State of Maryland

A Social Work Supervisor, Family Services is the supervisory level of professional social work providing services that support families, protect children and adults, and impact communities. The work of this classification involves working with families to prevent abuse or neglect, remain safely together, reunify, or adopt. The work of this classification may also work with adults to provide services that help them maintain their independence, ensure their safety and provide guardianship services.

Employees in this classification must supervise a Social Worker I, Family Services or a Social Worker II, Family Services, and may also supervise staff in the Casework Specialist, Family Services and the Family Services Caseworker classification series.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a social work administrator or other administrative official. Employees in this classification may be required to work evenings and on weekends and may be assigned to provide on-call coverage. Work is generally performed in an office setting but may be performed in customer’s homes, schools, hospitals and other community settings. Employees may be required to deal with potentially hazardous situations.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology. The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Social Work Supervisor, Family Services is differentiated from the Social Worker II, Family Services in that the Social Work Supervisor, Family Services has full supervisory responsibilities for lower-level Social Workers while the Social Worker II, Family Services performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

Plans, coordinates, supervises and evaluates the work of licensed Social workers, Casework Specialists and related support staff;

Instructs staff in administrative and operating policies and procedures;

Provides training to subordinate staff;

Supervises the investigation of clients and other individuals to obtain necessary information in cases concerning suspected child or adult abuse or neglect, out of home placement, guardianship or emergency protective orders, or adoption;

Approves case management records and reports, evaluative reports and recommendations to the courts, the foster care review board and other agencies and institutions regarding individual case situations;

Uses database applications to record information, research, and track or manage cases for compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and standards;

Completes required management reports and makes appropriate recommendations to improve services;

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

Develops and implements an individualized training plan to maintain and upgrade knowledge and skills related to the delivery of services;

May assist in the development of program policies and procedures for a local department of social services;

May assist in the preparation, monitoring, tracking and reporting of a local department of social services’ budget;

May testify in legal proceedings as to the facts of a specific family service case and may testify in court as an expert witness as to professional judgment;

May perform direct services to customers as a back-up to line staff;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the principles, practices and ethics of professional social work;

Knowledge of human growth and development;

Knowledge of the emotional, social, economic and physical needs of children and adults;

Knowledge of individual and group behavior;

Knowledge of the social implications of various diseases or disabilities;

Skill in using computer applications such as email, word processing and database applications;

Ability to provide counseling to customers and treat sensitive information confidentially and discreetly;

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

Ability to plan, coordinate, supervise and evaluate the work of licensed Social Workers and Casework Specialists.

Education: A Master’s degree in social work from an accredited college or university.

Experience: Three years of experience providing child welfare or adult services to vulnerable children, individuals or families.

Notes:

1. These requirements are established by the Social Services Administration by authority provided in the Health Occupations Article, Section 19-302 of the Annotated Code of Maryland. The Department of Budget and Management, Office of Personnel Services and Benefits does not have the 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.

1. Employees in this classification must have a license as a Master Social Worker (approved for independent practice), Certified Social Worker or Certified Social Worker-Clinical issued 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 will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator’s license valid in the State of Maryland.

1. Employees who have not already done so must complete an approved training program and pass a competency test before being granted permanent employment status.

2. Employees are required to meet mandatory standards for continuing education as determined by the Department of Human Resources. Employees who fail to obtain the required continuing education credits shall be subject to disciplinary action including demotion, suspension and dismissal.

3. Employees in this classification may be required to provide the employer with a telephone number where they can be reached.

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 not assigned to a bargaining unit as indicated by the designation of S (supervisor), M (manager), T (agency head), U (Board or Commission member), W (student), X (Used by agency or excluded by executive order), or Z (confidential).  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 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 therefore, all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.