Social or Human Service Assistant

Other Titles

Caseworker, Community Coordinator, Family Support Worker, Human Services Program Specialist, Mental Health Technician, Outreach Specialist, Social Services Assistant, Social Work Associate; Social Advocate

Assist in providing client services in a wide variety of fields, such as psychology, rehabilitation, or social work, including support for families. May assist clients in identifying and obtaining available benefits and social and community services. May assist social workers with developing, organizing, and conducting programs to prevent and resolve problems relevant to substance abuse, human relationships, rehabilitation, or dependent care.

Keep records or prepare reports for owner or management concerning visits with clients.

Provide information or refer individuals to public or private agencies or community services for assistance.

Visit individuals in homes or attend group meetings to provide information on agency services, requirements, or procedures.

Interview individuals or family members to compile information on social, educational, criminal, institutional, or drug history.

Submit reports and review reports or problems with superior.

Advise clients regarding nutrition, child care, food, money management, sanitation, or housekeeping.

Consult with supervisor concerning programs for individual families.

Oversee day-to-day group activities of residents in institution.

Assist in locating help for displaced individuals.

Transport and accompany clients to appointments.

Demonstrate use and care of equipment for tenant use.

Explain rules established by owner or management, such as sanitation or maintenance requirements or parking regulations.

Assist clients with preparation of forms.

May observe and discuss meal preparation and suggest alternate methods of food preparation.

Active Listening→ Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Service Orientation→ Actively looking for ways to help people.

Social Perceptiveness→ Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Speaking→ Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Writing→ Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Monitoring→ Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Reading Comprehension→ Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Coordination→ Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Critical Thinking→ Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Persuasion→ Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.

Complex Problem Solving→ Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Judgment and Decision Making→ Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Time Management→ Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Active Learning→ Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Learning Strategies→ Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

Getting Information→ Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Documenting/Recording Information→ Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work→ Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates→ Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public→ Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards→ Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems→ Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events→ Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Interacting With Computers→ Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People→ Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge→ Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Assisting and Caring for Others→ Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization→ Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others→ Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others→ Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships→ Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Processing Information→ Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

Scheduling Work and Activities→ Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

Thinking Creatively→ Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.

Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings→ Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Performing Administrative Activities→ Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.

Developing Objectives and Strategies→ Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others→ Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.

Provide Consultation and Advice to Others→ Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.

Training and Teaching Others→ Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

Developing and Building Teams→ Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.

Write reports or evaluations.

Maintain social services program records.

Present social services program information to the public.

Refer clients to community or social service programs.

Visit individuals in their homes to provide support or information.

Interview clients to gather information about their backgrounds, needs, or progress.

Help clients get needed services or resources.

Teach life skills or strategies to clients or their families.

Collaborate with other professionals to assess client needs or plan treatments.

Transport clients to appointments.

Assist clients in handling details of daily life.

Explain regulations, policies, or procedures.

Advise clients or community groups on health issues.

Monitor nutrition related activities of individuals or groups.

Oral Expression→ The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Oral Comprehension→ The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Problem Sensitivity→ The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

Speech Clarity→ The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

Written Expression→ The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Written Comprehension→ The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Deductive Reasoning→ The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Speech Recognition→ The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

Near Vision→ The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Category Flexibility→ The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.

Flexibility of Closure→ The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.

Fluency of Ideas→ The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).

Inductive Reasoning→ The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

Information Ordering→ The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g. , patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

Psychology→ Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

Customer and Personal Service→ Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Language→ Knowledge of the structure and content of a language - English, French, Swahili et cetera - including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Therapy and Counseling→ Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.

Sociology and Anthropology→ Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.

Clerical→ Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.

Education and Training→ Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Law and Government→ Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.

Public Safety and Security→ Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Database user interface and query software -- Database software; Microsoft Access

Electronic mail software -- e.g., Zoho Mail; Microsoft Outlook

Internet browser software -- e.g., Apple Safari; Microsoft Windows Explorer; Google Chrome; Mozilla Firefox

Medical software -- Electronic medical record EMR software; OpenMRS; Healthbridge; Evolve Medical; GoodX; athenaClinicals; Epic Systems; MEDITECH software

Office suite software -- e.g., Corel WordPerfect Office; Microsoft Office; Google Workspace

Presentation software -- e.g., Google Slides; Corel Presentations; Microsoft PowerPoint

Spreadsheet software -- e.g., Corel Quattro Pro; Microsoft Excel; Google Sheets

Voice recognition software -- Text speech recognition software; Speech recognition software; Voice Finger; ViaTalk; Tazti; SpeechTexter; Nuance Dragon NaturallySpeaking

Word processing software -- e.g., Corel Wordperfect; Microsoft Word; Google Docs

Automobiles, cars, motorcycles, bicycles→ Passenger vehicles

Desktop calculator→ 10-key calculators

Desktop computers

Laser fax machine→ Laser facsimile machines

Laser printers→ Computer laser printers

Notebook computers→ Laptop computers

Personal computers

Photocopiers→ Photocopying equipment

Special purpose telephones→ Amplified telephones; Hearing impaired telephones; Multi-line telephone systems

Conventional→ Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Social→ Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Enterprising→ Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Integrity→ Job requires being honest and ethical.

Dependability→ Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

Concern for Others→ Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.

Self Control→ Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.

Cooperation→ Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.

Stress Tolerance→ Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.

Attention to Detail→ Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.

Adaptability/Flexibility→ Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.

Social Orientation→ Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.

Independence→ Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.

Initiative→ Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.

Achievement/Effort→ Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Persistence→ Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.

Analytical Thinking→ Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.

Leadership→ Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.

Innovation→ Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.

Relationships→ Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.

Support→ Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.

Independence→ Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.