TITLE: School Social Worker

WHO WE ARE:

Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) is a student-focused, innovative educational organization committed to academic excellence. Our mission is to empower and educate all students to think critically, creatively, and responsibly, to embrace diversity, and to pursue their dreams with a purpose. We are a family of excellent public schools in which every student has the opportunity to succeed and the power to create their own future.

Led by forward-thinking leadership and our commitment to prioritizing students, racial equity, and authentic engagement with our families, team members, and communities, our staff have diverse opportunities to develop their careers in a challenging but rewarding environment. We are an organization for people who are passionate about education and who are committed to the Indianapolis community.

SUMMARY OF OPPORTUNITY:

We are looking for a School Social Worker who will positively impact student success by planning, carrying out, evaluating, and supervising instructional activities. Our School Social Work addresses barriers to student learning, including social, emotional and mental health challenges and provide services at the school-wide, family, small group and individual levels. Assists students with behavioral, mental, emotional, or physical issues. As a member of the Unified Student Supports Team, you will receive excellent benefits, opportunities to grow within your role and the organization, and collaborative and supportive colleagues who put students first.

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

The following outlines what your core duties and responsibilities will be for this position and provides a sample overview of what your day-to-day may look like.

Core Duties and Responsibilities

• Provides assessment and instruction/intervention at the school wide prevention level, at the targeted classroom/small group level and at the individual behavioral/mental health level to address issues that prevent learning readiness.
• Utilizes student, school and community data to plan, identify and implement evidence-based, culturally competent prevention strategies to meet student needs
• Confer with school counselors, school psychologists, and teaching staff too, to obtain additional testing information, and to gain insight on student behavioral disorders affecting the learning process
• Serves as a member of the educational evaluation multidisciplinary team with responsibilities that may include the preparation of a social and developmental history of a student. Assists in developing positive behavioral intervention strategies.
• Provides brief individual and group counseling to students and families who need help with personal concerns or development problems. Consults with school staff and parents regarding strategies for helping students cope with personal and social concerns.
• Accesses and links community resources to students, families and the school in response to identified needs. To accomplish this responsibility, home and agency visits are required.
• Counseling students whose behavior, school progress, or mental or physical limitation or condition indicates need for assistance.
• Consults with parents, teachers, and other school personnel to determine causes of problems and effective solutions.Serves as the Case Manager for Section 504/Disability which maintains case conference and monitoring compliance
• Serves as a member of the IPS /Crisis Team and can be called on to aid schools when a crisis occurs.
• Works with Mental Health Therapist to monitor mental health referrals
• Leads Attendance Team to work on using positive reinforcement for students who are chronically absence
• Works collaboratively with school professionals, parents and community leaders in a culturally responsive manner to support the optimum learning environment for students.
• Other duties as assigned

“Day In the Life” Overview

On a regular day, as the School Social Worker, you might:

• Support students by providing individual and group counseling to students and families
• Work with the multidisciplinary team to provide behavioral and academic support to students
• Meet with attendance team and provide strategies improve attendance
• Analyze attendance data to implement strategies to improve attendance
• Attend to 504 Case Conference to keep IIEP 504s in compliance
• Work collaboratively with other staff
• Hold parent conferences regarding academic achievement and behavioral issues

WHAT YOU’ll BRING: SKILLS AND MINDSETS

As an ideal candidate for this role, you will be able to achieve the following:

• Working knowledge of federal and state 504 laws, rules, and practices
• Broad knowledge of Indiana and IPS policies, practices and programs
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, strong strategic analytical and writing capabilities, and interpersonal savvy
• Proactive nature; able to anticipate conflicts before they rise, results/action-orientation; project management skills
• Racial equity mindset and other critical indicators related to DEI
• Organizational agility; developed negotiation skills
• Unquestionable personal code of ethics, integrity, diversity and trust
• Ability to successfully navigate within varying degrees of ambiguity in a fast-paced environment. Ability to be creative in developing alternatives to meet IPS Instructional needs
• Track record of developing and maintaining strong working relationships with and among a diverse group of actors. Ability to work well independently as well as collaboratively.
• Close attention to detail coupled with the ability to exercise good judgment
• Ability to execute meetings, calls, and emails with professionalism, courtesy, and accuracy.

EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, AND LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS

• Master’s Degree in Social Work from a qualifying university or college

FLSA CLASSIFICATION:

Exempt

ELIGIBILITY FOR REMOTE WORK:

Not eligible

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand and walk. The employee is occasionally required to sit; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

EEOC STATEMENT:

Indianapolis Public Schools, in accordance with its nondiscrimination policies, will not discriminate in its programs, facilities, or employment or educational opportunities on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, sex, age, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, veteran or military status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, familial status, domestic violence victim status, homelessness or any other legally recognized protected basis under federal, state or local laws, regulations, or ordinances. Indianapolis Public Schools does not tolerate any form of retaliation or bias-based intimidation, threat, or harassment that demeans individuals’ dignity or interferes with their ability to learn or work.

DISCLAIMER:

Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of the above representative duties, knowledge, and skills. This job description is illustrative only, and is not a comprehensive list of all essential functions and duties performed by the occupant of this position. Factors such as regular and punctual attendance are not routinely listed in job descriptions, but are an essential function.