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

• 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

At this level employees are assigned responsibilities at the full performance level in providing social services to clients in assessing needs and determining eligibility for specific programs and services. This includes managing a caseload requiring both broad and specialized knowledge of all social service programs. Some positions will serve on a psychiatric team and gather and interpret social data affecting a patient’s condition; participate in therapeutic counseling of patients under the direction of a psychiatrist, psychologist or other social services specialist in a higher level position; or participate as a member of an interdisciplinary team, giving input on the social history of individuals and contributing to the treatment plan. In addition, employees at this level will contact outside public and private health and welfare agencies and community resources to assist in obtaining aid for clients and their families, and may serve as a field eligibility examiner by conducting reviews of questionable social service cases to determine verification of income, employment and other resources and to document the true situation of the client.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Competencies

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required at this level include 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; and of psychiatric and medical terminology. Ability is required 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; and to effectively treat social and emotional problems.

Education and Experience

Education and Experience requirements at this level consist of a master’s degree; or a bachelor’s degree and one year 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.

Special Requirements

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.

Some agencies may have determined positions in this job family to be safety sensitive as defined by 63 O.S. § 427.8.