2026-2027 School Based Mental Health Guidance Counselor/Social Worker (1 Yr Position)

CLASS TITLE:  SCHOOL BASED MENTAL HEALTH GUIDANCE COUNSELOR / SOCIAL WORKER

JOB CLASS CODE:  1050

REPORTS TO:  School Principal

EXEMPT STATUS:  Exempt

Approved:  June 1, 2023

NOTE:  This is a 1-year position 

BASIC FUNCTION:

Provides a functional, comprehensive program of direct services for all children utilizing the expertise gained through professional training in the areas of school counseling, school social work or school psychology. These services will emphasize counseling children; consultation with teachers, parents and other significant adults; and coordinating a variety of activities and functions related to the mental health, academic, social, emotional and physical needs of students.

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES:

• Counsels children, individually and in small groups, concerning a variety of developmental tasks and problems.
• Provides prevention programs through classroom guidance activities
• Consults with teachers and parents about children’s needs, concerns and academic issues.
• Collaborates with school staff and community representatives in assessing student needs and utilizes the data to plan and evaluate the guidance program.
• Provides home visits as needed to assess family circumstances and make needed referrals to community resources for problems interfering with the child’s academic progress, social, emotional or physical development.
• Refers students to the proper authorities for child abuse or neglect when suspicion exists and provides support services to those children as needed.
• Consults with teachers in planning and providing classroom guidance activities.
• Selects and attends professional development as required by the State and District.
• Provide in-service training to other professionals and paraprofessionals.
• Attend staff meetings and serve on committees as needed.
• Operate office equipment, as appropriate.
• Maintain confidentiality of student information and provide all services consistent with relevant ethical, legal, and professional standards.
• Perform other responsibilities as assigned by the superintendent and/or designee.
• Maintains regular attendance.  It is an essential job function that all employees report to work.

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Principles, methods, techniques, strategies, and trends in educational, vocational, career, social, and emotional adjustment counseling.
• Applicable and appropriate aptitude, interest, and achievement appraisal instruments, techniques, and procedures.
• Social service and youth service agencies in the local area.
• Social, emotional, and behavioral characteristics of adolescent students.
• Program evaluation and research techniques, strategies, and procedures.
• Appropriate curriculum and instructional programs pertaining to students with a variety of aptitudes and varying interests
• Policies and objectives of assigned program and activities.
• Interpersonal skills using tact, patience and courtesy.
• Technical aspects of field of specialty.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

ABILITY TO:

• Assist students in effectively analyzing and developing alternative solutions to behavioral, educational, social, and emotional problems and concerns.
• Conduct, analyze, and effectively utilize a variety of individual and group testing procedures and instruments applicable to student clients.
• Effectively deal with site and District personnel, parents, social and youth service agencies in resolving student problems and concerns.
• Effectively participate in the planning and implementation of school guidance and curricular programs.
• Communicate effectively in oral and written form, and as required by the assignment utilize a second language.
• Understand and carry out oral and written directions with minimal accountability controls.
• Establish and maintain effective organizational, public, and community relationships.
• Work independently with little direction.
• Meet schedules and time lines.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Work is performed while standing, sitting and/or walking
• Requires the ability to communicate effectively using speech, vision and hearing 
• Requires the use of hands for simple grasping and fine manipulations 
• Requires bending, squatting, crawling, climbing, reaching
• Requires the ability to lift, carry, push or pull light weights up to approximately 20 pounds
• Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable a person with a disability to perform the essential functions of the job.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• A valid certificate in School Counseling, Social Work or School Psychology, representing intensive course work in the principles and practice of educational guidance; educational testing and measurement counseling and the psychology of learning.
• Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Board may find appropriate and acceptable.

LICENSES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

Valid Kentucky Certification.