Using the definition of social work as defined in division (C) of section 4757.01 of the Revised Code, the board adopts the following scope of practice for an independent social worker. Each independent social worker has a personal competency within the license's scope of practice, which is determined by their education, training and practice as defined in paragraph (A) of rule 4757-5-02 of the Administrative Code (ethics).
(A) An independent social worker may perform for a fee, salary or other consideration, counseling, pyschosocial interventions, and social psychotherapy without supervision in an agency setting, as a private practitioner, or as an independent contractor.(B) The scope of practice for an independent social worker may include those duties as described in rule 4757-21-02 of the Administrative Code and the paragraphs that follow: (1) Psychosocial assessment: intervention planning, psychosocial intervention, and social psychotherapy, which includes the diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders and counseling.(2) Program assessment, planning, and development, program implementation and evaluation.(3) Organizational assessment, planning and development, intervention, accountability, and supervision.(4) Specialized problem-oriented assessment, specialized project or case-oriented planning, specialized intervention, evaluation of consultation activities.(5) Provide clinical supervision of social work assistants, social workers except for their training supervision, professional counselors, and marriage and family therapists; and supervision of chemical dependency counselors and prevention specialists as specified in Chapter 4758. of the Revised Code. Provide clinical supervision per paragraph (A)(1) of rule 4757-23-01 of the Administrative Code for social worker trainees practice except the diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders.(C) The scope of practice for an independent social worker with supervision designation may include those duties as described as follows: (1) Psychosocial assessment: intervention planning, psychosocial intervention, and social psychotherapy, which includes the diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders and counseling.(2) Program assessment, planning, and development, program implementation and evaluation.(3) Organizational assessment, planning and development, intervention, accountability, and supervision.(4) Specialized problem-oriented assessment, specialized project or case-oriented planning, specialized intervention, evaluation of consultation activities, provide training supervision for social workers seeking licensure as independent social workers.(5) Provide clinical supervision of social work assistants, social workers, professional counselors, and marriage and family therapists; and supervision of chemical dependency counselors and prevention specialists as specified in Chapter 4758. of the Revised Code. Provide training supervision for social workers gaining supervised hours to meet the requirements of paragraph (C)(2) of rule 4757-19-02 of the Administrative Code to become licensed as independent social workers per rule 4757-23-01 of the Administrative Code. Provide training and clinical supervision per paragraphs (A)(1) and (A)(2) of rule 4757-23-01 of the Administrative Code for social worker trainees, which includes the diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders.Ohio Admin. Code 4757-21-03
Effective: 3/21/2022
Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 7/3/2023
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 4757.10, 4757.27
Rule Amplifies: 4757.26, 4757.27
Prior Effective Dates: 06/11/1985 (Emer.), 09/19/1985 (Emer.), 12/19/1985, 07/03/1997, 09/20/2007, 10/18/2009, 01/01/2013, 06/01/2014, 07/01/2016, 09/03/2018