Social worker

Position Purpose:

Under the general supervision of the Director of Student Services, to provide students, parents, administrators, and other teaching staff with individually tailored advice and consultation to assist families and students, overcome personal, emotional, familial, or social issues to maximize the students' learning experience.

Essential Functions:  The following description is illustrative of the tasks and responsibilities associated with this position.  It is not meant to be an inclusive list of every task or responsibility.

• Performs casework services with students and parents to encourage parental understanding of, and participation in, overcoming social issues to maximize the educational experience of the student. 
• Provides consultation to district faculty regarding communication, collaboration, and mediation strategies with families.
• Assists families with improving factors that may contribute to school performance problems such as poor attendance, socioeconomic difficulties, behavioral difficulties, lack of positive peer experiences, court/legal involvement, and/or health/medical/nutritional concerns.
• Assists building administrators and families in developing collaborative attendance plans for chronically absent/tardy students and assist the attendance office in preparing absenteeism information needed by the legal system to prosecute violators of the Compulsory Attendance law.
• Assists administrators in determining residency status for specific students.
• Communicates with the court system and public/private health and human service agencies regarding students under jurisdiction, facilitating the flow of information to and from the school district.
• Assists students and teachers in implementing students' behavior management plans. 
• Coordinates with outside agencies, organizations, and institutions, including state and federal authorities, in order to facilitate communication to and from the school district.
• Coordinates with administrators and other teaching staff members to ascertain individual student's abilities and needs, including students with special needs, and to familiarize stakeholders with social work services. 
• Provides information on educational options and post high school opportunities.
• Assists with the school district's dropout prevention efforts. 
• Serves as resource to parents to coordinate and support a reintegration program back for students currently not attending school.
• Provides brief, solution-focused counseling for at-risk students in an effort to maintain their enrolment in school.
• Continues to acquire professional knowledge and learn of current developments in the educational field by attending seminars, workshops or professional meetings, or by conducting research, and by maintaining professional relationships. 
• Organizes and maintains a system for accurate and complete record-keeping.
• Encourages parental involvement in students' education as a student/family advocate.
• Maintains state certification and/or state licensure through the Nebraska Department of Health.
• Maintains a regular and predictable attendance history while employed by the district.
• Performs other related tasks as assigned by the principal and other central office administrators as designated by the Superintendent.

Equipment:

• Uses standard school and office equipment such as personal computers, printers, copy and fax machines, and telephones.

Travel Requirements:

• Travels to school district buildings and professional meetings as required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of social work principles, theories, and methods.
• Knowledge of evidence-based behavior management methods, cognitive behavioral interventions, and family systems strategies. 
• Knowledge of school and community resources available to support students.
• Knowledge of data information systems, data analysis and the formulation of action plans. 
• Knowledge of intervention skills that can be utilized in crisis situations.
• Knowledge of applicable federal and state laws regarding education and students. 
• Ability to work a flexible schedule to be available to families for home-based visits and counseling, and to students for individual counseling.
• Ability to use computer network system and software applications as needed. 
• Ability to represent the district in court action related to student attendance, behavior, and/or welfare.
• Ability to prioritize, organize, and coordinate work. 
• Ability to communicate effectively with students and parents. 
• Ability to engage in self-evaluation with regard to performance and professional growth. 
• Ability to adhere to professional standards and code of ethics for school social workers
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with others contacted in the course of work. 

Physical and Mental Demands, Work Hazards:

• Works in standard office and school building environments. 
• For a complete list of the physical and mental demands needed to perform the essential functions for this position, please see the Summary of Physical, Sensory and Environmental Requirements.

Qualification Profile:

• Certification: 
• State certification from the Nebraska DHHS as a social worker, professional counselor, or marriage and family therapist.  State certification as a Master social worker preferred, with the necessary requisites for the supervision of graduate level practicum students.
• Ability to obtain licensure from the Nebraska DHHS as a mental health practitioner.
• Education: 
• Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university in social work, counseling, child development, psychology, criminal justice, or related field.
• Masters degree from an accredited college or university in social work preferred.
• Experience:  Successful prior experience as a social worker preferred. 

FLSA Status:  Exempt