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Home / Essential Skills Profile / Community and Social Service Workers / Thinking Skills

Thinking Skills

Problem Solving

Level 3

Community and Social Service Workers deal with

  • long waiting lists, resource shortages, cost and restrictions
  • Examples
  • a disability management worker can’t put a client in a recreational program because the client is no longer eligible for funding to cover the costs for specialized equipment

They

  • will advocate for other agencies to change the eligibility criteria and seek other sources of support – such as donations from churches and social service agencies
  • may help clients to develop plans if they can’t find funding
  • have difficult clientsExample
    • special education workers may have clients who are upset and aggressiveThey
      • discuss ways that will help them to improve their coping skills
      • inform the appropriate agencies and authorities of client’s risk to themselves or others
Decision Making

Level 2

Community and Social Service Workers

  • choose materials and supplies for programsExample
    • a detention home worker may decide to buy reading materials for clients
      • they consider clients’ needs and their agencies’ budgets
  • select programs, activities and financial aid to help clients
    • consider their clients’ needs to decide if they
      • meet the program mandates
      • are eligible for programs
      • can access a program
    • consider financial costs and clients’ schedules
Critical Thinking

Level 2

Community and Social Service Workers

  • evaluate the job performance of other community and social service workers, volunteers and students
    • watch how they interact with clients
    • ask for feedback from co-workers
    • evaluate performance

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Level 3

Community and Social Service Workers

  • assess clients’ strengths, weaknesses and needs
    • interview clients, their family members and colleagues to get information about their clients’ histories and backgrounds
    • review medical reports, support letters and certificates from other social service programs
    • recommend resources and help clients to develop realistic action plans to reach their goals and improve their skill
  • assess to see if a client is eligible and the right fit for social benefits and programs
    • review information from intake forms and applications
    • interview clients to get information about their case histories, limits and social supports
    • compare the information they get to the admission guidelines and program criteria
    • recommend resources and help clients with applications and appeals
  • evaluate client progress and program services
    • compare clients’ self-assessments over time and watch improvement in behavior
    • analyze program statistics and feedback gathered from clients and colleagues to identify successes, weaknesses and gaps in services
  • determine if there are risks from clients to themselves and others
    • consider the clients’ histories of violence and suicidal behaviors
    • consider their current levels of stress
    • consider their organizations’ protocols and risk management training
Job Planning and Organizing

Own Job Planning and Organizing

Community and Social Service Workers plan many job tasks and organize their schedules to meet the needs of clients. They

  • accept walk-in clients, referrals from other agencies and are given new clients by supervisors
  • book their own appointments with clients
  • schedule times for drop-in clients
  • deal with interruptions on a regular basis
  • respond quickly when clients ask for help

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Planning and Organizing for Others

Community and Social Service Workers may take part in planning for the organization as a whole and for programs being delivered. They may also help to develop policies and procedures.

Community and Social Service Workers who are supervisors plan and organize job tasks for their staff, placement students and volunteers.

Use of Memory

Community and Social Service Workers

  • remember general policies and guidelines of social programs and organizations in order to
    • describe them to clients
    • assess if the client is the right fit for the program
  • remember clients’ names, significant events in their lives and details of previous conversations to build client relations
  • recall the process for dealing with crisis
Finding Information

Level 2

Community and Social Service Workers

  • find information about social programs and community resourcesExamples
    • use local resource directories and the internet to find information about substance abuse treatment programs
    • ask co-workers for information about treatment and rehab programs and for the contact names of professionals they would recommend

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Level 3

Community and Social Service Workers

  • find information about clients by reviewing their case files, speaking with colleagues and interviewing friends and family membersExample
    • a family worker may review a child’s school report, speak with teachers and interview the child’s parents to get information that will help in assessing a child’s behavioural problems and the development of an appropriate plan