School Social Worker

Position Description 

• Job Title: School Social Worker (159)

  Department: Pupil Personnel

  Reports to: Director of Pupil Personnel

  FLSA Status: Exempt

  Pay Scale: Teacher Scale C

  General Description:

  Supports instructional programs by reviewing reports of team members, mentoring colleagues, and supporting professional accountability. Performs specialized social work in an educational setting to enable students to achieve optimal learning. Collects, interprets, and synthesizes information about a student’s social history, community environment, family dynamics, economic differences, and significant crises that influence academic and behavioral functioning.

  Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

  • Monitors GCPS students in violation of the compulsory attendance law.
  • Serves as the Foster Care and Homelessness liaison.
  • Serves as a liaison between the student, home, school, private counseling facilities and community resources such as social services, court services, and family services agencies.
  • Consults with parents, teachers, and other school personnel to determine the causes of problems and effect solutions.
  • Conferences with and provides information, support, and counseling to parents/guardians of students.
  • Serves as a member of the interdisciplinary assessment team assigned to each school and works as a team member in making placement decisions, developing intervention plans, and planning programs to meet the special needs of children.
  • Communicates case findings and recommendations to teachers and other school personnel as needed.
  • Conduct home visits when necessary. Participates in eligibility committee meetings and contributes to the development of the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) as needed.
  • Acts as a member of the school crisis team to provide intervention to students as necessary.
  • Makes court appearances to present data and performs court-requested evaluations.
  • Counsels students whose behavior, school progress, or mental or physical handicap or condition indicates a need for assistance as referred or when needed.
  • Provide outside resources for medical, psychiatric, and other tests and examinations that may disclose causes of difficulties and indicate remedial measures.
  • Serves as the re-enrollment coordinator for incarcerated students.
  • Conduct and participates in family engagement activities.
  • Performs related work as required or assigned.

  Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

  1. Possess a working knowledge of social work theories and practices and the ability to apply knowledge to the needs and requirements of a public school system.
  2. Possess a working knowledge of federal, state, local legislation, and policies relevant to assignment.
  3. Ability to conduct, interpret, and present data to school staff, parents, other professionals in the field and write clear concise reports.
  4. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, parents, and school personnel.
  5. Ability to plan, organize, implement, assess, and modify activities/goals of the sub-function to which assigned and to lead and participate in all activities.
  6. Ability to secure and retain harmonious working relationships with program constituencies, both within and without the school system.
  7. Ability to communicate clearly and concisely orally and in writing.
  8. Good organizational, human relations and communication skills.

  Education, Training, and Experience Requirement:

  • Master’s degree (M.A.) or equivalent; completed a minimum of six grade semesters hours in the area of educational foundations or curriculum.
  • Hold Commonwealth of Virginia Pupil Personnel License, with an endorsement in School Social Worker.

  Physical Attributes/Demands:

  Work requires normal physical attributes required for walking, standing, sitting, operating office equipment, communicating equipment, lifting, moving, carrying light equipment, supplies, etc.

  Some assignments involve exposure to risks associated with dealing with emotional parents and students. Most assignments include activities in schools, centers, in the community, and require one to have arranged for own transportation. Some assignments are subject to deadlines and inherent in tailoring delivering programs to meet the needs of many divergent groups.

  Evaluation: 

  Performance on this job will be evaluated by the Director of Pupil Personnel in accordance with the school board policy and administrative regulations on evaluation of personnel.