State of Maryland

A Social Worker I, Family Services is the intermediate level of professional social work providing preventive or protective services to vulnerable adults, children or families.  The work of this classification involves cases of suspected child or adult abuse or neglect, out of home placement, guardianship or emergency protective orders, adoption or adult case management.  Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive moderate supervision from a Social Work Supervisor, Family Services.  Employees in this class 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 Casework Specialist, Family Services is differentiated from the Social Worker I, Family Services and the Social Worker II, Family Services in that the Casework Specialist, Family Services is eligible for licensure but is not licensed as a Social Worker in Maryland while the Social Worker I, Family Services and Social Worker II, Family Services are licensed as Social Workers.  The Casework Specialist, Family Services, Social Worker I, Family Services and Social Worker II, Family Services are also differentiated on the basis of the degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees.  The Casework Specialist, Family Services performs duties under close supervision.  The Social Worker I, Family Services performs duties under close supervision at times and under general supervision at other times depending upon the complexity of the specific duty being performed.   The Social Worker II, Family Services performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

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

Interviews or investigates customers 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;

Assists customers in identifying, developing and using their potential capabilities as well as other community resources for taking care of their social, health, emotional, behavioral and economic problems;

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

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

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

Provides on-call coverage in cases involving suspected child or adult abuse or neglect;

Checks public records, such as birth records, for data and verifies other information such as income, kinship and residence;

Compiles evaluative reports and makes recommendations to the courts, 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;

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

Testifies 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;

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

May prepare comprehensive evaluative reports recommending licensure of prospective homes for foster care or adoption;

May place children in foster and adoptive homes;

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

May aid delinquent or mentally retarded children and adults in institutions or in foster and adoptive homes;

Performs other related duties.

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 Descriptions 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.

Class Descriptions provide information about the Nature of Work, Examples of Work, General Requirements and Acknowledgements.  The Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities; Minimum Education and Experience Requirements; Special Requirements; and recruitment and testing procedures are set by the using agency.

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 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 collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.