MightyRecruiterSocial service assistants serve a variety of people in need of assistance to optimize their living conditions. They work to find services and benefits that will help clients remain in their homes, afford healthcare and stay independent. Often, they are part of a care team that assists clients because of their age, poor health, or disability.
To locate and secure services for disadvantaged individuals, social service assistants must have compassion for their clients. Remember to also include problem-solving and time management in the skills section of your social service assistant job description.
You want applicants with excellent communication skills so they can listen to clients’ needs as well as clearly express information and instructions to a wide range of people. Check out the social service assistant job description below to get ideas of how to write your own accurate and engaging job description.
Social Service Assistant Job Summary
Are you looking for a career that really makes a difference in the lives of people in your community? We are currently looking for applicants for the open social service assistant position at our agency. Feel good about making sure families with young children and low-income seniors alike are getting access to nutritious food, medical care, and affordable housing. In addition to finding services for clients, you will follow their progress to make sure they are able to access services. This position is part of our social work department and reports to the social work director. Join us for a friendly team-oriented work atmosphere with opportunities for advancement.
Job Responsibilities
- Perform intake interviews with clients to determine their access to food, medical care and shelter as well as learning about their background and social history
- Research what community services are available to meet clients’ needs that they can qualify for, involving clients in planning as much as possible
- Work in concert with the social services team to implement treatment plan objectives
- Complete assistance application paperwork with the help of clients to access community services
- Participate in administering agency policies at all times to provide consistency of services and compliance with local and federal regulations
- Coordinate with other service agencies in the provision of services to provide a seamless coverage of assistance
- Continue to assess the status of clients to make sure they are receiving services
- Communicate information about a client’s mental, physical and emotional status to other members of their care team to find collaborative solutions to issues.
Job Skills & Qualifications
Reqiured:
- Excellent organizational and time management skills
- Must have empathy for disadvantaged individuals who are often in crisis situations
- Need to be able to pass a criminal background check and have a valid driver’s license
Preferred
- Prior social work experience in direct client care
- Have a license in social work
Social Service Assistant Job Responsibilities
Pay special attention to the formatting of the responsibilities section of your social service assistant job description. While the content is most important, the format controls how effectively readers understand the details. We recommend that you include the position’s core functions as a list of 6-8 bullet points. Aim to achieve a balance between being overly wordy and indeterminately vague. Remember that outlining an assistant’s tasks should entail a thorough review, making it the most substantive component of your social service assistant job description. Draft each bullet point to start with a strong action verb. You may check the example entries below for ideas on verb selection. Remember that the social service assistant job responsibilities section is the part of your advertisement that entices readers; be sure it provides sufficient insight for them to imagine themselves working in the position.
The following samples should help you get started on your own responsibilities section:
- Collaborate with social workers and other professionals to develop treatment plans for individuals and families
- Explain legal policies and help those in need complete the necessary paperwork to apply for aid
- Assist social service professionals in attending to clientele, compiling research data, and adhering to state guidelines
- Support clients in accomplishing daily tasks such as eating and bathing
Social Service Assistant Job Specifications
Unlike the summary of responsibilities, the job qualifications and skills section of your social service assistant job description should be the shortest component of the posting. This does not, however, mean the information is unimportant. In fact, some consider it to be most important despite its brevity. The outline of requirements controls how many candidates apply and what kinds of candidates you attract. It can mean the difference between finding the perfect talented employee and receiving a flood of resumes from unqualified applicants.
To avoid this situation, separate the information into two sections: one bulleted list for preferences and another for mandatory qualifications. This delineation of the social service assistant job specifications will make it easier for the most versatile candidates to recognize the opportunity before them. It will also filter out those who do not meet your minimum expectations. Speak with the hiring manager to get a better understanding of what qualities are deal-breakers and those that are a plus.
Take a look at these example entries that may help you strengthen your social service assistant job description:
- Must have completed a human services certificate or associate degree
- Two years of experience working in social services required; five years preferred
- Effective in prioritizing customer service
- Exceptional ability to communicate professionally
- Solid critical thinking capabilities with emphasis on evaluation and analysis
