SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER

CRAVEN COUNTY SCHOOLS
School Social Worker

Job Description

Position: School Social Worker

Reports to: Director of Student Services

Terms of Employment: Temporary based on funding
Pay Grade:  NC State Salary schedule 
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Nature of Work

School Social Work is a specialized area of professional practice in the broad field of social work. School Social Workers are specifically trained and qualified to analyze barriers to learning and achievement. School Social Workers develop and implement strategies to address and eliminate identified barriers. School Social Workers provide the vital link between the home, school, and community to provide support services that impact students’ academic achievement. School social workers help students increase academic success, improve interpersonal relationships, cope with crisis situations, learn problem-solving skills, improve attendance, and build self-esteem. School social work promotes the academic mission of schools by fostering educational environments that are safe; have supportive, fair, and responsive policies; and emphasize early intervention and positive behavioral interventions.

Education and Experience

School social workers are trained mental health professionals with a degree in social work and are licensed by the NC Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI). School Social Workers help students improve their academic achievement and social, emotional, and behavioral competence. A school social worker employed in North Carolina must adhere to the School Social Work Professional Standards outlined by the NCDPI and to the professional National Association of Social Work (NASW) Code of Ethics demonstrating core values of service, social justice, dignity and the worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence. School Social Workers are hired by each local educational agency to work within that specific school district.

School Social Work services include, but are not limited to:

•  Conducting reliable and valid assessments of students and organizations to inform the design of interventions to remove barriers to
• Remaining current with school-based intervention research and using evidence- informed practices in service Interventions shall be designed to enhance positive educational experiences and involve the student, the family, other team members, school personnel, and community resources as needed.
• Providing crisis intervention services related to family violence, substance abuse, and behavioral
• Engaging in advocacy that seeks to ensure that all students have equal access to education and services to enhance their academic progress.
• Serving as leaders and consultants in promoting positive school climate and to facilitate understanding of factors in the home, school, and community that affect students’ educational
• Providing training and engaging parents, school personnel, other professionals, and community members in the removal of barriers to
• Supporting and facilitating educational reforms and initiatives including those that emphasize multitier prevention, early intervention, parent education and involvement, service integration, partnerships, and support for student

Special Requirements

To be employed as a school social worker in NC, one must hold a DPI-issued school social work license. Per State Board of Education Policy LICN-001, the minimum requirement is a bachelor’s degree in social work including the additional courses needed for the school social work certification/licensure. If someone has a bachelor’s degree in social work but does not meet the additional requirements for school social work, they can be employed provisionally while they enroll in a school social work program to complete the additional courses required for a school social work license (it is typically about one or two additional courses).

Evaluation:  Performance of this job will be evaluated in accordance with provisions of the Board and local policy on evaluation of personnel.

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. As such, it is not intended to contain all of the duties and qualifications required of an employee in a single position (job). Consequently, it is not to be perceived as a position (job) description or as identification of essential functions as required by ADA.

**By submitting your application you are indicating that you have read the above position description of the job for which you are being recommended. In addition, you are indicating that you are aware of the essential duties of the position and that you can perform the essential functions of the job. You agree to perform each of the duties identified on this job description and understand that failure to perform any of the duties may lead to reprimand up to and including dismissal by the Craven County Schools Board of Education.

*In compliance with Federal Law, Craven County Schools administers all education programs, employment activities and admissions without discrimination against any person on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, national origin, age or disability.