1. Home
  2. Careers
  3. Social And Human Service Assistants
  4. Required Skills Responsibilities Activities

Social and Human Service Assistants Occupation Detailed Description

Social and Human Service Assistants career

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Social and Human Service Assistants

The main tasks and work activities of Social and Human Service Assistants are to refer clients to community or social service programs, present social services program information to the public, maintain social services program records, write reports or evaluations. In general, for the Social and Human Service Assistants, speaking, active Listening, social Perceptiveness, service Orientation and other 12 skills are required.
Social and Human Service Assistants Job Description
EducationMost of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Related ExperienceA considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Job TrainingEmployees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
ExampleMany of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, chemists, art directors, and cost estimators.
The following chart shows the education/training levels for Social and Human Service Assistants jobs. 10.41% of Social and Human Service Assistants have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 55.39% of Social and Human Service Assistants have Bachelor's Degree and Above.
Less than a High School Diploma
0.00%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
10.41%
Post-Secondary Certificate
0.00%
Some College Courses
16.21%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
17.99%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
55.39%

Tasks and Work Activities of Social and Human Service Assistants

  • Provide information or refer individuals to public or private agencies or community services for assistance.
  • Keep records or prepare reports for owner or management concerning visits with clients.
  • Visit individuals in homes or attend group meetings to provide information on agency services, requirements, or procedures.
  • Advise clients regarding food stamps, child care, food, money management, sanitation, or housekeeping.
  • Submit reports and review reports or problems with superior.
  • Oversee day-to-day group activities of residents in institution.
  • Interview individuals or family members to compile information on social, educational, criminal, institutional, or drug history.
  • Meet with youth groups to acquaint them with consequences of delinquent acts.
  • Transport and accompany clients to shopping areas or to appointments, using automobile.
  • Explain rules established by owner or management, such as sanitation or maintenance requirements or parking regulations.
  • Observe and discuss meal preparation and suggest alternate methods of food preparation.
  • Demonstrate use and care of equipment for tenant use.
  • Consult with supervisor concerning programs for individual families.
  • Observe clients' food selections and recommend alternate economical and nutritional food choices.
  • Inform tenants of facilities, such as laundries or playgrounds.
  • Assist in locating housing for displaced individuals.
  • Assist clients with preparation of forms, such as tax or rent forms.
  • Assist in planning food budgets, using charts or sample budgets.
  • Assess clients' cognitive abilities and physical and emotional needs to determine appropriate interventions.
  • Develop and implement behavioral management and care plans for clients.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesProviding information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Documenting/Recording InformationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
  • Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the PublicPerforming for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsDeveloping constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Assisting and Caring for OthersProviding personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
  • Interacting With ComputersUsing computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
  • Communicating with Persons Outside OrganizationCommunicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
  • Updating and Using Relevant KnowledgeKeeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsAnalyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Refer clients to community or social service programs.
  • Present social services program information to the public.
  • Maintain social services program records.
  • Write reports or evaluations.
  • Visit individuals in their homes to provide support or information.
  • Teach life skills or strategies to clients or their families.
  • Interview clients to gather information about their backgrounds, needs, or progress.
  • Transport clients to appointments.
  • Explain regulations, policies, or procedures.
  • Advise clients or community groups on health issues.
  • Monitor nutrition related activities of individuals or groups.
  • Demonstrate activity techniques or equipment use.
  • Collaborate with other professionals to assess client needs or plan treatments.
  • Provide basic information to guests, visitors, or clients.
  • Help clients get needed services or resources.
  • Assist clients in handling details of daily life.
  • Examine patients to assess general physical condition.
  • Conduct diagnostic tests to determine patient health.
  • Develop treatment plans for patients or clients.

Skills and Abilities for Social and Human Service Assistants

  • SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Active ListeningGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Social PerceptivenessBeing aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  • Service OrientationActively looking for ways to help people.
  • Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • CoordinationAdjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  • MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • WritingCommunicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
  • PersuasionPersuading others to change their minds or behavior.
  • Active LearningUnderstanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
  • Judgment and Decision MakingConsidering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • Complex Problem SolvingIdentifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • Time ManagementManaging one's own time and the time of others.
  • NegotiationBringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
  • Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Written ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
  • Written ComprehensionThe ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  • Fluency of IdeasThe ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
  • Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Inductive ReasoningThe ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • OriginalityThe ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
  • Selective AttentionThe ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
  • Flexibility of ClosureThe ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
  • Category FlexibilityThe ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
  • Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Desktop calculatore.g. 10-key calculators
  • Special purpose telephonese.g. Amplified telephones
  • Laser printerse.g. Computer laser printers
  • Desktop computerse.g. Desktop computers
  • Special purpose telephonese.g. Hearing impaired telephones
  • Notebook computerse.g. Laptop computers
  • Laser fax machinee.g. Laser facsimile machines
  • Special purpose telephonese.g. Multi-line telephone systems
  • Automobiles or carse.g. Passenger vehicles
  • Personal computerse.g. Personal computers
  • Photocopierse.g. Photocopying equipment
  • Customer and Personal ServiceKnowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • PsychologyKnowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
  • Therapy and CounselingKnowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
  • English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • ClericalKnowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
  • Sociology and AnthropologyKnowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
  • Computers and ElectronicsKnowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
  • Education and TrainingKnowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.