New York State Department of Civil Service Announces Open-Competitive Examination Open to the Public

Social Work Assistant 2

Appointees who work in the five boroughs of New York City or in Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland, or Westchester Counties will receive an additional $3,026 annual downstate adjustment. Appointees who work in Dutchess, Orange, or Putnam Counties will receive an additional $1,513 annual mid-Hudson adjustment.

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Minimum Qualifications

On or before May 13, 2017, you must have:

For Nos. 26-225 thru 26-228:

Either A. a bachelor’s degree or higher in social work;

Or B. a bachelor’s degree or higher in a human service area* and one year of post-bachelor’s social work experience.**

For Nos. 26-229 thru 26-231:

Either A. a master’s degree in social work;

Or B. a bachelor’s degree in social work and one year of post-bachelor’s social work experience**;

Or C. a bachelor’s degree or higher in a human service area* and two years of post-bachelor’s social work experience.**

*For the purpose of these examinations, degrees in the following human service areas are considered qualifying: the professional disciplines of art therapy, audiology, dance therapy, drama therapy, music therapy, nursing, nutrition, occupational therapy, physical therapy, psychology, social work, speech/language pathology, and therapeutic recreation. Also included are related academic disciplines associated with the study of: human behavior (e.g., gerontology, human services, sociology, speech communication); human skills development (e.g., counseling, education, human development); or any other study of services related to basic human care needs (e.g., community mental health, rehabilitation counseling).

Examples of non-qualifying degrees include but are not limited to: anthropology, archeology, communication, criminal justice, fine arts, philosophy, and political science.

**For the purpose of these examinations, qualifying social work experience involves activities such as assessing individual and family needs, strengths and limitations; assisting in the development of treatment plans; providing counseling to promote mental, emotional, physical and social functioning; helping individuals and families access supportive services; coordinating and evaluating services, programs and support systems; and providing support, advocacy and referral as appropriate. Examples of non-qualifying experience include providing direct hands-on care to patients/consumers by assisting with bathing, dressing, mobility, eating, and other activities of daily living; transporting/accompanying patients/consumers to appointments or activities; planning, organizing and participating in recreational activities for patients/consumers, such as sports, games, creative arts, and/or clubs; and performing safety and/or security related functions for a facility.

IMPORTANT: Unless waived, you must pay the non-refundable processing fee. For information on fee waivers, visit https://www.cs.ny.gov/examannouncements/types/oc/appinfo.cfm##Fee. It is important that you verify that you entered the correct examination number and title on your online or paper application prior to submitting. If you apply online, you should immediately review your email confirmation notice to verify that you applied for the correct examination. If you do not receive a confirmation number after submitting your online application, your application was NOT received by the Department of Civil Service. No late applications will be accepted after the filing deadline has passed.

Notes

1. Your degree must have been awarded by a regionally accredited college or university or one recognized by the NYS Education Department as following acceptable educational practices. If your degree was awarded by an educational institution outside the United States and its territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency. You can write to the Examination Information Desk of the NYS Department of Civil Service for a list of acceptable companies who provide this service. This information can also be found on the Internet at http://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/degrees.cfm. You must pay the required evaluation fee. If you are applying on the Internet, you must mail the independent verification of equivalency to the NYS Department of Civil Service, Albany, New York 12239. Attention: S1PEM.
2. A promotion examination is also being held for these positions. If you are eligible for appointment from a promotion list, you may not be appointed in your own agency from the list resulting from this examination open to the public.
3. Although promotion examinations are being held, it is expected that appointments will be made as the result of these examinations open to the public.
4. You may file for these examinations by completing one NYS-APP application form or applying on the Internet. Unless you are eligible for a fee waiver, the indicated processing fee must be submitted for each examination listed on your application.
5. If you pass the examination for Nos. 26-226 Social Work Assistant 2 (Chinese Language), 26-227 Social Work Assistant 2 (Korean Language), 26-228 Social Work Assistant 2 (Spanish Language), 26-230 Social Work Assistant 3 (Chinese Language), or 26 231 Social Work Assistant 3 (Spanish Language), you will be required to demonstrate your language proficiency at a level that will ensure your ability to perform properly the duties of the position. Only enough candidates to fill current vacancies will be called to the proficiency test.
6. If you submit an application for Nos. 26-226 Social Work Assistant 2 (Chinese Language), 26-227 Social Work Assistant 2 (Korean Language), or 26-228 Social Work Assistant 2 (Spanish Language), an application will automatically be submitted for you for No. 26 225 Social Work Assistant 2, at no additional cost. If you submit an application for Nos. 26-230 Social Work Assistant 3 (Chinese Language), or 26-231 Social Work Assistant 3 (Spanish Language), an application will automatically be submitted for you for No. 26-229 Social Work Assistant 3, at no additional cost.
7. Background Investigation/Justice Center Review: In some agencies, the names of all prospective employees will be:
   
