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Senior social worker vs social services case manager

The differences between senior social workers and social services case managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a senior social worker, becoming a social services case manager takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a senior social worker has an average salary of $55,254, which is higher than the $31,854 average annual salary of a social services case manager.

The top three skills for a senior social worker include social work, patients and veterans. The most important skills for a social services case manager are social work, social services, and patients.

Senior social worker vs social services case manager overview

Senior Social WorkerSocial Services Case Manager
Yearly salary$55,254$31,854
Hourly rate$26.56$15.31
Growth rate9%12%
Number of jobs103,740148,868
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeMaster's Degree, 47%Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Average age4243
Years of experience412

What does a senior social worker do?

A senior social worker is in charge of overseeing the support services conducted in a community or a particular area. Their responsibilities often revolve around coordinating different social workers, handling issues or concerns, managing schedules, and performing support tasks for other staff when necessary. They also perform welfare checks on families, provide referrals to other support agencies, conduct interviews and counseling, and identify any signs of abuse or neglect. Furthermore, as a senior social worker, it is essential to lead and mentor junior social workers, all while adhering to the agency's policies and regulations.

What does a social services case manager do?

Social services case managers conduct in-person appointments and phone intake assessments. They manage the organization's documents and report for non-federal grants and federal grants. These professionals counsel clients and their families, making it easy to develop life skills, service plan goals, and sustain financial stability. Social services case managers also conduct activities and monitor the service environment to maximize client well-being and success. Furthermore, social services case managers maximize client assistance by working with community partners.

Senior social worker vs social services case manager salary

Senior social workers and social services case managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Senior Social WorkerSocial Services Case Manager
Average salary$55,254$31,854
Salary rangeBetween $40,000 And $75,000Between $22,000 And $44,000
Highest paying CityNewark, NJSan Mateo, CA
Highest paying stateNew JerseyCalifornia
Best paying companyUniversity of California, BerkeleyUofL Hospital
Best paying industryGovernmentFinance

Differences between senior social worker and social services case manager education

There are a few differences between a senior social worker and a social services case manager in terms of educational background:

Senior Social WorkerSocial Services Case Manager
Most common degreeMaster's Degree, 47%Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Most common majorSocial WorkSocial Work
Most common collegeBoston CollegeCalifornia State University - Long Beach

Senior social worker vs social services case manager demographics

Here are the differences between senior social workers' and social services case managers' demographics:

Senior Social WorkerSocial Services Case Manager
Average age4243
Gender ratioMale, 23.1% Female, 76.9%Male, 17.9% Female, 82.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 13.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 2.7% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%Black or African American, 22.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 6.6% White, 50.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6%
LGBT Percentage10%11%

Differences between senior social worker and social services case manager duties and responsibilities

Senior social worker example responsibilities.

  • Collaborate with partners including public and private agencies to achieve permanency for children.
  • Refer customers to other community agencies such as clinics, employment services, and vocational rehabilitation services.
  • Facilitate family meetings to provide support and psycho-education to patients and their family members and to discuss discharge planning.
  • Supervise students in MSW programs and high school programs.
  • Supervise MSW staff and student-interns in adult alcohol/substance abuse program.
  • Collaborate with other hospital departments to streamline services for homeless veterans.
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Social services case manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage a caseload TANF clients, assess clients eligibility to receive benefits, assist with placement of clients in various programs.
  • Work close with DHS on documents and monthly reports need.
  • Complete weekly chart audits, maintain weekly 2010E housing reports mandate by DHS and closely monitor vacancy report.
  • Assist patients with the rigorous application process necessary to obtain state-issu health insurance.
  • Assist probationers and juveniles with job placement assistance, refer clientele to appropriate Medicaid /housing/ food assistance programs.
  • Complete and process all Medicaid/Medicare and third party insurance applications for patients and residents in need of public assistance.
  • Show more

Senior social worker vs social services case manager skills

Common senior social worker skills
  • Social Work, 41%
  • Patients, 11%
  • Veterans, 4%
  • Treatment Services, 3%
  • Patient Care, 3%
  • Rehabilitation, 3%
Common social services case manager skills
  • Social Work, 17%
  • Social Services, 12%
  • Patients, 8%
  • Mental Health, 8%
  • Discharge Planning, 6%
  • Crisis Intervention, 5%

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