Social Counselor II

Summary

Under general supervision, is responsible for professional social counseling work and/or service coordination of average difficulty; and performs related work as required by department.

This is the working class in the professional Social Counselor sub series. An employee in this class interviews and provides social counseling for clients in programs such as adult protective services and maternal and child health counseling, as well as individuals with disabilities in an educational, social service, or medical setting. This class is flexibly staffed with and differs from that of the Social Counselor 1 in that an incumbent of the latter learns the proper principles, practices, and procedures for social counseling work in various programs.

This class differs from higher level social counseling classes in that incumbents of the latter are responsible for supervisory social counseling work.

• Investigates and/or reports abuse, neglect, or exploitation of adults and/or children who are mentally or physically impaired, or incapable of self-care due to disability or age to determine if there is a need for protective services.
• Conducts pre-assessment/developmental screening to determine needs, strengths, and/or level of risk for client.
• Asks client, family members, neighbors, alleged perpetrators, or other involved parties questions that relate to the allegations in order to gather case information and determine causes of current situation as appropriate for specific agency functions.
• Asks clients/caregivers open-ended questions about client s health, living arrangements, financial stability, family involvement, needs, strengths and other risk factors.
• Interviews individual making initial referral and/or interviewing family with concerns regarding their child.
• Requests relevant documentation such as educational, medical, psychiatric, criminal, and financial records, as needed, to assess needs and risks of clients.

• Identifies potential risk factors such as unsanitary living conditions, lack of utilities, any form of abuse, neglect, exploitation or self-neglect in the client s home environment, as appropriate, for specific agency functions.
• Conducts regular home visits/targeted case management to monitor progress of the service plan/client status.
• Identifies each form of maltreatment or needs of the client alleged in the referral as appropriate for specific agency functions.
• Identifies developmental risk factors that would inhibit a child from future educational growth, as appropriate, for specific agency functions.
• Reviews relevant documentation such as educational, medical, psychiatric, criminal, and financial records, as needed, to assess needs and risks of clients.

• Refers and/or coordinates services for clients which may reduce client risk, increase autonomy and/or demonstrate educational progress.
• Responds to clients, collaterals, stakeholders, or caregivers according to department policy.
• Responds to professional or public casework inquiries through telephone calls, e-mails, letters, and face-to-face visits.
• Testifies or provides necessary documents in legal proceedings.
• Gives presentations for public awareness and/or child find activities, as appropriate, for agency functions.

• Evaluates case information according to agency guidelines.
• Ensures client confidentiality is maintained according to agency policy.
• Determines the validity of referral based on analysis of all collected information, as appropriate, for specific agency function.
• Completes entrance and exit assessment according to agency standards.
• Compares information from referral source with agency guidelines to determine if other agencies should be contacted or if the referral meets criteria for further assessment.

• Records in client files and computer databases the services implemented, observations made during home visits, changes that occurred related to progress noted or reduced risk, and the level of function/protection achieved for each client.
• Records information regarding client-oriented contacts including the date, method, purpose and outcome of the contact, and the level of client progress in meeting the goals or objectives in the service plan.
• Maintains a copy of all relevant records and service plans for clients.

• Analyzes and reviews all information gathered about the client situation to prioritize risk and implement appropriate plan per agency standards.
• Collects and analyzes data from standardized evaluation tools to determine if client meets agency eligibility guidelines.

• Implements a service plan that identifies goals for addressing needs or concerns of the clients.
• Coordinates delivery of services for individual needs of clients