SOCIAL WORKER 1, CORRECTIONS (BILINGUAL IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH)
Corrections-Biling In Spa & English
Career Family: SOCIAL WORKER
In New Jersey, Social Worker 1, Corrections (bilingual in Spanish and English) is filled through the competitive process: candidates take a civil service exam and are hired off a ranked list, not picked at will.
Qualifying takes a master's degree and 1 year of relevant experience. The FY2027 range lands between $63,663 and $92,953, and state payroll currently lists about 94 people in the title, most of them at Health and Senior Services.
How to apply
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Exam
This is an application to sit an exam and be placed on an eligible list for this title, not an application for a specific job. A $35 application fee applies to Non-Public-Safety announcements issued on or after 2026-02-01. There may be no current vacancy behind it, and the list it produces may not be certified for months or years.
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Exam
Open to permanent employees in the competitive division who hold a qualifying lower title in the same unit. A $35 application fee applies to Non-Public-Safety announcements issued on or after 2026-02-01. Like the open competitive exam, this places you on a list; it is not itself a job offer.
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Agency posting
Department of Health posts its own vacancies directly, often before (or instead of) any civil service exam announcement. Provisional appointment against a posted vacancy is how most people are actually hired into this kind of title.
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Agency posting
Department of Military and Veterans Affairs's employment page may require a click-through to see specific openings. Provisional appointment against a posted vacancy is how most people are actually hired into this kind of title.
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Agency posting
Department of Human Services's employment page may require a click-through to see specific openings. Provisional appointment against a posted vacancy is how most people are actually hired into this kind of title.
Pay ladder: Social Worker series
- Social Worker 2 — $58,222 – $84,763
- Social Worker 1 — $63,663 – $92,953
Its top salary lands around the 36th percentile of all NJ civil service titles that publish a range.
Rungs are ordered by FY2027 pay. NJ level numbers are not always sequential, so ordering follows salary rather than the title number.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 94 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $81,320. The agencies employing the most are:
- Health and Senior Services (61)
- Juvenile Justice Commission (22)
- Military and Veterans Affairs (8)
- Human Services (3)
Counts from NJ YourMoney agency payroll. See statewide workforce analytics.
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.
Definition
Under the direction of supervisory officer in a state correctional institution or facility, assumes a caseload on an appropriate number of inmates, and provides counseling, assessment, and program planning services to these individuals; aids in informational and situational problem solving; may handle the more complex, difficult cases; provides the above services to the general population as well as that portion of the population whose basic language is Spanish; does related work as required.
Examples of work
{These examples of work are to be performed by utilizing English and Spanish as required.} Interviews newly received inmates to obtain significant social, economic, and other contributory information. Develops social histories for diagnostic, institutional adjustment and overall rehabilitative purposes. Based upon interviews, institutional data, and other pertinent information. Cooperates with the inmate and institution in planning, implementing, and evaluating participation in rehabilitative programs. Provides recourse to appropriate institutional and community resources in response to medical, psychological, or other significant inmate needs. In a community based facility, provides resources for medical, psychological, or other significant client needs. In a correctional institution or a community based facility, develops and carries out programs for inmates to participate in counseling or group discussions. Participates in appropriate planning and programs to assist and motivate the inmate toward a more constructive file style upon release. Prepares and maintains case histories for purposes of evaluation, and other follow-up support of inmates. In a community based facility, participates in appropriate programs to assist clients toward re-integration into the community. Provides referral to identify and assess treatment needs of substance abusers. Prepares reports containing findings and recommendations regarding inmate needs. Prepares correspondence in the course of official duties. Handles the more complex or difficult cases. Establishes and maintains essential records and files. Submits statistical reports on services rendered. Assists in the process of communication between those who are not knowledgeable of both English and Spanish. May 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 with a Master's degree in Social Work.
Experience
One (1) year of experience in social case work, which shall have involved the responsibility for gathering and analyzing social information from clients, the determination of their needs, and the planning and administration of treatment plans geared toward the needs of individual clients. NOTE: A Master's degree in Social Work including or supplemented by a supervised field placement accredited by the Council on Social Work Education may be substituted for the above stated experience requirements. SPECIAL SKILL: Applicants must be able to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English and Spanish sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
License
Appointee 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 the essential duties of the position.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
Knowledge of modern work theory, practices, procedures and of the methods and principles of social work administration. Knowledge of the accepted principles, methods, and techniques of dealing with individuals and groups. Knowledge of modern social work literature, and terminology, and of current social, economic, and correctional problems. Knowledge of the problems likely to be encountered in doing social work with persons who are confined to a correctional institution or a community based facility, or who are suffering from alcohol/drug addictions. Knowledge of public and private social welfare, health, and educational agencies and organizations. Knowledge of symptoms and behavior patterns which indicate substance abuse, and the availability of appropriate treatment resources. Ability to understand the overall mission of correctional facilities. Ability to comprehend, analyze, interpret, and comply with rules, regulations, and procedures in a correctional institution. Ability to organize assigned caseload and related duties, and develop effective working methods. Ability to work effectively with a multi-disciplined staff in a correctional institution, or a community based facility. Ability to collect and assess factual information and significant facts, and to evaluate such facts. Ability to comprehend the social, emotional, medical, or other adjustment needs of the inmates confined in a correctional setting or clients in a community based facility. Ability to prepare clear, sound, accurate and authentic case histories and reports for purposes of evaluation or recommendation. Ability to prepare correspondence in accordance with established procedures. Ability to establish and maintain 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 and Spanish 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.