School Social Worker

Position:   School Social Worker

Reports To: Executive Director of Student Services

Terms of Employment: Permanent, 10 Month Position

Nature of Work:

School Social Workers provide comprehensive supports and services to address barriers impacting the social, emotional, academic, and physical needs of all students. School social work services include assessment and screening, individual and group counseling, crisis intervention and prevention, family support, advocacy, and classroom instruction.  School social workers ensure equitable access and culturally responsive services for all students and families, maximizing students’ success in school and improving school culture, climate and safety.

Qualifications and Licensure:

• Bachelor’s Degree with major field of study or degree emphasis in Social Work, required
• Master’s Degree, Specialist Degree or Doctorate Degree in School Social Work, preferred
• NC Certification as a School Social Worker
• Must have or be able to obtain appropriate NC Licensure with NCDPI
• Experience working with families in crisis and at-risk populations

Duties and Responsibilities 

• Shows a comprehensive understanding of the knowledge, skills, and processes for effective casework practice.
• Utilizes a thorough understanding of the school social work profession including associated laws (IDEA, ADA, compulsory attendance, etc.), ethical issues, professional issues and standards.
• Has a thorough knowledge of the foundations of school psychology.
• Performs assignments with a thorough knowledge of the role and function of the school social worker.
• Shows a thorough understanding of child development, psychopathology, social and environmental conditions, cultural diversity and family systems.
• Utilizes leadership, advocacy and collaboration to promote student success, provide preventive services, and respond to identified student needs. Forwards requests for the information to the appropriate support services.
• Conducts home visits as a method to access the family and conducts interviews in response to referrals.
• Serves as a liaison between the student, home, school, private counseling facilities and community resources such as social services, court services, and family service agencies.
• Provides information and assistance to families to support their child’s educational and/or behavioral progress. Provides relevant parent training as needed.
• Makes court appearances to present data and performs court-requested evaluations.
• Maintains accurate case records.
• Communicates case findings and recommendations to teachers and other school personnel as needed.
• Ability to communicate ideas clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing.
• Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the supervisor

Physical Requirements (if applicable)

• This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 10 pounds of force 
• Work regularly requires speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel and repetitive motions, frequently requires sitting and occasionally requires standing, walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, reaching with hands and arms, pushing or pulling and lifting
• Work has standard vision requirements 
• Vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word 
• Hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels
• Work occasionally requires exposure to outdoor weather conditions

Special Requirements (if applicable)

• Ability to travel between and among school sites throughout the district and to students’ homes as necessary.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, as well as technology skills
• Occasional evening and weekend work may be required.
• Extensive knowledge of human behavior, social systems and social work skills.
• Understanding of how trauma impacts students, families, and systems.
• Excellent rapport building and advocacy skills. 
• Skill in counseling, motivating students and talking with parents. 
• Ability to manage culturally sensitive topics.
• Ability to coordinate the efforts of support services personnel and outside agencies.
• Ability to maintain complete and accurate records and statistics and to develop meaningful reports from that information. 

DISCLAIMER 

The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees to this job.