Elementary School Adjustment Counselor

Pentucket Regional School District

School Adjustment Counselor

Job Description

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School Adjustment Counselor

Job Goal:

To help students experiencing behavioral, social, emotional or mental health challenges gain the necessary skills to maintain academic progress. Provide clinical expertise and consultation to school based teams to support students.

QUALIFICATIONS PREFERRED:

1. Master’s Degree in Social Work, Counseling, or related field.
2. Must hold a MA DESE license as an Adjustment Counselor.
3. Deep understanding of social, emotional and behavioral challenges that face students in current times with an understanding of how to treat, support and counsel students both clinically and in a school setting.
4. An understanding of trauma-informed schools and classroom practices so students can maintain or enhance access to instruction and learning. 
5. A minimum of 3 years experience working with students who require counseling support, preferably in a school-based setting.
6. Knowledge of state and regional support systems and networks for outside providers
7. Excellent communication skills.
8. Successful completion of a Criminal Record Check (C.O.R.I.) and fingerprint check.

Reports to: Building Principal and Director of Student Services

Work Year: School Year (184 Days)

Salary/Benefits: Consistent with the Negotiated educator salary schedule

Performance Responsibilities:

• Provide assessment and intervention of acute mental health needs of students.
• Provide staff consultation and education regarding mental health and social emotional learning.
• Demonstrate respect for the confidentiality of staff and students’ information and records by always maintaining a high standard of confidentiality.
• Gain and utilize an understanding of community resources for students and families.
• Be an active member of the Student Assistance Team.
• Be an active member of the School and District Crisis Teams.
• Be a consulting member of the Student Support Team (SST or IST).
• Be knowledgeable and prepared for student crisis response and threat assessment.
• Serve as a liaison among the school and community behavioral and mental health agencies, social services, and medical support teams.
• Connect students and families to the appropriate community resources.
• Provide individual and group counseling to students.
• Participate in Special Education and 504 Team meetings with appropriately-prepared documents and records.
• Facilitate the successful transition of students between grades and schools.
• Make referrals when appropriate to emergency services, psychiatric, and behavioral services.
• Maintain a high level of knowledge regarding culturally-responsive counseling and teaching practices, providing consultation on the topic to other educators as needed.
• Maintain appropriate licensure/certification.
• Be willing to provide supervision to others in the district seeking their advanced state level licensure.
• Be willing to supervise interns from area universities approved by the district.

Essential Functions of the Job:

Must possess the ability to:

1. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with school personnel and students.
2. Communicate clearly and concisely in both oral and written form.
3. Contribute to an overall school culture where ongoing personal and professional development is valued.
4. Stay current in the areas of clinical supports for behavioral and mental health treatment.
5. Collaborate with educators on support plans for students.
6. Be flexible each and every day with the ability to respond to student needs as they present themselves.
7. Work with a team of professionals who support students with behavioral and emotional challenges.

Specialty Areas:

1. Outstanding oral and written communication skills.
2. Strong adaptive skills and a willingness to be flexible.
3. Ability to work effectively with individuals and groups.
4. Knowledge of research in the areas of counseling and acute mental health care.
5. Willingness to take additional training.

Physical and Environmental Demands:

The physical and environmental demands described here are representatives of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

1. Ability to work in a normal classroom and school building environment.
2. Ability to move freely about the building to perform duties with students and teachers.

Position Type: Full-time, school year (184 days)

Positions Available: 1

Job Category: Social Worker, Educator, school year

Equal Opportunity Employer

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Pentucket Regional School District is committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation, genetic information or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws. Additionally, we prohibit retaliation against individuals who oppose such discrimination and harassment or who participate in an equal opportunity investigation. 

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