School Social Worker

Position:  School Social Worker (Full-Time Position)

Location:  Multiple Buildings

Reports To:  Director of Special Programs

Certification:  School Social Worker Certificate or Permit required

Start Date:  As soon as available

Position Summary

Assist students with academic learning by providing strategic services that identify and address the social-emotional-environmental issues that interfere with the educational process. Works with parents/guardians, teachers, school principals, and community-based resources to implement strategies that promote learning.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Identifies and assesses academic impact resulting from emotional difficulties through systemic analysis of factors in the home, school, and community
• Completes psychosocial assessments to assist in the determination of special education services and therapeutic intervention
• Provides crisis intervention strategies and social work case management for eligible students
• Conducts staff development sessions on behavioral-emotional-environmental issues affecting student participation in the learning process
• Serves as a liaison between families and the school to positively promote collaborative processes in educational planning for students by encouraging parent/guardian participation in the school setting
• Participate in planning and implementing prevention programs to address the social and affective needs of students
• Provides direct services through a variety of research-based, best practice methods (e.g. individual and/or small group instruction) per Individualized Educational Programs (IEPs)
• Establishes and monitors the necessary caseloads, procedures, and resources to manage assigned Social Worker services to students/staff and work cooperatively to accomplish the goals of the school
• Maintains required clinical records and submits appropriate documents for reporting
• Serves on both school-based and system-wide committees to address education issues, adjustment problems, safety issues, and program development for students.  Serves as a member of diagnostic and evaluation teams, IEP teams, Child Study teams, etc.
• Implement appropriate and alternative ways to monitor and assess the effectiveness of interventions and individual student progress toward goals
• Provides comprehensive diagnostic evaluations of children suspected of having an emotional impairment, autism spectrum disorder, and/or other disabilities, and collaborates with the IEP team in the determination of eligibility for special education programs and services
• Conducts functional behavior assessments and assists in the development of behavior intervention plans
• Other related duties as assigned

Employment Qualifications

• EDUCATION: This position requires possession of a master’s degree from a graduate school social work program approved by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE).  This includes a minimum 500-clock hour-supervised social work practicum.
• EXPERIENCE: A minimum of one to three years of experience working as an SSW is desired, but not required.  Preference will be given to those candidates with prior experience and full approval.
• SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: No supervisory responsibilities.
• CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, OR REGISTRATIONS: This position requires temporary approval, continuing temporary approval, or full approval by MDE, Office of Special Education. 

Other Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Required:

• Highly flexible with good attendance
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing
• Attend workshops and other professional growth activities
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Ability to utilize technology to accomplish assigned tasks
• Must maintain confidentiality
• Remain free of any alcohol or non-prescribed controlled substance abuse in the workplace throughout his/her employment in the District

Preferred:

• Experience working in a school district
• Participation in local, state, and national associations which foster the development and improvement of school counseling whenever possible.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, use hands to finger, handle, or

feel; talk and hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; and

stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. Specific

vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and the ability to adjust focus, especially due to

concentration on a computer screen and small numbers.

Work Environment

The physical demands 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 enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Non-Discrimination

Caledonia Community Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, (including sexual orientation and gender identity), disability, age, religion, height, weight, marital or family status, military status, ancestry, genetic information, or any other legally protected category, (collectively, "Protected Classes"), in its programs and activities, including employment opportunities.