State of Maryland

A Family Services Caseworker III is the lead or advanced level of work in local departments of social services that provide direct social services to troubled individuals or families and are designed to enhance or restore the social, health, economic, behavioral and emotional functioning of customers.  Employees in this classification that perform  lead level work assign, review and approve the work of and train lower-level Family Services Caseworkers.  Employees in this classification that perform advanced level work function as facilitators for support groups and assist Licensed Clinical Social Workers in facilitating therapeutic groups.  Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.  Employees in this classification may be required to work evenings and on weekends and may be assigned to provide on-call coverage.  Work is 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 Family Services Caseworker III is differentiated from the Family Services Caseworker II in that the Family Services Caseworker III assigns, reviews and approves the work of and trains lower-level Family Services Caseworkers or functions as a facilitator for support groups and assists Licensed Clinical Social Workers in facilitating therapeutic groups while the Family Services Caseworker II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

When functioning at the Lead Level:

Trains and assigns, reviews and approves the work of lower-level Family Services Caseworkers;

Provides advice and guidance to lower-level Family Services Caseworkers in assessing difficult cases and developing individualized plans of service to assist customers with complex social, health, emotional, behavioral and economic problems;

When functioning at the Advanced Level:

Acts as a facilitator for support groups, such as parenting groups;

Assists licensed clinical social workers in facilitating therapeutic groups;

Participates in initial investigations of fatalities that result from suspected abuse or neglect;

Both Levels:

Applies social work values, principles and techniques in helping individuals and families obtain social services;

Assists customers in identifying, developing and using their potential capabilities as well as community resources to enhance or restore their social, health, emotional, behavioral and economic functioning;

Assesses case situations and develops and implements an individualized plan of service;

Provides counseling and crisis intervention services to customers regarding personal, economic and social problems;

Establishes and maintains personal contact with other social services agencies and community resources to facilitate the referral of customers;

Participates in the investigation of suspected child or adult abuse or neglect;

Checks public records, such as birth records, for data and to verify information such as income, kinship and residence;

Makes recommendations for the placement of children in foster and adoptive homes;

Prepares and maintains case records and reports concerning information secured and services rendered;

Testifies in legal proceedings regarding family service cases;

Develops and implements a personalized training plan to maintain and upgrade knowledge and skills related to the delivery of direct services;

Provides on-call coverage;

May testify in court as an expert witness;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of social work values, principles and techniques;

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 working effectively with children and adults who have social, economic, emotional, behavioral or health problems;

Skill in identifying, developing and using customers’ potential capabilities and community resources to enhance or restore their social, health, emotional, behavioral and economic functioning;

Ability to identify and link customers to the appropriate health, social services and mental hygiene resources;

Ability to develop, initiate and complete an individualized plan of service for each customer;

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

Ability to assign, review and approve the work and train lower-level Family Services Caseworkers;

Ability to facilitate support groups and to assist licensed clinical social workers in facilitating therapeutic groups.

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

Experience: Three years rendering casework or community organizational services in a public or private social service agency.

1. Employees in this classification must possess a current license as a Licensed Bachelor of Social Work or Licensed Certified Social Worker from the State Board of Social Work Examiners, 4201 Patterson Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21215.

2. These requirements are established by the Social Services Administration by authority provided in Human Services Article, Title 4, Subtitle 301, Section (b) (1) 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.

3. Employees in this classification may be assigned duties that 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 in this classification must complete an approved training program and pass a competency test prior to permanent appointment to positions.

2. Employees in this classification are required to meet mandatory standards for continuing education as determined by the Department of Human Services. 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 are subject to on-call duty and are required to provide telephone numbers 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 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 Services Professionals classes.  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 all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation.  An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime as provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.