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Social Workers, All Other

SOC 21-1029.00Job Zone —v.26.05

Context coveredThis framework covers social work practice in community, clinical, and residential settings focused on counseling, dependency assessment, case documentation, and post-discharge follow-up for individuals facing behavioral, substance use, and life adjustment challenges.

Sources:O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.SkillsCrosswalkSkillsCrosswalk — O*NET enrichment + adjacency index. Opens in new tab.
Emerging
Entry / Apprentice
  1. Client intake records — complete under direct supervision using office suite software in a community social service setting.
  2. Case progress notes — transcribe and file following established templates with guidance from a senior social worker.
  3. Active listening techniques — apply during initial client interviews under close supervision in a counseling office.
  4. Basic dependency screening questions — administer to clients using standardized protocols with supervisor oversight.
  5. Urine sample collection procedures — follow established chain-of-custody protocols under direct supervision in a clinical setting.
  6. Client background information — gather and organize into electronic records using word processing software as directed.
  7. Group session participation — assist a lead social worker by observing and documenting client interactions in group counseling sessions.
  8. Discharge summary forms — locate and prepare using agency templates under the direction of a licensed practitioner.
  9. Professional communication — compose routine emails to clients and referral agencies using approved language and office email software.
  10. Social service terminology — recognize and apply correctly in written reports under review by a supervising social worker.
Developing
Mid-level / Established
  1. Client case records — maintain accurate and up-to-date histories and progress notes independently using electronic records systems in a social service agency.
  2. Individual counseling sessions — facilitate with reduced oversight to help clients address behavioral challenges and adjust to life circumstances.
  3. Drug dependency assessments — collect and analyze urine samples and document findings using agency protocols with minimal supervision.
  4. Discharged client follow-up contacts — conduct by phone or in person to monitor treatment effectiveness and flag concerns to clinical staff.
  5. Group counseling activities — co-facilitate in a community mental health or substance abuse setting, adapting discussion topics to participant needs.
  6. Client progress reports — write clearly and accurately using word processing software, meeting agency formatting and compliance standards.
  7. Critical thinking in case review — identify patterns in client behavior and recommend service adjustments within established program guidelines.
  8. Referral coordination — communicate with partner agencies via email and phone to connect clients with appropriate community resources.
  9. Spreadsheet records — use to track caseload metrics such as appointment adherence and treatment milestones in routine program reporting.
  10. Empathic engagement — demonstrate consistently during client interactions to build trust and encourage participation in treatment plans.
Proficient
Senior / Expert IC
  1. Comprehensive case documentation — produce thorough and legally compliant records covering client histories, interventions, and outcomes using integrated electronic systems.
  2. Complex individual and group counseling — lead autonomously across a full caseload, applying evidence-based techniques to address dependencies, trauma, and life adjustment challenges.
  3. Multifaceted dependency evaluations — design and carry out drug dependency assessments including urine analysis, behavioral interviews, and collateral data review without supervisory guidance.
  4. Post-discharge outcome tracking — develop and implement structured follow-up protocols to systematically evaluate treatment effectiveness and inform program improvements.
  5. Non-routine client crises — assess and respond to in real time, exercising independent clinical judgment to determine appropriate interventions in a community or residential setting.
  6. Interdisciplinary service plans — coordinate with medical, legal, and educational professionals to build holistic, client-centered support strategies.
  7. Program data analysis — compile and interpret caseload data using spreadsheet and presentation software to identify service gaps and report findings to agency leadership.
  8. Training new staff — provide on-the-job guidance on documentation standards, counseling techniques, and compliance requirements within the agency.
  9. Written clinical reports — author detailed assessments and court-ready documents demonstrating advanced written expression and adherence to professional standards.
  10. Ethical dilemmas — navigate independently by applying professional codes of conduct and sound judgment in ambiguous or high-stakes client situations.
Advanced
Lead / Principal / Executive
  1. Agency-wide documentation standards — establish and oversee to ensure accuracy, legal compliance, and continuity of care across all social work staff.
  2. Clinical supervision framework — design and lead for developing and licensed social workers, fostering professional growth and evidence-based counseling practice.
  3. Organizational dependency intervention strategy — develop and implement at program level, integrating urine analysis protocols, behavioral screening, and harm-reduction best practices.
  4. Outcome evaluation systems — build to track post-discharge client progress at scale, using data-driven insights to drive continuous program improvement.
  5. Cross-sector partnerships — lead with healthcare, criminal justice, and education stakeholders to create coordinated community support networks for underserved populations.
  6. Policy and procedure development — author and champion for the social work department, aligning operational guidelines with evolving regulatory and ethical standards.
  7. Budget and resource allocation — oversee for social service programs, using administrative and management knowledge to sustain and expand service capacity.
  8. Workforce training curriculum — design and deliver using presentation and multimedia software to build agency-wide competency in counseling, assessment, and documentation.
  9. Strategic program reporting — present findings and recommendations to executive leadership and community boards, translating complex caseload data into actionable organizational decisions.
  10. Professional culture of integrity — model and institutionalize across the agency by embedding empathy, dependability, and ethical decision-making into hiring, onboarding, and performance standards.

AI-at-Work Competency Framework

Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.

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Sources:Pathsmith™ Durable SkillsPathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
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Show O*NET source anchors38 anchors · skillscrosswalk.com

O*NET enrichment · skillscrosswalk.com

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Source anchors that ground each statement

Related titles
Adult Protective Services Social Worker · Case Consultant · Case Investigator · Case Manager · Case Reviewer · Case Supervisor · Case Worker · Children's Counselor · Community Center Worker · Community Chest Officer · Community Organization Worker · Community Organizer
RAPIDS apprenticeships
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O*NET skills
Active ListeningSpeakingSocial PerceptivenessReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingService OrientationWritingJudgment and Decision Making
Knowledge domains
PsychologyTherapy and CounselingCustomer and Personal ServiceEnglish LanguageEducation and TrainingSociology and AnthropologyAdministrativeAdministration and Management
Abilities
Oral ExpressionOral ComprehensionSpeech ClarityWritten ComprehensionWritten ExpressionProblem Sensitivity
Work styles
EmpathyDependabilityCooperationSinceritySocial OrientationIntegrity
Technology
Spreadsheet softwareOffice suite softwareElectronic mail softwarePresentation softwareWord processing softwareGraphics or photo imaging software
Tasks · seed anchors for statements
  1. Complete and maintain accurate records or reports regarding the patients' histories and progress, services pro
  2. Counsel clients or patients, individually or in group sessions, to assist in overcoming dependencies, adjustin
  3. Assess individuals' degree of drug dependency by collecting and analyzing urine samples.
  4. Follow progress of discharged patients to determine effectiveness of treatments.
CIP education codes
44.070144.070344.079951.1512

Sources: O*NET v30.2 (CC BY 4.0), SkillsCrosswalk.com, LER.me®, Anthropic Economic Index, SAFI (Jadhav & Danve, 2026), WEF Skills Taxonomy 2021, Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework. © 2026 EBSCOed.