CLASS SPECIFICATION

SOCIAL WORKER III

DEFINITION OF CLASS:

This is professional social work at the proficient (clinical specialist) level. Employees are generally assigned the more difficult cases which require the application of highly developed casework or group work techniques. Employees provide a wide range of social work services in a residential facility, local health clinic, school, clients' homes, or social services environment. Personal contacts are with individuals in and outside the County Government for the purpose of providing professional advice, conducting clinical assessments, discussing unusual case situations, and/or coordinating systems of service delivery with other units or agencies. Employees in this class provide direct professional assistance or care to clients involving intensive interaction and may include counseling therapy.

The work of this class is multidisciplinary and requires knowledge of a wide range of social work principles and methods. The employee may render direct services in a particular area of social work or may be responsible for implementing, developing and directing a small unit or program. The work is performed in accordance with the objectives, responsibilities, and policies of the agency, but the employee is expected to exercise considerable initiative and independent judgment in discharging the assigned duties, and to require advice and help only on the most unusual or difficult cases. Employees in this class apply professional social work theory and methods for the treatment and prevention of psychosocial dysfunction, disability, or impairment, including emotional and mental disorders of individuals and families. The employee plans and carries out the successive steps of assignments and handles problems in accordance with policies, training, and/or accepted practices in the field. Guidelines, such as County Codes, program regulations, and professional manuals, are available but are not completely applicable to all aspects of the work and do not cover unusual situations. The work is cross-disciplinary and consists of varied duties and processes. Employees are required to make decisions in such areas as needs assessment, treatment, and evaluation. The work involves treating a variety of psychosocial problems, crises, and situations in accordance with established criteria. The work of this class may be performed in an office environment or in clients' homes. There are no unusual physical demands associated with this work.
An employee in this class works under the professional supervision of a higher level social worker. In the absence of direct social work supervision, the employee reports to an administrator and receives professional direction from the agency's headquarters staff. Assignments may involve the supervision of subordinate social services staff positions. Work effectiveness is ascertained through consultation, group conferences, and review of written communications and case reports.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES: (Illustrative Only)

Works in close cooperation with other agency staff, and staff of other agencies to coordinate services and meet the needs of the clients.
Provides advanced and specialized clinical social work and casework, or group work services to clients and families of clients.
Conducts clinical assessments, formulates a diagnostic impression, and provides treatment services, including psychotherapy, for mental and emotional disorders.
Consults with other social workers and other professional personnel in order to provide the best possible treatment program for clients.
Interprets the social service program to professional staff members and works with them in effecting the most efficient and integrated service.
Participates in staff conferences concerning treatment plans for individuals.
Participates in discussions of policies and procedures relating to eligibility and coordination of community services.
Reviews and analyzes case records.
Interprets the program to other staff and community organizations through conferences and group talks.
Prepares reports and maintains case records.
May be responsible for supervision of staff.
May assist in preparing and advocating a program budget.
May represent the department or center on boards or task forces, or act as a liaison with other agencies.
May plan and present continuing education presentations.
Performs 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 graduate social work program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
Experience: Three years experience rendering social work services.
License: Candidates for clinical specialist positions must be licensed by the Maryland State Board of Social Work Examiners prior to appointment as Certified Social Worker-Clinical (LCSW-C).

NOTES:
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 experience. Applicants must submit a statement from the college/university that the advanced course 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 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:
Considerable knowledge of clinical social work principles and methods.
Considerable knowledge of individual and group behavior; of ways of working effectively with adults and children who have social, emotional, mental disorders, and health problems; of the function and organization of community health and social services programs and other resources on local, State and Federal levels; of recent developments, current literature and sources of information in social work; of medical terminology; of the social implications of various diseases, disabilities, and work; of current social, economic and health problems and resources; and of the administrative procedures and educational techniques used in social work.
Knowledge of guidelines provided in the current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual.
Ability to plan and review the work of subordinate staff; to instruct lower level staff in clinical social work and casework techniques; to supervise and teach students in social work; to understand the effect of environmental factors and to apply this understanding to individual cases for social adjustment and rehabilitation; to maintain effective working relationships with supervisors, associates, clients, families of clients, and staff of other social, welfare, health, civic and religious organizations; to express ideas clearly and concisely, orally and in writing; to analyze case information and to reach sound decisions on the basis of such information; and to act as a consultant in the assigned area of service.
Ability to attend meetings and perform work assignments at locations outside the office.

LICENSE:

Possession of a valid motor vehicle operator's license when required for job-related duties.

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 28, 1955
Date Revised: March 4, 1963
Date Revised: November 24, 1970
Date Revised: July 4, 1973
Corrected: February 1984
Date Revised: July 1, 1986
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.