Job description template

Social Worker Job Description Template

A copy-ready social worker job description with responsibilities, qualifications, skills and pay guidance: customize it for your company in minutes.

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
How to use this template

Copy the template below, replace the bracketed fields and tailor duties to your workplace. For pay, national BLS data shows social workers earn a median of $59,550 ($28.63/hour); the middle 50% earn $48,270–$76,070.

Job title

Social Worker

Job summary

[Company name] is seeking a dependable social worker to join our team in [city, state]. In this role, you will assess client needs and risks, investigate child welfare reports and support our team’s commitment to safety, quality and service.

Responsibilities

  • Assess client needs and risks
  • Investigate child welfare reports
  • Develop case and safety plans
  • Connect clients to services and benefits
  • Visit homes and schools
  • Write case notes and court reports
  • Advocate for clients
  • Follow company policies, safety procedures and applicable regulations

Required qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree
  • Current license or certification as required by [state]
  • Working knowledge of case management and risk and safety assessment
  • Empathy and boundaries
  • [Add role-specific requirements, such as driver’s license or ability to pass a background check, if job-related]

Preferred qualifications

  • Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW)
  • Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
  • Experience with case management systems

Skills

  • Interviewing
  • Documentation
  • Resource navigation
  • Crisis intervention
  • Communication
  • Resilience

Work environment and schedule

Social workers work in offices, schools, homes, courts and the community, sometimes in tense situations. Most work full-time; child welfare workers may have on-call, evening and weekend duty.

Pay and benefits

$[min]–$[max] per [hour/year], depending on experience. [List benefits: health insurance, paid time off, retirement plan, training and certification support.]

Equal opportunity

[Company name] is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law, and we provide reasonable accommodations upon request.

Tips for a social worker job posting that attracts applicants

  • Use the title candidates search for. “Social Worker” is the clearest; alternates include Child and Family Social Worker, School Social Worker, Child Protective Services Worker.
  • Show the pay range. Postings with pay get more qualified applicants, and a growing number of states and cities require pay ranges in job postings.
  • Separate must-haves from nice-to-haves. Long requirement lists discourage qualified candidates, especially career changers.
  • Describe a real day. Borrow from our day in the life of a social worker so applicants self-select accurately.
  • Mention training. Highlighting structured onboarding: such as Social Worker training: widens your applicant pool.

Next steps

Screen and interview with our Social Worker hiring guide, then onboard with the 30-60-90 day plan.

Team pricing