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Social services manager vs case manager

The differences between social services managers and case managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a social services manager, becoming a case manager takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a social services manager has an average salary of $55,773, which is higher than the $43,118 average annual salary of a case manager.

The top three skills for a social services manager include social work, patients and discharge planning. The most important skills for a case manager are social work, patients, and community resources.

Social services manager vs case manager overview

Social Services ManagerCase Manager
Yearly salary$55,773$43,118
Hourly rate$26.81$20.73
Growth rate12%9%
Number of jobs162,18584,959
Job satisfaction-4.5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age4345
Years of experience124

What does a social services manager do?

A social services manager is responsible for handling community programs and activities for societal needs. Social services managers coordinate with different local organizations to strategize techniques in building a safe and peaceful environment for the citizens, as well as identifying resources to provide them with their essentials. They also attend community events and meetings to represent the community and propose ideas for community development. A social services manager supervises the program budgeting, as well as reaching out to potential donors and sponsors for funding purposes.

What does a case manager do?

A case manager is responsible for giving advice, handling plans for the client's recovery, and connecting with other human service professionals to ask for further options and recommendations for the client's concerns. Case managers should have excellent communication and listening skills to evaluate the client's needs, ensuring that they will have the utmost care and safety through efficient advocacy. A case manager should be able to provide a reliable support system for the client and monitor progress to achieve wellness and guarantee satisfaction.

Social services manager vs case manager salary

Social services managers and case managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Social Services ManagerCase Manager
Average salary$55,773$43,118
Salary rangeBetween $37,000 And $81,000Between $30,000 And $61,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCWashington, DC
Highest paying stateNevadaNew Hampshire
Best paying companyCloudflareWellpath
Best paying industryHealth CareInsurance

Differences between social services manager and case manager education

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

Social Services ManagerCase Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common majorSocial WorkPsychology
Most common collegeSUNY at BinghamtonCalifornia State University - Long Beach

Social services manager vs case manager demographics

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

Social Services ManagerCase Manager
Average age4345
Gender ratioMale, 20.6% Female, 79.4%Male, 23.4% Female, 76.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 6.3% White, 56.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.1%Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 3.1% White, 74.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage11%15%

Differences between social services manager and case manager duties and responsibilities

Social services manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage the MSW staff and coordinate all social service and select patient service activities.
  • Research community services for patient care and coordinate transportation for patients to external organizations for short and long-term treatment.
  • Provide case-management for patients in a rehabilitation setting, assisting with referrals to appropriate agencies and resources in their local area.
  • Assist with Medicaid applications and insurance problems.
  • Process payroll information in an accurate and timely manner.
  • Help residents with their advance directives, assist in filing Medicaid applications and file and investigate grievances.
  • Show more

Case manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage all programs operations in accordance with HRA and industry regulations, agency policies and HIPAA guidelines.
  • Manage the care of patients with tuberculosis (TB) during their hospitalization and their discharge follow-up care.
  • Provide clients support with basic ADL's (shopping, payee services, budgets, managing and attending appointments).
  • Practice cognitive behavioral, DBT, motivational enhancement and structural family therapy.
  • Practice excellent customer service and build meaningful, professional relationships with families and patients.
  • Facilitate vocational rehabilitation and relate community services.
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Social services manager vs case manager skills

Common social services manager skills
  • Social Work, 19%
  • Patients, 13%
  • Discharge Planning, 7%
  • Mental Health, 6%
  • Crisis Intervention, 6%
  • Psychosocial Assessments, 4%
Common case manager skills
  • Social Work, 17%
  • Patients, 14%
  • Community Resources, 7%
  • Substance Abuse, 6%
  • Crisis Intervention, 5%
  • Rehabilitation, 5%

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