Example Career: Social and Human Service Assistants

Career Description

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.

What Job Titles Social and Human Service Assistants Might Have

• Caseworker
• Community Coordinator
• Family Support Worker
• Social Services Assistant

What Social and Human Service Assistants Do

• 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 food stamps, 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 housing for displaced individuals.
• Transport and accompany clients to shopping areas or to appointments, using automobile.
• 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, such as tax or rent forms.

What Social and Human Service Assistants Should Be Good At

• 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.

What Social and Human Service Assistants Should Be Interested In

• 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.

What Social and Human Service Assistants Need to Learn

• 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.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language 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.