What are the responsibilities and job description for the Social Worker (2024-2025 School Year) position at Lockhart Independent School District?
The Lockhart ISD Mission
The mission of Lockhart Independent School District is to cultivate innovative learners and empower bold leaders who are prepared for a future yet to be imagined.
Lockhart’s Leaders
Across Lockhart ISD, each of our leaders are guided by three core themes embodied in our leadership definition and their corresponding behaviors:
- Having a Lock“heart” for People which is focused on developing one's relational capacity;
- Unlocking Potential which is centered on the development and empowerment of both the self and others; and,
- Being Locked on Excellence which means that every person will have a relentless pursuit for results
Primary Purpose: The Social Worker is responsible for school-wide development and coordination of the Prevention, Intervention and Postvention of Wellness and Mental Health programs. This position requires a strong leader who is effective in working with students impacted by crisis including trauma, poverty, substance abuse, suicidal ideation, self-harm, threats to self and threats to others. The candidate must be able to work cooperatively with others, including students, school staff, administrators, parents, other LISD staff and partners at local, state, and national levels. This position
Qualifications:
- Two (2) years’ Experience/Background in crisis counseling, individual and group counseling.
- Two (2) years’ Professional Experience in working with children and/or adolescents in a successful public-school experience, social service setting, or health care facility.
- Proficient in a number of therapeutic models including CBT.
- Must be able to:
b) Adhere to the code of ethics in their licensure.
c) Possess and demonstrate leadership qualities.
d) Possess the ability to get along with students, parents, staff and the public.
e) Follow district policies and procedures.
f) To keep professional skills and information updated through attendance at workshops, conferences, earning CEUs, reading relevant material, and keeping updated professional records and annual licensure.
g) Participate in departmental meetings to stay informed about departmental and district information, policies, and procedures, and engage in collaboration with peers.
h) Engage in ongoing clinical case consultation with district mental health professionals.
Education/Certification:
- Master’s degree in Social Work.
- Texas licensure as an LCSW, or LMSW under LCSW supervision.
Special Knowledge/Skills:
- Experience/background in crisis counseling, individual and group counseling.
- Professional experience in working with children and/or adolescents in a successful public-school experience, social service setting, or health care facility.
- Works well with students identified as experiencing crisis, trauma, or needing emotional and/or mental health supports or other related issues.
- Proficient in a number of therapeutic models including CBT.
- Bi-lingual English and Spanish speaking applicants encouraged to apply.
Major Responsibilities and Duties:
- Provides individual or group support for students identified as experiencing crisis, trauma, or needing emotional and/or mental health supports or other related issues.
- Develops and implements individual and/or group counseling sessions for students concerning prevention, intervention, and postvention.
- Develops and implements activities through a trauma informed lens that promotes Mental Health within their respective school site.
- Willing to work scheduled after-school hours up to two times a week in order to offer individual family counseling, psychoeducation, and/or case management services.
- Updates forms and submits appropriate reports of all activities to the Coordinator of School Counseling/Supervisor.
- Assists the administration in identifying, referring, and implementing intervention programs.
- Assists the administration, teacher, counselors and/or parents in obtaining information about procedures and practices for intervention and referral for treatment services for at-risk students.
- Follows through on all activities involving students from initial referral (may include assessment, diagnosis and intervention) to final determination and possible treatment and return to school for those needing external treatment.
- Cooperates with local, state, federal, and approved private agencies that are involved with student health and well-being.
- Acts as an in-school resource for crisis response and mental health issues while building relationships with community organizations, agencies and therapist to provide parents with referrals.
- Reviews in-school policies relating to "at risk" behaviors and provides feedback and suggestions when necessary.
- Assists counselors and faculty with students' re-entry after hospitalization or similar interventions.
- Reviews Wellness Plans with the returning students and parents, and assist in writing a plan when in-patient facility fails to provide this document or the school counselor is absent.
- Follows up with doctors, therapists and referral agencies.
- Monitors closely the first weeks following re-entry while providing support and guidance to students, families and staff.
- Trains and serves on the Mobile Crisis Response Team and will deploy to other sites when assigned by the Coordinator of School Counseling/Supervisor.
- Maintains required confidentiality of the program and all stakeholders.
- To ensure continuity of services, remote work may be necessary in the event of a community health crisis or disruptive situation that requires closing of school and/or office buildings. Expectations and guidelines will be distributed by the Coordinator of School Counseling/Supervisor, based upon her/his role and responsibilities.
- Performs any other activities as required by the Coordinator of School Counseling/Supervisor in the areas of prevention, intervention and postvention, or related wellness and mental health concerns.
- Other duties as assigned.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
- When applicable, to act as a mentor for placed undergraduate, graduate or doctoral internship or practicum students.
Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors:
Tools/Equipment Used: Standard office equipment including personal computer and peripherals
Posture: Prolonged sitting; occasional bending/stooping, pushing/pulling, and twisting
Motion: Repetitive hand motions, frequent keyboarding and use of mouse; occasional reaching
Lifting: Occasional light lifting and carrying (less than 15 pounds)
Environment: Frequent districtwide travel; occasional statewide travel
Mental Demands: Work with frequent interruptions; maintain emotional control under stress
This document describes the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this job and is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties that may be assigned or skills that may be required.
