State of Maryland

16

A Social Worker I, Health Services is professional clinical social work at the intermediate level providing direct social work services to clients in a special population in a health care setting. Employees in this classification do not supervise.

Employees receive moderate supervision and clinical supervision from a Social Work Supervisor, Health Services, Social Work Program Administrator, Health Services or Social Work Manager, Health Services through the evaluation of case records and through regularly scheduled conferences for the purpose of determining professional performance and the results accomplished. Employees in this class may be required to work evenings and on weekends. Work is performed in hospitals, residential facilities, clinics or local health units.

The Social Worker I, Health Services and Social Worker II, Health Services are differentiated on the basis of the degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees. The Social Worker I, Health Services performs duties under close supervision at times and under general supervision at times depending upon the complexity of the specific duty being performed and the Social Worker II, Health Services performs the full range of duties under general supervision.

Provides direct social work services within a health care setting to clients in a special population, such as mentally ill, developmentally disabled, physically disabled, chronically ill, geriatric, maternity, family planning, adolescents or substance abusers;

Evaluates case situations and presents information to other members of the health care team on clients’ families and social background pertinent to diagnosis and treatment;

Interviews clients and family members to determine nature and degree of problems and arranges, as necessary, medical or psychiatric examinations to help identify problems pertinent to diagnosis and treatment;

Determines if a crisis situation exists and, if it does, immediately initiates appropriate intervention techniques;

Interprets psychiatric and other health care treatments to clients or families and helps with personal and environmental difficulties which interfere with obtaining maximum benefit from that care;

Works with other members of a multi-disciplinary health care team to further their understanding of social and emotional factors underlying the client’s health problems;

Helps clients to modify attitudes and patterns of behavior by increasing self-understanding and to respond constructively to treatment and assists in adjustment leading to and following the completion of treatment;

Works in close cooperation with public and private organizations to provide a plan of service to assist clients in achieving optimum social and health adjustments within the clients' capacity;

Provides therapeutic counseling as a member of a multi-disciplinary health care team;

Serves as the link between client, medical facility and the community;

May develop, within a multi-disciplinary health care team, individual treatment programs for assigned clients;

May act as a mentor providing advice and guidance to lower-level social workers, social work interns and social work students;

Performs other related duties.

1. Candidates must be licensed as a Graduate Social Worker or Certified Social Worker by the Maryland State Board of Social Work Examiners prior to appointment to a position in State service. Applicants who do not have a license may also apply pending receipt of the required license. When the license is obtained, submit a copy to the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Testing Unit.

2. Candidates appointed to positions in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of an automobile. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess an appropriate operator's license valid in the State of Maryland.

Specific educational and experience requirements are set by the agency based on the essential job functions assigned to the position.

A Class Description provides information about the Nature of Work, Examples of Work and General Requirements for a classification in the Management Service or a classification in the Skilled or Professional Service in which all positions have been designated Special Appointments. Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities; Minimum Education and Experience Requirements; Special Requirements; and recruitment and testing procedures are set by the using agency. Class descriptions broadly define 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.

Jan 1 2001 12:00AM

Director, Division of Classification and Salary