What Do Social and Human Service Assistants Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Social and Human Service Assistants assist in providing client services in a wide variety of fields, such as psychology, rehabilitation, or social work, including support for families. May assist clients in identifying and obtaining available benefits and social and community services. May assist social workers with developing, organizing, and conducting programs to prevent and resolve problems relevant to substance abuse, human relationships, rehabilitation, or dependent care. They also keep records or prepare reports for owner or management concerning visits with clients.

Other tasks include:

• Provide information or refer individuals to public or private agencies or community services for assistance.
• Visit individuals in homes or attend group meetings to provide information on agency services, requirements, or procedures.
• Interview individuals or family members to compile information on social, educational, criminal, institutional, or drug history.
• Submit reports and review reports or problems with superior.
• Oversee day-to-day group activities of residents in institution.
• Assist in locating housing for displaced individuals.

We asked Social and Human Service Assistants how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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58% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 62% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Social and Human Service Assistants oversee day-to-day group activities of residents in institution. They submit reports and review reports or problems with superior.

A typical day for a Social and Human Service Assistant will also include:

• Keep records or prepare reports for owner or management concerning visits with clients.
• Inform tenants of facilities, such as laundries or playgrounds.
• Demonstrate use and care of equipment for tenant use.
• Provide information or refer individuals to public or private agencies or community services for assistance.
• Explain rules established by owner or management, such as sanitation or maintenance requirements or parking regulations.

We asked some Social and Human Service Assistants a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	88% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	62% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	86% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	42% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	46% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	62% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Social and Human Service Assistants also observe clients’ food selections and recommend alternate economical and nutritional food choices. They may also observe and discuss meal preparation and suggest alternate methods of food preparation.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Social and Human Service Assistants Assist in planning food budgets, using charts or sample budgets. They might also Demonstrate use and care of equipment for tenant use.

In addition, they Advise clients regarding food stamps, child care, food, money management, sanitation, or housekeeping.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Explain rules established by owner or management, such as sanitation or maintenance requirements or parking regulations.

To some Social and Human Service Assistants, it is also their responsibility to Submit reports and review reports or problems with superior.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Social and Human Service Assistant, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas..

They also like working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/community-and-social-service/social-and-human-service-assistants.htm

http://www.nationalhumanservices.org/