knowledge of community, family, social, economic, health, and other problems and forces influencing clients. Knowledge of social needs and resources of the local community and of the State. Knowledge of federal, state, and local regulations affecting the administration of public assistance programs after a period of training. Ability to collect, tabulate, and analyze basic social data and to devise social and other plans for disturbed, deficient, and/or delinquent children under the agency's care. Ability to determine the need for and to provide consultation services in the broad field of social work. Ability to comprehend the economic, social, and emotional problems of persons who are physically and/or emotionally maladjusted or dependent, or who are confined in an institution. Ability to work effectively with associates, superior officers, professional and clerical employees, and representatives of civic, health, welfare, and other organizations interested in or concerned with the broad field of social welfare or in the several specialized fields of same. Ability to establish and maintain essential records and files. Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units. Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication. Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible. This job specification is applicable to the following title code(s) which are different work week or work month and/or variants of the job class title: Job Spec Code State, Local or Common Class of Service Work Week State Class Code Local Class Code Salary Range

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed. NOTE: Appointments may be made to positions requiring bilingual skills. - Bilingual in Spanish and English SPECIAL SKILL Applicants must be able to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in Spanish and English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. LC N/A24-Bilingual In Spanish And EnglishLC N/A24- This job specification is for government use only. Salary range is only applicable to state government. Local salaries are established by individual local jurisdictions. 5/01/1997