SOCIAL CASE WORKER DEFINITION:
Under direction, does field and office work in making varied types of social investigations involving the collection, analysis, and recording of significant facts, drawing sound social conclusions, and basing appropriate action thereon; does other related duties as required.
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.
03724 - 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.
EXAMPLES OF WORK:
Conducts comprehensive investigations of public assistance clients and of financial status both at the time of application and regularly thereafter.
Interviews patients, clients, and/or inmates and their families to obtain significant social, economic, and other information.
Gives advice concerning school problems, finances, recreation, church activities, health, and family relationships.
Visits schools, clinics, hospitals, banks, social and welfare agencies, relatives, physicians, clergy, tradespeople, and others to collect social, economic, and other information required in preparing recommendations for social, court, and/or other action.
Calculates family budgets using established criteria and makes changes therein in accord with division standards and regulations.
Receives complaints for nonsupport, desertion, and neglect of children, and conducts investigations and makes recommendations.
Notes significant conditions within the home and family groups to plan suitable courses of action.
Cooperates with the family and others in giving or receiving information which will be helpful to the patient, client, and/or inmate.
Acts as a witness in court and gives testimony under oath.
Prepares and serves summonses and warrants.
Helps the client, patient, and/or inmate and family to make necessary social, emotional, and other adjustments.
Arranges training and support programs.
Prepares and maintains accurate case histories.
Prepares reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
Prepares correspondence in the course of official duties.
Maintains 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.
REQUIREMENTS:
NOTE: Applicants must meet one of the following or a combination of both experience and education. Thirty (30) semester hour credits are equal to one (1) year of relevant experience.
Four (4) years of professional experience in social work having responsibility for gathering social information from clients, determining their needs and planning and carrying out treatment plans geared to the needs of individual clients.
OR
Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
NOTE: "Professional experience" refers to work that is analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range of basic knowledge of the profession's concepts and practices; and is performed with the authority to act and make accurate and informed decisions.
LICENSE:
Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.
KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge of social work theory, standards, objectives, and methods.
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, or with persons who are mentally and/or physically maladjusted or blind, and with patients, clients, and/or inmates suffering from alcoholism or drug addiction.
Knowledge of social work literature, methods, and terminology, and of current social, economic, and community problems.
Knowledge of public and private social, welfare, health, and educational agencies and organizations.
Knowledge of psychology and of accepted principles of individual and group behavior.
Ability to analyze, comprehend, interpret, and apply basic laws, rules, regulations, and procedures to specific situations.
Ability to organize assigned social work and related duties, and to develop effective work methods.
Ability to work effectively with associates, families, individuals, and groups.
Ability to collect and make appraisals of factual information and the social relationships of individuals and families, to learn quickly the essential and significant facts in an individual or family situation, and to weigh and evaluate such facts.
Ability to comprehend the economic, social, and emotional problems of persons who are physically and/or emotionally maladjusted, or dependents, or who are confined in an institution.
Ability to prepare clear, sound, accurate, and informative reports based on findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
Ability to act as a witness in court.
Ability to prepare correspondence in accord with established procedures.
Ability to maintain essential 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 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.
