A person considering becoming a social worker might want to know, “What is a social and community service manager?” A social worker who wants to work in a leadership or managerial position should know what the management-level position entails. Knowing what these managers do could help a person choose the right courses in graduate school and the right work experiences that will pave the way for a management job in social and community services.
See Also: 5 Characteristics of a Successful Social and Community Service Manager
Identifier of Community Needs
Social and community service managers identify community needs. They do this by conducting surveys, convening focus groups or interviewing members of the community. They may also observe different parts of a community or use data collected by other organizations. For example, they might gather data on transportation needs for low-income people in a neighborhood by counting the number of people who ride a bus or wait for a bus. They may also reach out to community leaders in order to learn more about what people need.
Program Administrator
A social and community service manager also functions as a program administrator. They oversee the big picture of the program in order to ensure that goals and objectives are met. The managers report to stakeholders so that they know the status of the project. The managers may also suggest and implement changes to programs in order to increase effectiveness or the efficiency of service provision. As administrators of programs, the managers also plan outreach projects in order to increase awareness of the social and community services they offer.
Analyzer of Data
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a social and community service manager also functions as an analyzer of data. They analyze the data collected from the programs they administer. They may also analyze the data of the needs assessments they perform on a specific population or in a community as a whole. These analyses are performed in order to determine the effectiveness of programs. They may also be used in order to justify a request for funding or the initiation of a new or expanded program or service.
Writer of Grant and Funding Proposals
Social and community service managers are also writers of grant proposals. They may write grant proposals in order to obtain funding for a program or to add more staff to their teams. They typically use data and add plenty of references from published scientific literature in order to justify their requests. Funding proposals are also written by these managers. The managers might request funding in order to continue with the activities they are already doing or to add to the scope of what they do. They may have to write funding proposals for specific events. For example, if a state agency’s budget may be cut, the social and community service manager may write a funding proposal arguing to maintain the same funding level or minimize cuts to their department.
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Social and community service managers oversee a wide variety of programs and services that are of importance to many different people and groups. Their work ensures that people get the services they need in a timely manner and that services are provided in an ethical way. Knowing what a social and community service manager is could help a person decide on a career path.