School Social Worker

Job Title: School Social Worker

Minimum Salary: $61,558 (Commensurate with experience)

Supervisor: Director of Special Education

Job Classification: Exempt

Contract Length: 11-months (220 days)

The School Social Worker provides a comprehensive approach to meeting the needs of students through early identification, prevention, intervention, counseling and support to assure academic success, educational equity and social justice for every student. Works collaboratively with school personnel and parents to reduce or eliminate the social, economic, emotional, and environmental barriers that may interfere with a student’s ability to maximize the benefit from his/her education. 

• Facilitates the effective development of relationships between home, school, and community agencies by researching and coordinating community resources in addressing the needs of students and families

• Provides research-based strategies, interventions, and progress monitoring strategies to address specific academic and behavioral needs of students

• Performs structured observations of students in both the school and home settings to resolve problems with learning, behavior, and/or attendance

• Conducts a variety of parent education activities geared to supporting and strengthening the school-parent relationship

• Conducts individual, group, and family counseling as needed

• Maintains appropriate confidentiality and shares knowledge in a professional manner

• Serves as an advocate for the student

• Collaborates/consults with parents, teachers, and administrators and school community resources concerning student issues

• Maintains accurate, complete, and correct records as required by law, division, policy, and administrative procedures

• Serves as a resource for students, parents/guardians, administrators and school staff

• Analyzes, synthesizes, interprets and disaggregates relevant data to examine student outcomes and to identify and implement interventions that improve student achievement, attendance and behavior; provides appropriate training for staff

• Acts as a liaison between schools and community agencies/professionals serving students and their families

• Collects and analyzes socio-cultural and adaptive information, including home information, social history, developmental and health information, family and living conditions, and family dynamics; prepares and provides reports for eligibility team consideration

• Serves as a member of multi-disciplinary teams, as needed (Threat Assessment Teams, School Based Intervention Teams, Child Find and Eligibility Teams, etc.)

• Collaborates with teachers, administrators, and other school personnel to provide effective instruction and support to marginally performing and at-risk students

• Serves on division crisis response team

• Plans, develops, and implements professional development activities for faculty and staff

• Performs related work as assigned

• Performs any other related duties as assigned by the Director of Special Education, Superintendent or Designee.

Job Specifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required)

• Thorough knowledge of federal and state mandates and local procedures and regulations relating to special education programs.

• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

• Ability to effectively relate with persons from a diverse social and economic background.

• Skill in the use of personal computers and related software packages, hardware and peripheral equipment.

• Ability to collaborate effectively with other school personnel, parents and community agencies.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, students and parents.

• Ability to travel frequently to and from schools/agencies within and without division.

• Must have basic knowledge of adolescent substance use and current trends

• Must have knowledge regarding Social and Emotional Learning

• Must have knowledge of current trends and methodologies used to address the needs of children with behavioral challenges. 

• Must have the ability to recommend evidenced based practices as needed.

• Must have extensive successful experience in analyzing and assessing behavior, developing, planning and implementing behavioral interventions. 

• Must have skills in evaluation, development and implementation of positive behavior intervention plans; knowledge of tiered intervention frameworks; knowledge of current accepted best practices utilized in the full continuum of placement options for students with behavioral challenges. 

• Must have knowledge of data tracking and collection, record management and reporting methods, and a demonstrated understanding of differentiated instruction. 

• Must have expertise in developing and providing staff development activities for individual schools and/or programs. 

Minimum Qualifications 

• Education: Master’s Degree Masters of Social Work from an accredited school of social work

• Experience: Minimum of one year of successful experience working with students who have challenging behaviors in a therapeutic or school setting.
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• Certification/Licensure: Pupil Personnel Services license with endorsement in school social work

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

The duties are primarily performed in an office environment, with no unusual physical demands. The physical requirements described are representative of those necessary to perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.