CLASS SPECIFICATION

SOCIAL WORKER IV

DEFINITION OF CLASS:

This is professional social work at the supervisory and/or administrative level. Employees in this class supervise caseworkers or direct social work programs in a residential facility, local health clinic, school, or social services environment. Personal contacts are wide and varied for the purpose of providing professional advice, discussing unusual case situations, and/or coordinating systems of service delivery with other units or agencies. An employee in this class provides little or no direct service or assistance to the public.

The work of this class requires the employee to direct social work program(s) for an assigned unit and requires knowledge of a wide range of social work principles and methods. The employee may specialize in one program area or may be responsible for providing services through a variety of programs. The employee alone, or in consultation with the supervisor, develops the deadlines, projects, and work to be done. An employee in this class has the authority and responsibility for making recommendations and decisions in the areas of procedures, implementation of policy and the daily operations related to the specific assignment. The employee is expected to use initiative and resourcefulness in researching issues and trends and developing new methods and criteria for performing the work. Major deviations from existing policy may require the approval of higher level administrators. The work requires making decisions in such areas as needs assessments, planning, and program development. This may involve assessing personnel needs, preparing budget projections, and planning the implementation of new programs or services, the coordination of services, and other facets of operation. The work also involves establishing criteria, formulating projects, and assessing program effectiveness. The employee works in a normal office environment and there are no unusual physical demands associated with this work.
An employee in this class reports to an administrator and receives professional direction from the agency's headquarters staff. Assignments involve the supervision of subordinate social service staff positions. Work effectiveness is ascertained through consultation, group conferences, review of written communication, and evaluation of program results.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES: (Illustrative Only)

Plans, organizes, and directs a component of a social service program in a State facility, local health clinic, school, or social services environment.
Develops standards and procedures governing provision of social services in the assigned area of operation and assures compliance to them.
Helps to evaluate existing social service programs, initiates new programs, modifies, and terminates programs as necessary.
Consults with other professional personnel concerning social and economic problems affecting recovery and rehabilitation of clients.
Interprets the program to other staff, community groups, individuals, and agencies.
Coordinates program with other activities in the facility, health clinic, school, social services office, and the community.
Develops and maintains cooperative relationships with other agencies and facilities.
Plans and/or conducts in service training activities.
Determines personnel needs, recruits staff, and establishes programs of training.
Supervises social service staff and recommends personnel actions.
Conducts staff meetings to interpret policies, procedures, progress reports, and other phases of the social service program.
May provide advanced medical or psychiatric social case work services to patients and families of patients.
May plan and direct a student training program, including the liaison with graduate schools of social work.
Represents the agency to interested professional or community groups.
Provides clinical supervision to social services staff.
Perform related duties as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education: Possession of a master's degree in social work from an accredited college or university that meets the criteria of a graduate social work program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
Experience: Four years experience rendering social work services, including two years of consultant or supervisory responsibility.
License: Candidates must be licensed by the Maryland State Board of Social Work Examiners prior to appointment. Positions providing supervision to Social Worker III (Clinical Specialist) positions must also be licensed by the same Board as Certified Social Worker-Clinical (LCSW-C) prior to appointment.

NOTE:

1. Pertinent volunteer and/or part time experience is acceptable.
2. Field work placement while attending a school of social work will not be considered as qualifying experience.
3. Qualifying work experience must have been obtained subsequent to receipt of the bachelor's degree.
4. One complete year of graduate social work education beyond the master's degree in an accredited college or university may be substituted for one year of general experience. Applicants must submit a statement from the college/university that the advanced work constitutes one full year toward the completion of work required for a doctoral degree.
5. A doctoral degree in social work from an accredited college or university may be substituted for two years of general experience.
6. These requirements are established by the Social Services Administration by authority provided in Section 1 of Article 88A of the Annotated Code of Maryland and the Personnel Office does not have authority to accept substitutions or equivalents.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Thorough knowledge of social work principles and methods; of individual and group behavior; of social, emotional, mental health, and health needs of adults and children; of current social, economic and health problems and resources; and of current literature and social sources of information in social work.
Some knowledge of the basic principles and methods of administration and supervision; of the principles and methods of program interpretation and community organization; of medical terminology; of educational techniques in social work; and of basic research methodology.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, clients and their families, to plan and direct a phase of a psychiatric or medical social service program or to plan and direct a diversified program of social service for adults, families, and children; to express ideas clearly and concisely, orally and in writing; to speak effectively in public; to evaluate existing services and plan for the initiation of new services, the modification or the termination of services; to coordinate the social services program with other activities in the facility; and to instruct and supervise.
Ability to attend meetings and perform work assignments at locations outside the office.

PROBATIONARY PERIOD:

Individuals appointed or promoted to this class will be required to serve a probationary period of six months, during which time performance will be carefully evaluated. Continuation in this class will be contingent upon successful completion of the probationary period.

MEDICAL PROTOCOL: Limited Core*

" Pre-placement Drug/Alcohol Screen

Date Adopted: June 11, 1953
Date Revised: December 5, 1962
Date Revised: June 10, 1963
Date Revised: July 4, 1973
Corrected: February 1984
Date Adopted by Montgomery County: December 1988
Date Revised: June 1995(M)
Date Revised: December 2004

NOTE: This class specification is largely based on the State of Maryland class description in order to ensure comparability between State and County social worker positions, and to ensure that minimum qualifications mandated by State law are met. Modifications have been made to reflect language used in the County's job evaluation system.