   • Checked against the Staff Exclusion List (SEL) maintained by the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs. Prospective employees whose names appear on the SEL as having been found responsible for serious or repeated acts of abuse or neglect will be barred from appointment and may have their names removed from the eligible list(s) for the title(s);
   • Investigated through a Criminal Background Check (CBC). All convictions must be reported. Conviction of a felony or misdemeanor or any falsified or omitted information may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment. Each case will be determined on its own merits, consistent with the applicable provisions of state and federal laws;
   and may be:
   
   • Screened against the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (SCR). Prospective employees whose names appear on the SCR may be barred from appointment.
   You will be responsible for payment of all required fees.
8. Medicaid and Medicare: In order to be eligible for appointment and to maintain employment, you cannot be listed as an excluded individual or entity on any of the Federal and/or State Medicaid and Medicare exclusion lists (or excluded from any other Federal or Federally assisted program). If you are appointed and subsequently listed as an excluded individual or entity on any of these lists (or excluded from any other Federal or Federally-assisted program), you may be terminated from your employment.
9. Appropriate part-time and volunteer experience, which can be verified, will be accepted on a prorated basis.
10. New York State residence is not required.

The Positions

The majority of these positions exist statewide in residential facilities and community programs of the New York State Office of Mental Health and the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities. A small number of positions are located in the Office of Children and Family Services, Helen Hayes Hospital, and the State Education Department.

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Duties

As a Social Work Assistant 2, you would perform a variety of case management and service coordination activities for an assigned caseload; interview individuals, their families, and/or others to gather background information, prepare case histories, and determine eligibility for services; advocate on behalf of and assist individuals in identifying and obtaining services; work with interdisciplinary treatment teams and participate in the development and implementation of treatment and service plans; coordinate services between agencies, programs, and providers; and follow-up to ensure individuals’ needs are met.

As a Social Work Assistant 3, you would perform similar duties to those of a Social Work Assistant 2, manage a more complex caseload, and exercise a higher degree of independence.

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Subject of Examination

There will be a written test which you must pass in order to be considered for appointment. The written test is designed to test for knowledge, skills, and/or abilities in such areas as:

1. Interviewing - These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices employed in obtaining information from individuals through structured conversations. These questions require you to apply the principles, practices, and techniques of effective interviewing to hypothetical interviewing situations. Included are questions that present a problem arising from an interviewing situation, and you must choose the most appropriate course of action to take.
2. Preparing written material - These questions test for the ability to present information clearly and accurately, and to organize paragraphs logically and comprehensibly. For some questions, you will be given information in two or three sentences followed by four restatements of the information. You must then choose the best version. For other questions, you will be given paragraphs with their sentences out of order. You must then choose, from four suggestions, the best order for the sentences.
3. Principles and practices of social casework - These questions test for the knowledge and understanding of principles and practices used to provide casework services. Questions may cover such topics as developmental, mental, physical and social disabilities and/or impairments; assessing client strengths and needs; building and maintaining relationships with clients and their support network; ability to make and advocate for appropriate service referrals; ability to provide advocacy and support; and professional and ethical concerns in casework practice.
4. Understanding and interpreting written material - These questions test how well you comprehend written material. You will be provided with brief reading selections and will be asked questions about the selections. All the information required to answer the questions will be presented in the selections; you will not be required to have any special knowledge relating to the subject areas of the selections.

