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What is a social services specialist and how to become one
A social services specialist is an individual who works for a social services department in a government entity. Social services include healthcare, counseling, therapy, adoption and foster services, and social work.
Their job usually entails assisting the vulnerable people in question to attain physical, mental, and emotional wellness. Social services specialists execute their work by engaging with the vulnerable individuals to assess their needs and then formulating courses of action to help them.
A social services specialist can get employment in different settings, including schools, charitable organizations, hospitals, child welfare agencies, mental health clinics, non-profit organizations, etc. Social services specialists typically work full time - 40 hours a week, 9-to-5 - although they may occasionally need to work evenings and weekends.
What general advice would you give to a social services specialist?
Virginia Schwindt
MSW Field Director/Associate Professor, Union University
Avg. Salary $48,359
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 12%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 2.19%
Asian 6.70%
Black or African American 13.52%
Hispanic or Latino 15.19%
Unknown 5.20%
White 57.19%
Genderfemale 78.55%
male 21.45%
Age - 43American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 43Stress level is very high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work life balance is fair
6.4 - fair
Social services specialist career paths
Key steps to become a social services specialist
Explore social services specialist education requirements
Start to develop specific social services specialist skills
Skills Percentages Social Work 24.98% Patients 15.25% Substance Abuse 9.62% Discharge Planning 7.33% Term Care 6.94% Complete relevant social services specialist training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New social services specialists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a social services specialist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real social services specialist resumes.Research social services specialist duties and responsibilities
- Provide comprehensive case management to DCFS clients and their families to achieve case goals as outlined in the client service plan.
- Provide supervision to social services assistant and MSW intern.
- Retain potential clients base on the strength of their SSDI claim.
- Participate in group staffing to discuss the best interest of children and families who have open cases with DSS.
Prepare your social services specialist resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your social services specialist resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a social services specialist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable social services specialist resume templates
Build a professional social services specialist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your social services specialist resume.
Apply for social services specialist jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a social services specialist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first social services specialist job
Are you a social services specialist?
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Average social services specialist salary
The average social services specialist salary in the United States is $48,359 per year or $23 per hour. Social services specialist salaries range between $35,000 and $65,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do social services specialists rate their job?
Social services specialist reviews
can be easy to get burnt out, pay is ok
Stressful, dangerous neighborhoods, sometimes parents are dangerous as well. Work life balance isn't good. Documentation is very time consuming and you will bring that home to finish. If your agency requires that you do your app recorded time sheets then that will prove ardously time consuming constaint that cuts right into your work/home life balance...it's terrible. Wear and tear on your car, no shows from parents upsetting children and paid mileage is horrible. Get ready to barely have a life.
Helping others
Getting approval and watching families go through their proceed with difficulties
Updated January 8, 2025
