Title: School Psychologist
Department: HGLCS
Title of Immediate Supervisor: Educational Services Director
POSITION SUMMARY: The School Psychologist is directly responsible for the psychological assessment of academic, social, emotional, and behavioral domains utilizing problem-solving and standardized evaluations. The School Psychologist will oversee CSE Individual Education Plan (IEP) conferences/reviews. Be a member of problem-solving meetings and involved in designing systems, programs and services that maximize students’ social, emotional, and educational success. In collaboration with staff, families, students, and communities the school psychologist promotes effective educational environments.
RESPONSIBILITIES/DUTIES:
1. Provide or obtain current and relevant academic, cognitive and social/emotional information necessary for day student placement.
2. Assist in IEP Development and maintenance for all special education students at the Henrietta G. Lewis Campus School and the Wayne A. Secord Pre-school.
3. Provide a confidential psychological report as required that will recommend specific methods, appropriate classroom
accommodations and techniques to assist staff in helping students be successful in school.
4. Remain current and follow all NYS and Federal regulations regarding special education and other laws affecting students classified with special needs.
5. At the HGLCS Committee on Special Education meeting for residential students, the School Psychologist will chair and facilitate meetings including explain test results and recommendations to staff, parents/guardians and when appropriate the student.
6. Assist in the development of all Individual Education Plans for students at the Henrietta G. Lewis School and the Wayne A. Secord Preschool with teachers, social workers and other pertinent staff members.
7. Act as liaison between the student and the Home district for CSE/CPSE transfer and/or annual review meetings including but not limited to send invitee lists to districts, notify pertinent staff of meeting dates and paperwork due dates, send paperwork to district, update IEP management system, inform staff of goal changes.
8. Coordinate and participate in all Functional Behavior Assessments/Behavior Intervention Plan child study teams.
9. Track and disseminate any Behavior Intervention Plans that have been provided for special education students.
10. Input all correspondence with parent/guardian eschool phone journal.
11. Upon request, provide staff with educational and behavioral consultation.
12. Manage a caseload of up to 5 students as needed to ensure student IEPs are in compliance
13. Maintain Therapeutic Crisis Intervention and First/Aid/CPR certification provided by the Agency
14. Attend all mandatory in-service trainings and regularly attend supervision meetings. Attend other training and in-services as needed to maintain a level of expertise in the field.
15. Any additional duties assigned by immediate supervisor.
SKILL, QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE, ABILITY & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Minimum Education and/or Professional Qualification/Skills
• Masters degree required, with a major in Special Education or Counseling preferred
• NYS Certification as School Psychologist
Special – Personal Skills, Qualities, Aptitudes and Physical Requirements
New Directions Youth & Family Services, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable persons with disabilities to perform essential functions.
1. Ability to work effectively with youth, families, staff and community contacts from a variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
2. Ability to deal effectively and in a trauma informed manner with youth and/or families.
3. Ability to accept supervision and perform as part of a team.
4. Ability to be flexible and adapt to change.
5. Ability to build relationships with people (groups and individuals) and communicate within various mediums (logbooks, E-mail, telephone, team meetings).
6. Must have a valid driver’s license, adequate auto insurance and meet the criteria for driving set forth in the New Directions Driver’s License policy and Auto Insurance policy.
7. Ability to pass annual physical for Category 2 job classification in accordance with New Directions Employee Health policy.
8. Must comply with Agency safety standards and be responsible for own actions and conduct concerning safety and healthy working conditions.