Social and Community Service Managers
Social and community service managers plan, direct, or coordinate the activities of a social service program or community outreach organization. They oversee the program or organization's budget and policies regarding participant involvement, program requirements, and benefits. Their work may involve directing social workers, counsellors, or probation officers.
Social and community management services include organizing, coordinating and supervising programs or organizations that support the relevant social groups and communities. They provide or manage workers who provide social services to the public. One may work as an adoption services manager, child welfare director, clinical services manager, community manager, psychiatric social worker supervisor, social services manager, transitional care director or rehabilitation administrator.
The health & community service manager job description includes overseeing administrative procedures, directing activities of professionals and volunteers, evaluating workers, preparing reports and maintaining records, providing services to individuals, clients or the public, maintaining relationships with other agencies, recruiting volunteers and workers, implementing training programs, analysing policy changes, communicating with communities and organizing fundraising.
To qualify for a service manager or community manager position, one may need a bachelor’s or master’s degree in public/business administration, social work or social science, public health and safety or a related field. Personal interest and work experience in social and community service are valuable.
Job opportunities in this field are mostly available in government agencies, non-profit organizations, social service companies, or corporate social responsibility departments of businesses. The community service manager's salary depends on the skills and experience gained in the education career.
To be successful, one should have service orientation, social perceptiveness, communication, problem-solving, coordination, critical thinking, time and resource management, and persuasion skills.
Qualifications
Every career requires an element of study and academic qualification, and there can be several study routes and pathways you can take. In following any academic pathway you will study subjects that contribute to the specialised knowledge required to achieve your career goals. These qualifications provide a future employer with the evidence that you have the desired knowledge, understanding and experience of their industry, so it’s important to consider the various types of qualifications available to you and to understand how they can boost your career and create opportunities for you.
- Ph.D. Social Work
- M.A. Social Work
- B.A. Social Work
Tasks
- Establish and maintain relationships with other agencies and organizations in community to meet community needs and to ensure that services are not duplicated.
- Prepare and maintain records and reports, such as budgets, personnel records, or training manuals.
- Direct activities of professional and technical staff members and volunteers.
- Evaluate the work of staff and volunteers to ensure that programs are of appropriate quality and that resources are used effectively.
- Establish and oversee administrative procedures to meet objectives set by boards of directors or senior management.
- Participate in the determination of organizational policies regarding such issues as participant eligibility, program requirements, and program benefits.
- Research and analyze member or community needs to determine program directions and goals.
- Speak to community groups to explain and interpret agency purposes, programs, and policies.
- Recruit, interview, and hire or sign up volunteers and staff.
- Represent organizations in relations with governmental and media institutions.
Progression Routes
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