EXPANDED SCOPE

FOR

CASEWORKER SUPERVISOR PR 1,2,3,4

SENIOR CASEWORKER PR 2,3,5,6

1. ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF SOCIAL SERVICES CASEWORK PROGRAMS - These questions test for knowledge and ability to provide management and direction in a Social Services casework program. Questions may cover such topics as planning and evaluating casework services; staff assignment, work performance, training staff, case consultation, interpreting and applying Social Services laws, regulations, and standards; developing and implementing relevant policies and procedures; maintaining organizational effectiveness and efficiency; and communicating with and representing agency programs and services to community agencies, individuals, and groups.

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. SUPERVISION - These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices employed in planning, organizing, and controlling the activities of a work unit toward predetermined objectives. The concepts covered, usually in a situational question format, include such topics as assigning and reviewing work; evaluating performance; maintaining work standards; motivating and developing subordinates; implementing procedural change; increasing efficiency; and dealing with problems of absenteeism, morale, and discipline.

4. UNDERSTANDING AND INTERPRETING WRITTEN MATERIAL - These questions test for the ability to understand and interpret written material. You will be presented with brief reading passages and will be asked questions about the passages. You should base your answers to the questions only on what is presented in the passages and not on what you may happen to know about the topic.

5. 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.

6. PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES OF SOCIAL CASEWORK - These questions test for knowledge of the 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.

The New York State Department of Civil Service has not prepared a test guide for this examination. However, candidates may find information in the publication "How to Take a Written Test" helpful in preparing for this test. This publication is available online at: www.cs.ny.gov/testing/localtestguides.cfm.

USE OF CALCULATORS IS ALLOWED

6/9/2018