Job description template
Social Worker Job Description
Social worker job description with case management, assessment, crisis and documentation duties, plus BSW/MSW, CSWE and state licence requirements.
The role in brief
A social worker assesses the needs of individuals, families or communities, builds a plan with them, connects them to services, responds to crises and keeps case records; clinical social workers also diagnose and treat mental, behavioural and emotional problems. Entry-level non-clinical posts usually ask for a bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW), while clinical posts need a master’s (MSW), supervised experience after graduation and a state licence. This template is written for a generalist case-carrying role, with notes on where clinical, school, healthcare and child welfare postings differ.
- Conduct psychosocial assessments through interviews with clients, families and other professionals to identify needs, strengths and risks
- Develop and review service or care plans with clients, agreeing goals and the steps and services needed to reach them
- Refer clients to community resources such as housing, food assistance, health care, public benefits, childcare and legal aid, and follow up to confirm the referral worked
- Respond to crises, including safety concerns, mental health emergencies and suspected abuse or neglect, and complete safety plans with clients
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Applying for a role like this? Practise the assessment free →Responsibilities
- Conduct psychosocial assessments through interviews with clients, families and other professionals to identify needs, strengths and risks
- Develop and review service or care plans with clients, agreeing goals and the steps and services needed to reach them
- Refer clients to community resources such as housing, food assistance, health care, public benefits, childcare and legal aid, and follow up to confirm the referral worked
- Respond to crises, including safety concerns, mental health emergencies and suspected abuse or neglect, and complete safety plans with clients
- Report suspected child abuse or neglect as a mandated reporter under state law, and follow agency protocol for concerns about vulnerable adults
- Manage a caseload: schedule home, school, hospital and community visits and keep contact frequency within agency and contract standards
- Keep accurate, timely case notes, assessments and court or funding reports in the agency's case management system, protecting client confidentiality
- Coordinate with teachers, doctors, nurses, therapists, probation officers, attorneys and other agencies, and attend case conferences, discharge planning or IEP meetings as the setting requires
- Advocate for clients’ access to services and benefits, and help them understand their rights and options
- For clinical (licensed) roles: provide individual, family, couples or group therapy, diagnose mental, behavioural and emotional conditions and build treatment plans with the care team
Required skills
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Nice to have
Qualifications
- 1Bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) for entry-level non-clinical roles; master’s degree in social work (MSW) for clinical roles and many school and healthcare roles
- 2Degree from a programme accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), which accredits BSW and MSW programmes in the US
- 3A state social work licence or credential where the state requires one for the role; every state requires clinical social workers to be licensed
- 4For clinical roles: supervised clinical experience after the MSW and a passed clinical exam, as set by the state board; boards commonly use exams from the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)
- 5Valid driver’s licence and access to a vehicle where the role includes home and community visits
- 6Background and abuse-registry checks for roles working with children or vulnerable adults
Work environment
Work environment
Career growth
BSW-level social workers often take an MSW to reach clinical and senior roles. With an MSW, supervised clinical experience and the clinical exam, a social worker can hold an independent clinical licence (LCSW or the state’s equivalent), which opens therapy, private practice and clinical supervision. Other routes lead to casework supervisor, programme manager, clinical director, policy and community organising, or leadership of school and hospital social work teams.
Common questions
What are the roles and responsibilities of a social worker?
A social worker identifies people in need, assesses their situation, builds a plan with them, connects them to services and follows up. They also respond to crises, keep case records and, in clinical roles, diagnose and treat mental, behavioural and emotional problems.
Does a social worker need a licence?
Every US state requires clinical social workers to be licensed, and some also license or credential non-clinical social workers. Requirements vary by state, so check the state board before you write the qualifications section. Licensing commonly involves an exam from the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), which runs separate exams for bachelor’s, master’s and clinical levels.
What is the difference between an LMSW and an LCSW?
In states that use these titles, an LMSW is a licensed master’s-level social worker and an LCSW is a licensed clinical social worker who has completed supervised clinical experience after the MSW and passed a clinical exam. Licence names vary by state (LICSW and LISW are others), so match the posting to your state’s licence categories.
Can I call a case manager or caseworker role a social worker?
Check state law first. Some states protect the title: since 1 October 2019 Connecticut has reserved 'social worker' for people with a CSWE-accredited bachelor’s or master’s in social work, or a doctorate in social work. If the role does not require a social work degree, a title such as case manager or caseworker avoids the problem.
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