SOCIAL WORK SUPERVISOR 3 GERIATRICS
Geriatrics
Career Family: SOCIAL WORK SUPERVISOR
In New Jersey, Social Work Supervisor 3 Geriatrics is filled through the competitive process: candidates take a civil service exam and are hired off a ranked list, not picked at will.
It is the lowest-paid of the 3 Social Work Supervisor grades, a step below Social Work Supervisor 2 Medical, whose band tops out about $10,430 higher. Qualifying takes a master's degree and 2 years of relevant experience. The FY2027 range lands between $72,896 and $106,798, and state payroll currently lists about 12 people in the title, most of them at Health and Senior Services.
How to apply
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
Pay ladder: Social Work Supervisor series
- Social Work Supervisor 3 Geriatrics — $72,896 – $106,798 (this title)
- Social Work Supervisor 2 Medical — $79,844 – $117,228
- Social Work Supervisor 1, Psychiatric — $87,507 – $128,719
Promoting to Social Work Supervisor 2 Medical raises the top of the band by about $10,430. Its top salary lands around the 56th 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 12 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $99,911. The agencies employing the most are:
- Health and Senior Services (9)
- Juvenile Justice Commission (2)
- Military and Veterans Affairs (1)
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 the Superintendent, Soldiers Home or the Assistant Superintendent in the Division of Veterans Services, Department of Human Services, the recognition of a geriatric patient's social and emotional needs, and in providing a social service care plan to meet those needs; does other related duties. 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.
Examples of work
Develops standards for the delivery of geriatric social work services; coordinates services with other health and social service agencies. Supervises other social work service staff members in their work with patients and their families. Supervises the social service operations and has responsibility for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting and/or disciplining of employees. Oversees and participates in the development, review, and revision of patient social service plans. Prepares assessments and reassessments of patients. Provides individual and/or group counseling of patients, their relatives and sponsors; prepares clinical and progress notes. Contacts social and other agencies for information, referrals, and social work consultation and keeps clinical notes of such. Assists in developing and conducting staff orientations and in- service training programs for the facility employees. Provides social work guidance and consultation to other patient care personnel. Develops and maintains patient care policies in conjunction with other facility units. Prepares and/or evaluates social services discharge summary and discharge plans. Prepares and supervises the preparation of reports containing findings, conclusions and recommendations. Prepares correspondence. Supervises the work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting, and/or disciplining of employees. Participates in conferences with the medical and nursing staff regarding individual patients' needs and progress. Participates in conferences with medical and nursing staff to discuss patients' needs and progress. Identifies social service needs of patients to be met by outside resources. Supervises maintenance of essential records and files. 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.
Experience
Two (2) years of experience in geriatric social work, one (1) year of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity in the administration of a geriatric social work program.
License
Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in NJ 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 the methods used to develop, review and revise social service plans. Knowledge of methods and techniques of geriatric social work. Knowledge of the nature and problems involved in the care and treatment of geriatric residents. Knowledge of interview techniques. Ability to read and interpret laws, rules and regulations and apply them to specific situations. Ability to apply the concepts, methods and procedures of modern social work, and psychology to geriatric residents. Ability to provide assignments and instruction to staff and supervise their performance. Ability to oversee and participate in the development, review and revision of patient social service plans. Ability to prepare correspondence, case histories and reports. Ability to interview and counsel patients and their families. Ability to maintain records and files. Ability 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, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform 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 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.