PRINCIPAL SOCIAL SERVICE AIDE

DEFINITION:

Under the general supervision of a supervisory official in the Department 
of Health, performs highly complex paraprofessional work involving the 
operation of a service program requiring specialized skills and program 
knowledge; has responsibility for gathering required social information 
about clients, for making assessments of cases, and for implementing 
preventive, rehabilitative, and/or supportive treatment; does other related 
duties as required.

NOTE:  The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. 
A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this 
job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be used.

EXAMPLES OF WORK:

Makes field visits to assist clients to utilize community resources such as 
clinics, hospitals, and other social agencies.

Obtains information from other resources such as schools, clinics, and other 
social agencies.

Makes field visits to assist clients in carrying out some of their responsibilities 
as parents such as completing forms, registering children in schools, 
obtaining inoculations, referring children to recreational programs and youth 
activity centers, and so forth.

Develops and maintains a community resource file and interprets to the 
community and clients agency’s policy and procedures.

Assesses day care needs of clients.

Assists natural families in home management, financial management, 
homemaking skills, parenting skills, housing problems, and so forth.

Carries a small caseload of five to fifteen families under direct supervision 
of professional staff.

 Assesses clients' problems and needs and develops plans for fulfillment 
of their needs and treatments.

Notes significant incidents and other developments with clients.

Performs projects and surveys in the office and gathers other routine 
information as needed.

Assesses existing and new foster care, day care homes, and so forth in 
accordance with agency policy and procedure and prepares evaluations.

Transports clients to clinics, schools, camps, supermarkets, and so forth 
as directed.

Prepares necessary correspondence in the course of official duties.

Maintains essential records, reports, and files.

Prepares clear, technically sound, accurate, and informative reports 
containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
 
Will be required to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or 
manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, 
or related units.

REQUIREMENTS:

EXPERIENCE:

Two (2) years of subprofessional social service experience.

NOTE:  Applicants who do not possess the required experience may 
substitute completion of thirty (30) semester hour college credits for 
one (1) year of experience.

LICENSE:

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in 
New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee 
mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge of the problems of economically and culturally disadvantaged 
persons.

Knowledge of available community services and organizations and their 
resources

Knowledge of the prevailing economic and social conditions in the 
community.

Knowledge of department law and regulations pertaining to the provision 
of general and specific social services.

Knowledge of the basic casework procedures and routines including the 
preparation of case records and other documents.

Ability to understand complex casework procedures and techniques.

Ability to understand and apply department laws, regulations, and 
procedures pertaining to the provision of social services, and to interpret 
and clarify them.

Ability to work independently using established procedures and methods.

Ability to organize work, analyze the problems arising therein, and develop 
appropriate work methods.

Ability to establish and maintain effective and courteous relationships with 
clients, business associates, employers, banks, insurance companies, 
schools, hospitals, and other establishments.

Ability to make effective contacts with clients, relatives, and interested
individuals and agencies and to secure needed information.

Ability to work effectively with agency staff and to win the confidence of 
clients of varying ethnic, education, and social background to obtain their 
cooperation in an effective manner.

Ability to profit from an in-service training program.

Ability to assess and determine client needs.

Ability to use interviewing techniques and provide information in accord 
with prescribed procedure.

Ability to write clear, technically sound, accurate, and informative case 
histories and factual reports containing findings, conclusions, and 
recommendations.

Ability to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual 
recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related 
units.

Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English 
sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign 
Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of 
communication.

Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible if they can 
perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable 
accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it 
would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not 
be eligible. 


This job specification is applicable to the following title code:
Job
Spec
Code
Variant
State,
Local or
Common
Class of
Service
Work
Week
State
Class
Code
Local
Class
Code
Salary
Range
Note
62134
S
C
NE
11
N/A
H11
-

This job specification is for state government use only.
Salary range is only applicable to state government.
Local salaries are established by individual local jurisdictions.

 8/1/2020