Adjustment Counselor

Qualifications: Candidate must possess a thorough background in child development and social/emotional and behavioral needs of students and their implications for learning; Must possess the ability to communicate effectively with students, faculty, parents, and community regarding the needs of students. Masters degree preferred in Counseling, Psychology, Social Work or related field. Candidate possesses valid certification as a school adjustment counselor. Candidate has successfully demonstrated competence working with children with social emotional and behavior challenges in a school or related setting. Candidate will have case management and coordination experience with families and collaterals Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the School Committee may find appropriate and acceptable. Supervision: The School Adjustment Counselor will work under the immediate supervision of the Administrator of Special Education and Building Principal. Performance will be evaluated periodically by the administration for effectiveness and comprehensiveness of service to students, consultation to teachers and parents, and participation in the evaluation team process. Job Goal: The School Adjustment Counselor shall function as a staff member who provides supportive counseling to students and consultation to teachers, administrators and parents in order to facilitate the personal, social, and academic adjustment of the student. Job Responsibilities: Assisting in the identification of the individual needs of students; Providing intervention when situations arise that affect the academic, social, and/or personal development of the student within the educational setting; Assisting students to attain increased self-esteem, social awareness, insight and understanding regarding their social/emotional needs, appropriate strategies for improving personal, social and school behaviors, as well as a greater understanding and acceptance of self and others; Providing individual and group counseling to students within the Student Success and Transition Program, which supports students with social emotional and/or mental health challenges to access their school environment and curriculum. This will include both short term services through regular education and longer term services through special education; Communicating with parents/families through a variety of means, including written reports, conferences, telephone contact, email, communication logs, etc.; Participating in IEP TEAM meetings and Student Support Team meetings; assisting in the development of strategies to meet the needs of the student; assessing behavioral needs and assisting in the development of Behavioral Intervention Plans and Data Collection procedures; Providing consultation to special education staff, regular education teachers and administration; Maintaining appropriate records and documentation; Serving as a liaison to educational and service agencies in the community; coordinating and facilitating efforts between school, home, community and outside resources; Developing and presenting group lessons which focus on students' attitudes towards themselves and others, appropriate social behaviors, social pragmatic skills, goal setting, etc; Developing programs, parent groups, and/or workshops to deal with current issues confronting students, i.e. family separations, child abuse, and neglect, death, etc; Promote an understanding of the social and emotional development of children; Other duties as assigned by the building Principal and/or the Administrator of Special Education.