What are the responsibilities and job description for the School Social Worker - Long Term Substitute position at Howard Hathaway School?
Job Title: School Social Worker - Long Term Substitute - Hathaway Elementary (May 1, 2026 - end of the 2025-2026 school year only)
Reports To: Building Administrator/Director of Student Services
QUALIFICATIONS:
MUST be currently certified by the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) as a School School Social Worker
POSITION SUMMARY:
The position of school social worker is to provide school social work services to and on behalf of students in addition to collaborating with school staff and community agencies in order to maximize overall participation and independence in the school setting. The school social worker may function as a member of the Evaluation Team, IEP team, Crisis Intervention Team and RTI/MTSS Team. The school social worker offers social skill and emotional development through either direct contact with students, families or consultation with other professionals.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Adheres to the policies of the Portsmouth School Department
2 Adheres to special education policies and completes relevant paperwork
3. Attends and actively contributes to 504, RTI/MTSS, and special education meetings
4. Promotes the attainment of the District's mission, vision, and strategic plan
5 Displays strong and deep knowledge of subject matter content
6. Understands how knowledge is constructed within the discipline
7.Applies current research-based best instructional practices and strategies to help students access the curriculum
8. Communicates high and clear expectations for students
9. Integrates technology to more effectively deliver school psychology services
10. Promotes deep understanding of content by addressing unique learning styles and assists teams and teachers in adapting instruction to meet the needs of all students
11. Assists teams in designing and implementing Individual Educational plans to meet the unique needs of students with disabilities 12.Develops, with colleagues, appropriate academic, behavioral, and social/emotional goals for students
13. Promotes and utilizes positive behavioral supports
14. Conducts social histories and formal student observations to assist special education teams in decision-making, shares findings with key stakeholders, and interprets assessment data in order to understand the academic, biological, and developmental issues that impact student performance.
15. Function as a liaison with school, community, family and student when indicated, to link school and community services
16. Collaborates with outside providers and agencies to coordinate supports to students and families
17. Actively supports and assists RTI/MTSS teams in adhering to a problem-solving model during meetings, assists in the selection of evidence-based interventions, and helps teams design a plan to monitor student progress
18. Uses student data in treatment/intervention design and adjusts service delivery based on results of ongoing progress monitoring
19. Collaborates and consults with staff, parents, administration and the school community in providing information about the developmental stages of children and adolescents, linking this knowledge to how various social-emotional, environmental, biological, cultural, and experiential variables can impact student achievement
20. Provides direct student service including, but not limited to, individual counseling, group skills instruction, behavioral intervention support, and crisis intervention
21. Develops, implements, and evaluates prevention and intervention programs based on the recognized factors that are precursors to learning and behavioral difficulties
22. Communicates regularly with students and parents regarding the student’s academic, behavioral, social, and emotional status; communicates immediately with both when there are concerns
23. Makes referrals to existing community resources and provide follow-up services.
24. Serves as a resource to building-level staff and administrators regarding the behavioral and social/emotional well-being of students
25.Takes responsibility for personal professional growth
26. Other duties as assigned by the Building Administrator or Director of Student Services