Health Services Social Worker 1 (S/B)

CITY OF PHILADELPHIA PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT

5A61
HEALTH SERVICES SOCIAL WORKER I

Specialties
( Bilingual ) ( General ) ( Group Work ) ( Mental Retardation )

GENERAL DEFINITION

This is social work of limited scope and increasing difficulty within the assigned specialty. An employee in this class is responsible for performing a variety of counseling, referral and/or placement services within a health or nursing facility related to services to the mentally retarded, services to adults and the aging, services to infants and children, family medical care and/or family planning. Employees in this class provide advisory and interpretive services to a defined client population, agency officials and superiors. Employees work independently on less complex assignments and receive a greater degree of supervision on the more complex assignments. Assignments expand in scope and complexity as employees gain experience in the work. Contact with individuals, their families, representatives of private and public welfare agencies, representatives of professional and community groups, an the general public is a significant aspect of the work. Work is performed under the general supervision of a technical or administrative superior.

TYPICAL EXAMPLES OF WORK (ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY)

Bilingual

Performs the duties shown below with members of the English language speaking and designated non-English language speaking populations.

General

Interviews individuals and family members admitted to the City's nursing home; orients patient and his/her family with facility's services, rules and regulations, and patients's rights; evaluates patient's needs, interests and problems; participates in resident care conference; prepares short and long term care plan for patient; contacts social welfare and various charitable organization to obtain financial and other assistance for patient and family; provides on-going counseling to patient and family; discusses patient's status with medical, nursing and supportive staff; coordinates discharge of patient with responsible party.

Interviews individual and family members within City's family medical care program; evaluates social, medical, emotional, and financial history of individuals; develops an individual and family profile; orients family to program's purpose, services, and planning process; discusses status and problems of individuals with program's medical and nursing staff; provides continuous counseling to achieve objectives; refers individuals to a variety of agencies; prepares a variety of reports, forms, and correspondence; attends staff and personal conference.

Performs pregnancy and family planning counseling; evaluates social, medical, emotional and financial impact of pregnancy on patient; counsels patient on alternative pregnancy options; aids patient in deciding which option to select; provides individuals with family planning information; discusses advantages and disadvantages, side effects and consequence of various contraceptive methods.

Screens referrals to in-home service program offered at older adult centers; visits homebound individuals to determine capabilities, characteristics of household and attitudes; determines needs of client and problems present; develops a social service plan for the individual; encourages individuals to participate in center activities offered at a center; counsels on a variety of problems.

Interviews older adults utilizing facilities of older adult centers; interviews individuals to determine appropriate program activities; counsels individuals to overcome anxieties and fears of socialization; attends advisory council meetings.

Group Work

Assesses social needs of individuals at older adult centers; confers with new and current members as well as other center workers in an effort to gather useful information; designs, develops and implements group activities based on the assessed needs of the center's members.

Sets up and conducts a new members group for all enrollees to orient them to the center and on-going activities; encourages all members to participate in group activities.

Develops topic and content of group sessions based on the needs or expressed desires of the members; may lead sessions or secure outside speakers; organizes recreational, arts and crafts activities and instructional classes; plans outings for the center's members making all necessary arrangements; may form and lead advocacy groups for the purpose of solving community, center-based, and other problems experienced by the members.

Performs on-going evaluation of group activities to identify strengths and weaknesses; assesses impact of group activities on individuals.

Mental Retardation

Performs a variety of case work activities for the placement of mentally retarded clients into an appropriate community residential program; develops a client and family profile; orients family to program's purpose, services, planning process and legal implications; discusses client's status, problems and treatment plan with facility's medical, social and supportive staff; discusses with verbal and coherent clients their feelings about actions taken, their interests, and relationships with others; communicates with non-verbal clients in most appropriate manner; participates in team development of transitory and individual habilitation plan; monitors implementation of plan by provider agency; evaluates client's needs, progress and problem within community residential program; participates in court proceedings and prehearing conferences.

All Specialties

Attends periodic staff and personal conference; confers with superior on difficult problems; prepares reports and correspondence; keeps records of all assigned cases.

Performs related work as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

KNOWLEDGE OF:

the principles, practices and techniques of social work as applied to area of specialization.
the laws, regulations and rules governing the provision of social services to individuals within area of specialization.
philosophy and objectives underlying the provision of social service within area of specialization.
functions and resources of public and private welfare and related agencies for meeting social, financial, and medical problems.
theories, principles and techniques of working with individuals with severe emotional, mental, and social problems.
the causes of social, environmental, economic and psychological factors which necessitate the placement or institutionalization of children and adults.
the principles, practices, methods and techniques in field of social service planning.
concepts and methods utilized in the prevention of self-destructive behavior.
group dynamics which include the socialization of individuals into group activities.
the current problems of and programs for senior citizens.

ABILITY TO:

evaluate program quality and effectiveness as they relate to an individual's or a group's needs and recommending modifications when appropriate.
employ tact, diplomacy and judgment in dealing with sensitive or personal problems and hostile attitudes.
establish rapport and cooperative relationships with individuals possessing social and emotional problems.
plan and implement group activities based on the assessed needs of participants.
motivate and encourage individuals to participate in group activity.
prepare a variety of written reports.
present ideas effectively, both orally and in writing.
speak and understand the designated non-English language for the Bilingual Specialty.

MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

(The following statement represents the minimum training and experience standards which will be used to admit or reject applicants for tests. Applications submitted by candidates for this class will be reviewed based on training and experience requirements as approved on 12/89.)

General Specialty

Completion of a bachelor's degree program at an accredited college or university.
Two years of social work experience performing a variety of social services related to either children and youth, adults and the aging, and/or family medical care.
Mental Retardation and Group Specialties
Completion of a bachelor's degree program at an accredited college or university.
Two years of social work experience one year of which has been in the area of specialization.

NOTE:
A Master's Degree in Social work may be substituted for the two years of social work experience in the above specialties.

Additional Requirement for the Bilingual Specialty

Sufficient training and/or experience to be able to converse effectively in the designated non-English language.

PHYSICAL AND MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS

Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the environmental conditions required of a position in this class.

LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS AND/OR CERTIFICATES

Bilingual and General Specialties Only

Certificate that verifies successful completion, within six (6) months after appointement, of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) approved course and examination entitled HIV Prevention Counseling and Proficiency Examination, if required by work assignment.

PAY RANGE: EP12
Class Established: 3/1982

Latest Spec. Revision: 11/1996

AH//deb

END OF JOB CLASS SPECIFICATION - 5A61

5A61HEALTH SERVICES SOCIAL WORKER I

5A61
HEALTH SERVICES SOCIAL WORKER I