Social Worker

Job Title: School Social Worker Reports To: Building Administrator/Director of Pupil Personnel Services QUALIFICATIONS: MUST be currently certified by the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) as a School Social Worker POSITION SUMMARY: The position of a 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 skills and emotional development through either direct contact with students and families or consultation with other professionals. ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES: 1. Adheres to the policies of the South Kingstown 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. Applies current research-based best instructional practices and strategies to help students access the curriculum 6. Communicates high and clear expectations for students 7. Integrates technology to more effectively deliver school mental health services 8. 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 9. Assists teams in designing and implementing Individual Educational Programs to meet the unique needs of students with disabilities. 10. Develops, with colleagues, appropriate academic, behavioral, and social/emotional goals for students 11. Promotes and utilizes positive behavioral supports 12. Conducts social histories and formal student observations to assist special education teams in decision-making, shares findings with key stakeholders, and interprets assessment data to understand the academic, biological, and developmental issues that impact student performance. 13. Function as a liaison with the school, community, family, and student when indicated, to link school and community services 14. Collaborates with outside providers and agencies to coordinate support to students and families 15. 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 16. Uses student data in treatment/intervention design and adjusts service delivery based on results of ongoing progress monitoring 17. 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 18. Provides direct student service, including, but not limited to, individual counseling, group skills instruction, behavioral intervention support, and crisis intervention 19. Develops, implements, and evaluates prevention and intervention programs based on the recognized factors that are precursors to learning and behavioral difficulties 20. Communicates regularly with students and parents regarding the student’s academic, behavioral, social, and emotional status; communicates immediately with both when there are concerns 21. Makes referrals to existing community resources and provides follow-up services. 22. Serves as a resource to building-level staff and administrators regarding the behavioral and social/emotional well-being of students 23. Provides family outreach and engagement 23. Takes responsibility for personal and professional growth 24. Other duties as assigned by the Building Administrator or Director of Pupil Personnel Services ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE COMPLETE IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED FOR AN INTERVIEW. PLEASE BE SURE THAT LETTERS OF REFERENCE ARE CURRENT AND DATED WITHIN ONE YEAR. YOU MUST PROVIDE TRANSCRIPTS THAT CORRESPOND TO ALL DEGREES EARNED. Job Requirements ●ALL CANDIDATES MUST BE CERTIFIED BY THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AS A SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER Skills Required: 1. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, test data, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups, staff, parents, and the general public. 2. Ability to calculate figures and amounts. 3. Ability to utilize current technology for communication, data analysis, and access to research and instruction. 4. Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret a variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables. 5. Ability to apply knowledge of current research and theory in the specific field. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, staff, and the community. Ability to communicate clearly and concisely both in oral and written form. Ability to perform duties with awareness of all district requirements and school committee policies.