SOCIAL WORKER SPECIALIST

4205D1

Pay Grade: 24

DEFINITION OF WORK

Summary

This is specialized or consultative social work.

Work involves quality assurance, mentoring, providing specialized training, providing consultation on extremely complex cases, or serving as an expert resource on a complex program or system of complex social services.

Supervision Received - Level D: "Under general direction. . ." Employees at this level are usually in charge of a large and important organizational unit. They plan and carry out assignments with little supervision. They report regularly to a superior, usually by means of occasional conferences, to discuss work progress or new problems which require advice from above. This designation will pertain to classes with a high order of independence.

Difficulty - LEVEL C: Considerable. . . Duties which require a high degree of concentration because of the many factors which must be considered and weighed before a decision can be reached. Usually positions that require planning, developing, and coordinating programs and directing fairly large groups of people fall into this category.

Complexity - LEVEL D: Work is of a diversified nature that usually involves multiple unrelated steps. Analytical thought is necessary for dealing with complex data and situations. Work often involves a variety of unrelated processes and may require planning or carrying out a sequence of actions or both. Several alternatives usually exist at this level for approaching problems or situations. Workers at this level exercise a considerable amount of independent judgment. Work is controlled by occasional review and by reporting to or consultation with supervisors or superiors. When guidelines exist at this level, they are usually broadly defined or technical requiring careful analysis and interpretation.

Consequence of Actions or Decisions - LEVEL D: Consequences of actions or decisions at this level are significant as the work may be rarely if ever reviewed, making errors difficult to detect. Errors may cause major program failure or a high degree of confusion. Injuries to others due to errors are serious or incapacitating or both and costs due to errors are substantial.

Contacts - LEVEL D: The purpose of the contact is to justify, defend, negotiate, persuade or interrogate to settle matters, maintain good will, gain cooperation or reach compromises when the information is controversial or the individuals or groups have strong differences of opinions or diverse viewpoints. Extensive use of communication techniques and well-developed communication skills are required for dealing with others.

Physical Demands - LEVEL B: The work requires light physical exertion. The employee may be required to perform handling activities with lightweight or easily moved items (e.g. books, file folders, boxes of office supplies, small machine parts, etc.); perform moving activities for brief periods; operate light equipment; perform repetitive motions for brief periods; confined to a work area.

Environmental Conditions - LEVEL C: The work environment involves hazards, risks or discomforts typical of working with or around machinery with exposed moving parts, irritant chemicals, heavy equipment or abusive or hostile clientele and patients. Exposure to disagreeable weather conditions and extreme levels of temperature, ventilation, lighting and sound are normal. Protective clothing or gear and specific safety standards or procedures may be required. Serious injury is possible.

Supervision/Leadership - LEVEL B: Involves functional leadership responsibility. As a "senior worker", performing essentially the same or similar work as those overseen, responsibility includes training, instructing, scheduling and reviewing. As a "project leader" may be responsible for a phase(s) of a single project which includes planning, coordinating and reviewing the work of others. This level may also involve limited administrative responsibility such as participating in the evaluation of work performance.

Differs from the Social Worker class, which is social work in the field of social services. which provides for performance of a variety of casework services.

Differs from the Social Work Supervisor class, which is supervisory work in a social work program. which provides for direct supervision of social workers.

Provides consultation on extremely complex case situations; reviews current literature and develops and designs interventions for intensive service or treatment.

Mentors social workers in integrating theoretical social work knowledge with application as practiced in the agency. Maintains qualitative and quantitative standards for workers' in-training performance, ensures that work assignments are carried out, and may recommend performance evaluation ratings and personnel actions. May also serve as team leader or provide limited supervisory responsibility for some staff.

Reads and studies groups of cases for quality assurance, identifying those needing further attention, special diagnostic study, consultation, or complementary services, and those needing additional information or action to comply with agency requirements.

Assists in the development of individual outcome measures and measurement and analysis of performance.

*Knowledge of ethical standards, principles, and practices of social work, counseling, and human behavior.

*Knowledge of clinical assessment principles and techniques.

*Knowledge of interviewing and other information gathering techniques.

Knowledge of principles of consulting, teaching, and learning.

Knowledge of the structure and function of mental health and welfare services.

*Knowledge of the theories of group interaction and therapeutic intervention.

Knowledge of client outcome identification and measurement.

Abilities

*Ability to develop and implement individual treatment plans with flexibility and independence.

*Ability to utilize relevant personality theory, casework method, supervision, and consultation in social work practice.

*Ability to work efficiently and effectively with other staff and community organizations.

*Ability to function constructively under the pressures and risks involved in working with persons having complex social, physical, emotional, and mental problems.

*Ability to identify dysfunctional relationships and environmental conditions.

*Ability to exercise sound judgment in the performance of assigned responsibilities.

*Ability to write meaningful, concise, and accurate reports and correspondence.

Ability to provide testimony at court hearings.

*Necessary at Entry

Licensed to practice social work in the State of Kansas and limited independent work experience in social work.

NC: 06/94
REV: 12/95
REV: 11/96
REV: 10/98
REV: 02/00
REV: 09/03