School Social Worker

Responsibilities

• Provide direct interventions to students, including outcomes-based individual and group therapy, counseling, and educational and informational programs.
• Assist in the planning of therapeutic, remedial and behavioral modification activities provide by the educational agency.
• Assist to develop intervention plans consistent with curriculum, student needs, strengths, social and cognitive functioning, and cultural experiences.
• Conduct formal and informal assessments of student function, developmental history, family and community structure, interpersonal relationships, adaptive behavior and cultural factors that may influence learning.
• Use student, family, school and community assessment to develop appropriate interventions to improve student learning and work to eliminate barriers that exist to accessing a student’s education.
• Provide supportive case work to students and their families, including individual and group therapy, counseling and educational and informational programs.
• Provide parent support and education for self-advocacy and educational rights.
• Assist students and their families in gaining access to formal and informal community resources including community mental health services.
• Consult with stakeholders to facilitate understanding of factors in a student’s home, educational agency or community that affect their educational experiences.
• Consult and collaborate with educational personnel, parents and community resources in areas that impact student learning (e.g. mental health, behavioral management, school safety, diversity, crisis management, child abuse and neglect).

• Work with individuals, groups and organizations to develop programs and systems that promote student welfare and achievement.
• Promote collaboration among community mental health and welfare services providers and facilitate greater access to these services for students.
• Participate in interagency panels to assist effective integration of services to students
• Participate in school agency bullying prevention efforts, PBIS initiatives, and other program components that benefit the educational access of students.
• Provides for students’ needs through appropriate referrals to a certified school psychologist
• Investigates reasons for school absences, enforces compulsory attendance provisions, and prevents incorrigible, insubordinate or disorderly conduct of students during school, or on their way to or from school

Skills

• Knowledge of School Wide Positive Behavior Support systems including PBIS data systems
• Strong negotiation and advocacy skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills with an ability to work effectively with professionals from a wide range of organizations and disciplines and to establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with all members of the student’s team

• Excellent ability to conduct Mandt trainings and convey content and skill assessments; provide training to the staff according to the staff development schedule.
• Communicates clearly, concisely, and effectively, both orally and in writing, with the education and clinical staff, support staff, students, parents, and community
• Demonstrated ability to understand and adhere to policies and procedures
• Excellent analytical and problem solving skills
• Excellent organizational and time management skills

Performance Requirements

• Facilitates outcome-based individual and group sessions; produces reports showing outcome measurements.
• Conducts comprehensive formal and informal assessments of student function that inform the education and behavior support team
• Provides effective interventions and therapeutic activities to support students’ participation in school program’
• Serves as a Mandt Trainer and provides Mandt instruction at mandated professional development sessions.
• Assesses students in crisis; conducts risk assessments or other assessments as to student state of mental health; makes clinical recommendations and initiates supports.
• Accompanies students and families, as needed, for clinical recommendations to hospitals, clinics, or partial programs.
• Provides support to the school community at all times to maintain an orderly school environment and serves as an environmental manager; provides mobile support to students in crisis or those students demonstrating non-compliant behavior; reintegrates students back into program.
• Documents all behavioral incidents.
• Effectively initiates referrals and linkages to community services and supports
• Manages truancy, absenteeism, and provides support to families, students, and the LEA for removing barriers of school attendance issues.
• Makes successful referrals to community and social service programs and other community linkages that effectively address students’ and families’ identified issues and concerns.
• Effectively addresses issues and reduces barriers resulting in documented progress in the students’ behavior and academic performance.
• Accurately documents efforts and referrals in students’ record and appropriate data management systems.
• Proficient in data collection and analysis to support planning and programing for student success.

Education and Experience

Master’s degree in Social Work, must hold a current license as a social worker (LSW) or licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) issued by the Pennsylvania Department of State maintain that license. Must maintain active Mandt trainer certification. Must maintain all CEU credits to maintain licensure.

Education

• Master of Social Work or better

Licenses & Certifications

• LCSW