State of Maryland

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE        BARGAINING UNIT: F    

A Social Service Administrator I is a managerial level of administrative social work within the Social Services Administration in the Maryland Department of Human Services.  Employees in this classification may function as administrators of social services components in a local operation or provide administrative staff services in a local department of the Baltimore City Department of Social Services or the Social Services Administration.  Employees in this classification perform work that may include the administration of a variety of social service programs or involve specialization in the development of program and policy in one service area.  Employees in this classification may be required to act as case consultants and subject matter specialists in the assigned program area(s).  Employees in this classification do not supervise.

Employees in this classification receive managerial supervision from a higher-level Social Service Administrator or other designated administrator.

Position allocation within the Social Service Administrator I-VI series is determined on the basis of relative job evaluation among similarly functioning positions.  The job evaluation factors include: qualifications; nature and purpose of personal contacts; nature of recommendations, commitments, decisions and conclusions; creative thought; responsibility for planning; responsibility for administration; and nature of supervision received.

Develops, implements and monitors program policies, regulations, procedures and proposed legislation;

Interprets and explains State and federal policies, procedures, rules and regulations to agency staff;

Provides technical assistance and social work consultation on problematic cases;

Represents the agency at meetings with other public and private agencies and community groups;

Reviews case material to evaluate the quality of casework services rendered;

Monitors casework for adherence to State, federal and Social Services Administration program policies, procedures, rules and regulations;

Participates in the annual program planning and evaluation process;

Coordinates systems of service delivery within the agency and with other public and private agencies and groups;

May act as a Family Service Specialist in a decentralized district operation of the Baltimore City Department of Social Services;

May act as a Policy Specialist with state-wide responsibility for developing and interpreting policies, rules and regulations for assigned social service programs;

May act as a Regional Representative providing technical supervision and administrative review services to local county departments of social services;

May act as a Program Specialist in the Baltimore City Department of Social Services developing, monitoring and reviewing programs, policies and procedures on a city-wide basis;

May assess staff training needs and arrange or provide training as needed;

May assist in the preparation of local departmental budgets;

May attend and participate in social work standard setting committees and professional social work organizations;

May observe and investigate living conditions and quality of services given children in institutions and agencies;

May train subordinate professional, paraprofessional, clerical and other support staff;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of social work methodology;

Knowledge of State and federal laws, rules and regulations pertaining to public social service administration;

Knowledge of techniques, practices, procedures and problems of public social service administration;

Knowledge of public administration as related to social service agencies;

Ability to plan, develop, coordinate, integrate, implement State and federal laws, policies, procedures, rules and regulations pertaining to public social services;

Ability to interpret and explain State and federal policies and procedures;

Ability to review and evaluate case records and related data for compliance with State and federal social service policies, procedures, rules and regulations;

Ability to establish and maintain professional working relationships with staff members, other agencies and institutions and the general public.

Education:   A Master's degree in social work from an accredited college or university approved by the Council on Social Work Education

Experience: Five years of professional employment in a social work capacity in a public or private agency or institution, two years of which must have been in an administrative, supervisory or consultative capacity.

Notes:

1. These requirements are established by the Social Services Administration by authority provided in Human Services Article 4-204 of the Annotated Code of Maryland and the Maryland Department of Budget and Management, Office of Personnel Services and Benefits, does not have authority to accept substitutions or equivalents.

2. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience at a rank of Corporal/Petty Officer or higher as a commissioned officer in Social Work classifications or Social Work specialty codes in the Social Science, Psychology, and Welfare field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience and education.

1. Candidates for positions in this classification must be licensed by the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners.

2. Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties are required to possess a motor vehicle operator’s license valid in the State of Maryland.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Professional Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Professional Service positions.  Some positions in Professional Service classifications may be designated as Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit F, Social and Human Service Professionals classes.  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.