Social services manager vs social work case manager

The differences between social services managers and social work case managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a social services manager and a social work case manager. Additionally, a social services manager has an average salary of $55,773, which is higher than the $45,321 average annual salary of a social work case manager.

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

Social services manager vs social work case manager overview

	Social Services Manager	Social Work Case Manager
Yearly salary	$55,773	$45,321
Hourly rate	$26.81	$21.79
Growth rate	12%	12%
Number of jobs	162,185	49,793
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 62%	Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	12	12

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 social work case manager do?

A Social Work Case Manager counsels groups or individuals in dealing with chronic illness, loss of a loved one, or substance abuse. They evaluate the needs of each individual client and maintain detailed records of their progress in the healing process.

Social services manager vs social work case manager salary

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

	Social Services Manager	Social Work Case Manager
Average salary	$55,773	$45,321
Salary range	Between $37,000 And $81,000	Between $33,000 And $61,000
Highest paying City	Washington, DC	San Leandro, CA
Highest paying state	Nevada	California
Best paying company	Cloudflare	Tenet Healthcare
Best paying industry	Health Care	Health Care

Differences between social services manager and social work case manager education

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

	Social Services Manager	Social Work Case Manager
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 62%	Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Most common major	Social Work	Social Work
Most common college	SUNY at Binghamton	California State University - Fullerton

Social services manager vs social work case manager demographics

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

	Social Services Manager	Social Work Case Manager
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 20.6% Female, 79.4%	Male, 19.4% Female, 80.6%
Race ratio	Black 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, 12.9% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 6.4% White, 55.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.1%
LGBT Percentage	11%	11%

Differences between social services manager and social work 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.

Social work case manager example responsibilities.

Collaborate with partners including public and private agencies to achieve permanency for children.
Facilitate resource management by making appropriate referrals to community agencies that help patients remain safe and independent in their home environment.
Review inpatient hospital medical records using InterQual criteria to determine that patient admission meet quality and utilization standards.
Adhere to rules and regulations pertinent to inpatient rehabilitation as defined by Medicare/Medicaid and other licensing and accrediting organizations.
Coordinate and schedule in home physician visits and transportation arrangements for patients to receive medical services in hospitals and clinics.
Respond to high volume telephone and walk-in inquiries regarding long-term placement, government entitlements, rehabilitation, and services provide.

Social services manager vs social work 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 social work case manager skills

Social Work, 38%
Patients, 20%
Social Services, 5%
Discharge Planning, 4%
Acute Care, 4%
Patient Care, 3%

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Community and Social Services Industry
Social Services Manager
Social Services Manager vs Social Work Case Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

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