Social Worker

The following position is available for the 2025-2026 school year:

SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER

RESPONSIBLE TO: DIRECTOR OF PUPIL SERVICES

At Licking Heights Local Schools, our commitment to student success drives everything we do. We believe in providing personalized learning experiences focused on building character skills and achieving academic excellence. Our comprehensive framework, addressing milestones from kindergarten readiness to college and career competencies, ensures that every student thrives academically, socially, and emotionally. We are dedicated to creating a positive school culture where students can explore their talents through extracurricular activities, fostering well-rounded and socially responsible citizens.

To be successful at Licking Heights Local Schools, staff members must embody a range of skills, including:

• Passionate in regards to education and student well-being
• Mentoring and guidance for students
• Strong communication and collaboration skills
• Continuous learning and professional development
• Forward-thinking planning and strategic decision-making
• Openness to two-way communication and community engagement

We are dedicated to supporting our staff through comprehensive induction, providing ongoing professional development aligned with our district's vision, and creating a safe and empowering school environment where every individual can flourish. Join us in our mission to provide an exceptional education experience that prepares students for success in school, career, and life.

JOB GOAL: School Social Workers provide all students access to resources and community support that reduce barriers to student success by focusing on academic, career, and social-emotional needs. Through collaboration with all stakeholders including families, staff and community, while using a strength-based perspective; students will be able to reach their full potential, succeed within the classroom, and become productive citizens.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree in Social Work (LISW) and/or Counseling (LPC)
• Appropriate State of Ohio CSWMFT License
• ODEW Pupil Services School Social Worker Registration or License
• Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Superintendent and/or Board of Education may find appropriate

PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Work with family members and other individuals in a child’s living situation to help support their learning, and development.
• Conduct home visits to support student and family needs in the event that families are unable to come to school or can not be reached via other communication methods.
• Offer support and education for school staff to help them improve their understanding of the cultural, societal, economical, or other factors that can impact students’ education and behavioral tendencies.
• Develop and teach intervention strategies to help students achieve academic and/or social emotional goals.
• Engage in collaborative planning with administrators, teachers, students, parents, and community to support the academic, social/emotional and basic needs of at-risk students within the district.
• Connect families to direct needs such as food, clothing, hygiene products, school supplies and other basic needs. This includes posting such needs to the Neighborhood Bridges program and maintaining the district’s food pantry/clothing closet.
• Engage parents and community members in the educational process and in the support of student learning, achievement, and overall well-being.
• Consult with staff and families regarding student referrals, intervention strategies, student progress, school programs, and related issues.
• Participate as a team member in attendance intervention team meetings at each building to help support students not engaged in the educational process, conduct home visits as needed, as well as support with the Stay In The Game program initiatives.
• Work in collaboration with school counselors and the district residency/truancy liaison for the district to support student needs.
• Serve as a role model for students on how to conduct themselves as citizens and as responsible, intelligent human beings by demonstrating professionalism, modeling ethics, and seeking continuous professional learning.
• Stay current and informed on educational issues, legal updates, school social work, and district-related matters.
• Assist with referrals to the school based health clinic, school based counseling services, and outside agencies.
• Maintain a list of resources that are accurate and up-to-date for families to access within or close to the district boundaries.
• Assist with family engagement events that help to bridge the gap between the educational process at school and learning at home.
• Assist with PBIS and MTSS initiatives in buildings.
• Support buildings with small groups and/or 1-on-1 counseling/therapy support for students.
• Provide support in the event of a crisis to the building or district as a whole.
• Perform other job functions related to the specialist's role as assigned.

WORK ENVIRONMENT CHARACTERISTIC CONDITIONS:

The work environment characteristics, described here, are not listed in order of importance, and are representative of those an employee encounters while completing the duties and responsibilities of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the responsibilities. The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position.

• Frequent work that may extend beyond the normal workday
• Occasional exposure to blood, bodily fluids and tissue
• Occasional operation of a vehicle under inclement weather conditions
• Occasional interaction among unruly children/adults
• Many situations that require hand motion, e.g., computer keyboard, typing and writing
• Consistent requirements to sit, stand, walk, hear, see, read and speak, reach, stretch with hands and arms, crouch, kneel and climb and stoop
• Consistent requirements to lift, carry, push and pull various supplies and/or equipment up to a maximum of 50 pounds

EVALUATION: Performance of the Social Worker’s responsibilities will be evaluated by the Director of Pupil Services.