School Social Worker

TITLE: School Social Worker

RESPONSIBLE TO: Principal/Special Education Coordinator

SUMMARY: School Social Workers provide a vital link between the school, home, and community. School Social Workers are involved in providing services to all students. They provide direct services to students and their families including casework, group work, and classroom presentations as well as providing crisis intervention and consultation and making referrals to community agencies. School Social Workers are part of the assessment process for special education students as well as often providing direct and indirect services to those students. School Social Workers consult with teachers and administrators and frequently participate on teams within the schools.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: 180 days, 12 months per year. Salary, benefits, and terms to be determined by the Board of Education.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Certification: Valid Illinois Type 73 Certificate with School Social Work endorsement or willingness to pursue

Education: MSW degree in Social Work

Experience: Preferred experience in a school setting.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Other duties may be assigned.

Direct Service:

Casework/Intervention:

Provide individual, student, and group counseling

Maintain open and effective communication, as a team member, with administrators, staff, parents, and the community.

Liaison between Regional Office Education, district, and community services for our homeless families.

Make recommendations and monitor students’ efforts to improve their coping and problem-solving skills.

Provide support and follow-up for students and families with truancy issues.

Ensure and model strict confidentiality when discussing student and family concerns.

Is calm, objective, and supportive when dealing with students and parents.

Participate in the re-evaluation of children placed in special education programs.

Participate in hospital staffing for students who have been admitted to a psychiatric unit.

Make home and community visits related to social work activities with other staff.

Report suspected abuse and neglect and cooperate in the subsequent DCFS investigation as mandated by law (only in cases when the school social worker is the initial person to suspect abuse or neglect.)

Assessment:

Complete Social Developmental Studies case study evaluations.

Administer Adaptive Behavior Scales.

Evaluate students for school social work services.

Confer with teams to complete the Functional Assessment of Behavior (FAB) and Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP.)

Participate in Manifestation Determination Hearings.

Prevention:

Provide individual, group, and classroom services to general education students on specific topics i.e. social skills, bullying, and anger management.

Evaluate and implement specific crisis intervention services.

Complete Risk Assessments on students when there is a suicide/homicide attempt or concern

Support/Indirect Services:

Casework/Intervention:

Maintain and update social work records of students.

Model and encourage respect for and sensitivity to students, staff, and parents.

Attend IEP, parent conferences, team meetings, and departmental meetings, as scheduled.

Stay current and knowledgeable of available community resources.

Provide liaison services between the school, the home, community agencies, and other family services.

Assessment:

Report present level of function and develop and evaluate school social work benchmarks for Individual Education Plans.

Determine and evaluate the effectiveness of social work interventions and refine the intervention plan as needed.

Participate and/or facilitate Student Intervention Team Meetings.

Have expertise in district-wide formal Adaptive Behavior Scales.

Participate as a member of the school’s threat assessment team.

Prevention:

Confer with members of the Student Intervention Teams, Grade Level Teams, or Special Education Teams

Recommend appropriate intervention procedures for children exhibiting behavioral or social-emotional problems in the general education or special education setting.

Consult with the principal to create and maintain a safe and effective learning environment.

Consult with the classroom teacher(s) to help them better understand and work with student needs or classroom management.

Present workshops on specific social work topics as needed.

Consult for the professional development of social-emotional based school curriculum.

Maintain current best practice expertise through professional development

OTHER PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:

Perform all other duties as may be assigned by the Building or Special Education Administration

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Technical:

Maintains accurate documentation of student evaluations, reports, and records.

Understands and demonstrates complaint understanding of HIPPA and FERPA laws.

Accurate and professional administration of assessments

Proficient computer skills including Google Apps

Proficient in IEP software processes and procedures

Knowledgeable about teaching and learning

Work effectively with data and research to develop and assess district strategies that increase student learning

Interpersonal:

Handle confidential information professionally.

Ability to use discretion and exercise sound judgment.

Effective oral and written communication skills and strong interpersonal skills.

Good organizational and time management skills.

Evidence of dependability, integrity, and a strong work ethic

Ability to take the initiative, work independently, meet deadlines, follow complex directions, and adapt to changing demands, activities, and workloads

EVALUATION:

Performance of this job will be evaluated in accordance with provisions of the Board’s policy on Evaluation of Support Services Personnel conducted by the Principal or Special Education Director.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable an individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

None required.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before parents, staff and students.

MATHEMATICALS KILLS:

Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is almost continuously required to sit, talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk and stand. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and continuously will repeat the same hand, arm or finger motion many times, as in typing.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is acceptable to this particular environment. However, the noise level can vary depending upon daily activity but will still remain within the acceptable noise level range. The employee continuously is interacting with the public, staff and students. The employee frequently will be required to meet multiple demands from several people.

Much of the information contained in this job description is for compliance with the American with Disabilities Act and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. The individual currently holding this position performs additional duties, and additional duties may be assigned.

Job Types: Full-time, Contract

Pay: $39,250.00 - $68,100.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person

Salary : $39,250 - $68,100