School Social Worker

Under the supervision of the Social Work Supervisor & Program Principal, the School Social Worker plays a vital role in providing services to students to improve social-emotional skills. The SSW will obtain and analyze data to determine social-emotional needs of students, support access to and participation in programming, maintain documentation, and provide services to students. Professionalism, empathy, and a non-judgmental approach are essential when working with students receiving special education services. The SSW will collaborate daily with special and general education staff, families, and students in an environment that relies on collaboration, communication, and flexibility.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Student & Family Support

• Assess student functioning, both formally and informally, in school, at home, and in the community, assessing both strengths and needs.
• Provide counseling to individuals, groups, and families, using appropriate therapeutic strategies.
• Provide crisis intervention services for students, demonstrating skill in diagnosing and recommending appropriate treatment.
• Assess student and family resource needs, and provide education and referral to appropriate community services.
• Serve as a bridge between parents and teachers.

Intervention Team

• Attend weekly Intervention Team meetings and support the team in engaging parents and designing social-emotional interventions.
• Support students that have been referred to the intervention team by implementing social-emotional and behavioral interventions as requested.
• Engage in prevention and responsive steps to support school engagement including education, monitoring, contracting, and connecting with families and community services in support of consistent school attendance.

Special Education Services

• Provide direct instruction and counseling to students in social skills, problem-solving, behavior management, self-regulation, and other skills necessary for students to transition to other educational, community, or vocational settings.
• Write specific and measurable goals and objectives related to identified social-emotional needs within the IEP.
• Maintain detailed records of student services and goal progress.
• Report student progress at team meetings and in regular reporting cycles.
• Facilitate connections between school and community services for students receiving special education services and related community support services.
• Maintain communication with members of the educational team concerning academic and behavioral progress.
• Support in the collection of data for Functional Behavior Assessments (FBAs).
• Support the development and implementation of Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs).
• Attend IEP team meetings for all students receiving Social Work/Social Skills services.

School Programs

• Support social-emotional learning (SEL) by reviewing student screening and assessment data, co-planning educational programs, and collaborating with classroom teachers in the implementation of SEL curriculum.
• Consult and collaborate effectively with community agencies and other mental health professionals to coordinate services to individuals and groups.
• Actively participate in multidisciplinary teams and provide consultation to school personnel regarding home, neighborhood and community conditions that may affect student well-being through participating in staff meetings and serving on committees.

504 Case Management

• Process evaluation referrals and data collection to determine eligibility for Section 504.
• Case manage students with Section 504 Plans, following best practices for reviews and revisions to support student academic and social-emotional success.

Professional Development

• Provide education on relevant subjects including mental health, suicide prevention, and mandated reporting to school staff as part of professional development.
• Participate in outside professional development related to social work services and current community needs.
• Provide task supervision to building social work interns under the direction of the Special Services Coordinator, including overseeing attendance, intern tasks, and providing supervision directly to the intern alongside the Field Instructor.

Administrative Duties

• Demonstrate knowledge of district, state and federal policies, including due process guidelines and child abuse/neglect reporting.
• Compile, maintain and file all reports, records, and other documents required and in a manner consistent with ethical and legal standards for the Social Work profession and district policies.
• Collaborate with administrative team to develop, maintain, and implement school wide policies and practices related to student behavior, community safety, trauma-informed and restorative practices.

Additional Duties

• Engage in, teach, and model anti-racist language and practices with the school community.
• Prioritize school social work needs and manage time accordingly.
• Uphold the ethical standards of the Social Work profession.
• Participate fully and positively in the staff culture of the school.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelors Degree in Social Work
• Minnesota Board of Social Work Licensure (LSW, LGSW, or LICSW)
• Minnesota PELSB Related Service License: School Social Worker

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:

• Masters Degree in Social Work
• Experience working with children and families, especially in a school setting;
• Ability to take initiative, prioritize tasks, and work independently;
• Experience with restorative justice and trauma-informed practices;
• Strong time management skills - ability to prioritize and execute multiple projects simultaneously, while following through on issues in a timely manner;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills; demonstrates strong interpersonal skills and collaborative approach with students, parents, colleagues and community members;
• Ability to maintain a calm, professional demeanor in the face of competing demands.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $42,000.00 - $65,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Grade levels:

• High school

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Work setting:

• Charter school
• In-person
• Public school

Work Location: In person

Salary : $42,000 - $65,000