Social Services Specialist III

Oklahoma State Government•Ardmore, OK

7d•$23

About The Position

Basic Purpose Positions in this family are assigned responsibility for providing social services to children and adults in communities, facilities, institutions or hospitals. Typical Functions The functions performed in this job family will vary by level, unit and organization, but may include the following: Manages a caseload and provides services for individuals and their families. Evaluates the needs of individuals and families; assists the family as a unit to function more adequately; counsels clients and arranges for needed treatment or services. Participates on a psychiatric team to gather social data, counsels individuals under the direction of a psychiatrist, psychologist or other social services specialist. Assesses the needs of individuals and determines eligibility for specific programs; interviews clients, both in an office setting and on home visits, completes necessary case documents and compiles data to determine eligibility. Develops and plans casework services and treatment for individuals with specialized problems in development, retardation, maladjustment or dependency. Develops and implements specialized treatment programs within the community; utilizes community resources; initiates projects with foster or adoptive parents. Investigates selected food stamp cases, conducts interviews and obtains information to determine food stamp violations or food stamp fraud. Participates in staff conferences and interdisciplinary team meetings for the purpose of determining overall treatment. Level Descriptor Levels are distinguished based on the complexity of assigned duties, the level of expertise required for completion of work assignments, and the responsibility assigned for the supervision of others. This is the specialist level where employees are designated as lead workers or backup supervisors to Level I or Level II employees, or are responsible for carrying a complex and difficult case load along with limited responsibilities involving the direct supervision of no more than 3 lower level staff in performing various work activities and tasks. Responsibilities include assigning caseloads, providing training in caseload principles and practices and ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations, and agency policy and procedures. Some employees at this level will act as full-time AIDS Care Coordinators assigned a multi-county area; counsel, advise and provide services to clients with AIDS; and act as a consultant to other Social Service Specialists on AIDS related matters. Employees assigned to this level may coordinate an interdisciplinary treatment team of a mental health or health facility; may coordinate activities at a social services satellite treatment center or may be assigned multiple county or district wide responsibility for the provision of social services and act as project director.

Requirements

Knowledge of social work principles and practices; of casework principles and methods; of current social and economic problems; of the principles of family economics and budgeting; of human relations; of community, state and national health and welfare resources; of psychological terminology; of the principles of interviewing; of social assistance requirements; of therapeutic treatment; of psychiatric and medical terminology; of social welfare legislation as it pertains to the state administration of public welfare; of the functions of public welfare agencies; of social resources in Oklahoma as related to public assistance; of individual and group behavior; of social and psychiatric casework method and principles and their application to problems in psychiatric social work; of mental and emotional disturbances; of the principles of clinical interviewing; of community, individual, and family social, economic, and health problems; of medical social work methods and principles; and of literature in the field of social work.
Ability to deal effectively and courteously with people; to exercise good judgment in evaluating situations; to present ideas and facts effectively and accurately; to consult with staff and agencies; to effectively treat social and emotional problems; to plan and organize a program; and to relate professional training to casework practice and supervision in the field of family services.
A master’s degree plus two additional years of qualifying experience; or a bachelor’s degree and three years of experience in professional social work; or an equivalent combination of education and experience, substituting one additional year of experience in professional social work for each year of the bachelor’s degree.
Applicants must be willing and able to perform all job-related travel normally associated with this position.
Upon appointment, incumbents designated by the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services shall complete certification in one of the following required Departmental sponsored training in case management: Certified Behavioral Health Case Manager – Adult; Certified Behavioral Health Case Manager – Child, Adolescent and Family; or Certified Behavioral Health Case Manager – Dual Certification.

Responsibilities

Manages a caseload and provides services for individuals and their families.
Evaluates the needs of individuals and families; assists the family as a unit to function more adequately; counsels clients and arranges for needed treatment or services.
Participates on a psychiatric team to gather social data, counsels individuals under the direction of a psychiatrist, psychologist or other social services specialist.
Assesses the needs of individuals and determines eligibility for specific programs; interviews clients, both in an office setting and on home visits, completes necessary case documents and compiles data to determine eligibility.
Develops and plans casework services and treatment for individuals with specialized problems in development, retardation, maladjustment or dependency.
Develops and implements specialized treatment programs within the community; utilizes community resources; initiates projects with foster or adoptive parents.
Investigates selected food stamp cases, conducts interviews and obtains information to determine food stamp violations or food stamp fraud.
Participates in staff conferences and interdisciplinary team meetings for the purpose of determining overall treatment.
Assigning caseloads, providing training in caseload principles and practices and ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations, and agency policy and procedures.
Counsel, advise and provide services to clients with AIDS; and act as a consultant to other Social Service Specialists on AIDS related matters.
Coordinate an interdisciplinary treatment team of a mental health or health facility; may coordinate activities at a social services satellite treatment center or may be assigned multiple county or district wide responsibility for the provision of social services and act as project director.