Social Worker - IHSCA

Social Worker - IHSCA

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

Instituto Health Science Career Academy along with Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has set ambitious goals to ensure that every child-in every school and every neighborhood—has access to a world-class learning experience from birth, resulting in graduation from high school college- and career-ready. In alignment with CPS/ISBE, our school strives to provide high quality and specially designed instructional supports and services for all students with disabilities within the least restrictive environment. We work collaboratively with the goal of improving the academic achievement of all students with disabilities by ensuring they receive meaningful and relevant access to grade level core instruction within the school. Teachers provide appropriate, effective, and culturally relevant instruction for grades 9-12 aligned to SAT, AVID College Readiness, and state standards. IHSCA ensures that students are provided a safe learning environment that supports student social-emotional growth as well as academics.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Instituto Health Sciences Career Academy (IHSCA) school Social Worker report directly to the principal or designee and plays a vital role in bridging the gap between school, home, and the community. Their primary focus is coordinating efforts to support students' academic achievement and social, emotional, and behavioral growth. Utilizing a holistic approach that considers the student in the context of their environment, school Social Workers work to ensure equitable access to education, foster students' mental, physical, and emotional well-being, and promote respect and dignity for all.

The school Social Worker is responsible for the educational, psychological, and social development of students in their assigned caseload. They provide ongoing progress tracking, assessment, and support, while also collaborating with school staff, families, and external resources. In addition to their primary responsibilities, they perform duties related to general and special education services, including evaluations, staffing, and mandated counseling. These tasks are carried out in coordination with educational, psychological, and health professionals to ensure comprehensive student support.

ESSENTIALS DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and implement a school-wide SEL curriculum for Tier I students, focusing on experiential learning.
• Provide direct counseling, case management, and interventions for students on your caseload.
• Administer universal screenings to assess students’ social-emotional development and identify needs.
• Support students with IEPs and 504 Plans by delivering required services, participating in meetings, and tracking progress.
• Design behavior management plans and coordinate interventions for students with IEPs and 504s.
• Collaborate with teachers, special education teams, and staff to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations.
• Implement PBIS and MTSS to foster positive behavior and address at-risk behaviors across the school.
• Track student progress using tools like PowerSchool and Impact, providing regular updates to parents, staff, and administration.
• Develop and lead workshops on social-emotional skills such as decision-making, conflict resolution, and academic performance.
• Establish community partnerships to enhance on- and off-campus services for students and families.
• Collaborate with the school nurse to create a comprehensive community resources guide.
• Lead crisis interventions and provide training on mandated reporting and student safety protocols.
• Facilitate ongoing parent communication, offering resources and workshops to support SEL development.
• Support extracurricular activities, contributing to students' development beyond the classroom.
• Advocate for equity, cultural competence, and the inclusion of special needs students while aligning with the school’s vision and goals.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION

• Master’s Degree in Social Work from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
• ISBE Professional Educator’s License (PEL) with an endorsement in School Support Personnel for School Social Work
• Minimum of three years of experience working with high school students and their families, particularly in underserved or challenging environments
• Three years of experience in youth clinical case management, providing direct services and support to youth and families
• Experience with special education case notes and providing required service minutes in compliance with IEPs and other educational plans
• Knowledge of dropout prevention programs and familiarity with relevant citywide initiatives
• Proven experience in program planning and evaluation, particularly in school or community settings
• Bilingual (Spanish/English) fluency preferred
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills
• Strong confidentiality skills, with the ability to manage sensitive information responsibly
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse populations, including students, families, and staff
• Strong collaboration skills; able to work both independently and as part of a team with minimal supervision
• Excellent organizational and time management abilities, with a proven capacity to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Customer service-oriented mindset, maintaining professionalism and courtesy in all interactions
• Ability to stay calm and composed under pressure, managing crises and unforeseen events with resourcefulness and efficiency
• Dependable, punctual, and able to meet deadlines consistently
• Strong project management skills with an attention to detail
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity with online research and tools

The above is intended to describe the general conditions of and requirements for the performance of this job.  It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities and requirements.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS  

Nature of work requires an ability to operate standard business office equipment.  Requires ability to communicate and exchange information, as well as compile and maintain work files. Approximately half of the time will be spent standing  

WORKING CONDITIONS  

Majority of work performed in a general school environment.  Position requires availability for extended hours; non-traditional hours may be required to perform job duties.  Participation at organization sponsored events and meetings is also required.   

BENEFITS

Medical

Dental

Vison

Life Insurance

Short Term Disability

Long Term Disability

403b retirement saving plan 

Chicago Teachers Pension Fund

PAID TIME OFF

Sick

Personal

Spring Break

Summer Break

Winter Break

Open until Filled

Instituto Health Science Career Academy is an Equal Opportunity Employer