SY 26-27 School Social Worker/Adjustment Counselor

The School Social Worker/Adjustment Counselor is responsible for delivering a high-quality instructional experience consistent with the curriculum standards of the school district.

Essential duties for all faculty members include classroom instruction; conferences with students, parents, and colleagues; and active participation in the work of the department on curriculum development, activities, and pedagogy.

Qualifications:

• A Master's degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
• Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education license in:
• • School Social Worker/Adjustment Counselor - ALL LEVELS
• Knowledge of current education legislation/regulations
• Ability to work effectively with teachers, support staff, and parents and advocate for children in order to effectively problem-solve
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills and ability to work with all stakeholders
• Belief in the commitment to increasing personal growth, both academic and social-emotional, to obtain the highest level of achievement for every student.
• Additional Massachusetts Professional License in one of these areas is preferred:
• • Social Work
  • Mental Health Counselor

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

The School Social Worker/Adjustment Counselor will:

• Provide individual and small group counseling to students in accordance with IEP, 504, and safety plans;
• Completes the IEP responsibilities for students requiring counseling services such as writing goals and objectives and progress reports;
• Performs casework service with parents to increase the parents’ understanding, their constructive participation in resolving their child’s problems, and their knowledge and use of appropriate resources available;
• Consults and collaborates with other school personnel in gathering and giving information on a case, and in establishing and planning for respective roles in the modification of the student’s behavior;
• Supervises the referral of students to, and serves as liaison with, such outside agencies as the Welfare Department, Child Placement Bureau, and Juvenile Court, as appropriate;
• Makes home visits for gathering helpful information on a student’s background;
• Serves as liaison between home and school when considerable follow-up is necessary, as in welfare cases, foster home children, and disadvantaged students;
• Assists students directly toward adjustment to school;
• Conducts or assists a team in the development of behavioral plans;
• Reports progress and completes all documentation associated with services provided to students;
• Assist administration and school teams with crisis management when required;
• Keeps sufficient records of cases for use by school staff members and outside agencies when appropriate;
• Serves as a resource for other school personnel regarding adjustment situations;
• Participates in in-service training programs;
• Keeps current on new developments in the field;
• Follow professional practices consistent with the district's policies in working with students, parents, and colleagues;
• Attend and participate in faculty meetings and other assigned meetings and activities according to school policy;
• Maintain and improve professional competence through attendance at professional development events, and by self-generated activities that meet district expectations and the requirements for recertification;
• Assist administration in implementing all policies and rules governing student life and conduct and, for the classroom, develops reasonable rules of classroom behavior and procedure, maintaining order in the classroom in a fair and just manner;
• Strive to maintain and improve professional competence especially as relates to the specific assignment and student grade and subject area appropriateness;
• Establish and maintain open lines of communication with students, colleagues, and parents concerning both the broad academic and behavioral progress of assigned students;
• Promote equity and appreciation of diversity to ensure equitable opportunities for student learning, including, implementing specific strategies for students with special needs, with 504 plans and\or English Learners;
• Performs other related duties as assigned by the building Principal, SPSA, Director of Pupil Services, and Director of Special Education.

Reports to: Principal/SPSA

Evaluated by: Principal/SPSA

Terms of Employment/Salary/Work Year:

As negotiated by the Fitchburg School Committee and the Fitchburg Education Association (FEA).

Competitive and comprehensive health benefits are offered through the City of Fitchburg; www.fitchburgma.gov/benefits.

An offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of NCBC (fingerprinting) and CORI prior to your start of employment.

The responsibilities and duties listed are illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. Additional duties may be assigned as required.

Notice of Non-Discrimination
The School Committee’s policy of nondiscrimination extends to students, employees, and the general public with whom it does business. Fitchburg Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or disability in admission to, access to, employment in, or equal treatment in its programs and/or activities in compliance with state and federal law.
Questions related to this policy must be addressed to: The Office of Human Resources, 376 South Street, Fitchburg, MA 01420, HR@Fitchburg.k12.ma.us