Your final score must be 70 or higher in order to pass. Rank on the eligible list will be determined after adding any wartime Veterans' and Civil Service Law Section 85-a credits to your final passing score.

Important: The Department of Civil Service and other state agencies may communicate with you through email correspondence. This may include the notification of your examination results and canvassing you for interest in appointment. It will be important for you to keep your email address, phone number and mailing address current by logging into https://www.cs.ny.gov/home/myaccount.

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How To Apply

If you do not receive a number after submitting your online application, your application was NOT processed.

Additional Information

New York State is an Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the policy of the State of New York to provide for and promote equal opportunity employment, compensation, and other terms and conditions of employment without discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, disability, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, veteran or military service member status, marital status, domestic violence victim status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, or arrest and/or criminal conviction record unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification or other exception.

Appointment to many positions in State government require candidates to undergo an investigative screening. This may include a thorough character investigation, a Federal Bureau of Investigation Criminal Record History Check, a Child Abuse Registry clearance, or other similar procedures. Candidates may be fingerprinted and may be required to pay any necessary fees for that procedure. Depending on the nature of the job, the criminal convictions discovered, or any falsified or omitted information revealed, the investigative findings may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment.

Eligibility for Employment

You must be legally eligible to work in the United States at the time of appointment and throughout your employment with New York State. If appointed, you must produce documents that establish your identity and eligibility to work in the United States, as required by the federal Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, and the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Religious Accommodation

Most written tests are held on Saturdays. If you cannot take the test on the announced test date, due to a conflict with a religious observance or practice, check the box under “Religious Accommodation.” We will make arrangements for you to take the test on a different date (usually the following day).

Reasonable Accommodations in Testing

It is the policy of the Department of Civil Service, in accordance with the New York State Human Rights Law and the Americans with Disabilities Act, to provide qualified persons with disabilities equal employment opportunity and equal opportunity to participate in and receive the benefits, services, programs, and activities of the Department. It is the policy of the Department to provide such persons reasonable accommodations and reasonable modifications as are necessary to provide equal opportunity. Persons with disabilities who require an accommodation to participate in an examination must note this on their application. Further information is available from the Test Administration Unit of the Department of Civil Service. In the Albany area, call 518-457-2487. Outside of the Albany area, call toll free at 1-877-697-5627. For TDD services, call NY Relay at 711 (requires a fee) or 1-800-662-1220.

Admission to Examination

Notice to appear for the test may be conditional as review of applications may not be made until after the test. If you have not received your notice to appear for the written test three days before the date of the test, call 518-474 6470 in the Albany area or toll free at 1-877-697-5627.

Multiple Examinations Scheduled for the Same Day

If you have applied to take a written test announced by either one or several local jurisdictions (county, town, city) scheduled to be held on the same test date as this written test, you must notify each of the local jurisdictions no later than two weeks before the test date to make arrangements for taking all tests at one test site. All tests will be held at the state examination center. For your convenience, contact information for all local civil service agencies is available on our website at: http://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/local.cfm

Cell Phones or Electronic/Communication Devices at the Test Site

Do not bring cell phones, beepers, headphones, or any electronic or other communication devices to the test site. The use of such devices at the test site in the test room, hallways, restrooms, building, grounds, or other areas could result in your disqualification.

S1/TB1 PEM-vla
Issued: 2/24/2017

This announcement is subject to amendment or cancellation without notice. Do not copy it, or post it to any other site, but link to it instead.

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