What are the responsibilities and job description for the Social Worker (2026-2027 School Year) position at Wichita Public Schools - USD259?
Description
Job Title: Social Worker
Position Function: School social workers assist students by providing services that identify and address the social-emotional-environmental issues that interfere with academic learning. Working with parents/guardians, teachers, administrators and utilizing community resources, the social worker will implement strategies that facilitate positive school adjustment for the student.
Essential Performance Responsibilities
Equipment: This position may require the ability to use SMART boards and iPads in addition to basic office equipment such as computers, copiers, scanners, and fax machine. Must always comply with USD 259's guidelines for equipment use.
Travel: Occasional visits to students' homes will be required in order to collect social history and complete paperwork with a student's family.
Physical And Mental Demands
Interrelations:
Job Title: Social Worker
Position Function: School social workers assist students by providing services that identify and address the social-emotional-environmental issues that interfere with academic learning. Working with parents/guardians, teachers, administrators and utilizing community resources, the social worker will implement strategies that facilitate positive school adjustment for the student.
Essential Performance Responsibilities
- Provide direct services to children and their families at elementary and secondary levels, through group and individual counseling, this may include parenting classes
- Participate in the Special Education evaluation process
- Work with a Child Study Team collaborating with various disciplines
- Develop social histories with parents
- Inform parents of their rights in Special Education
- Attend special education staffing meetings
- Assist in the development of Functional Behavior Assessments and Behavior Intervention Plans
- Support teachers and staff
- Serve as a liaison between school, home and community
- Be a resource for identifying community services for families
- Provide case management and crisis intervention
- Work within the MTSS framework to facilitate pre-screening; consult with teachers and staff and provide services to alleviate issues impairing a student's ability to be successful in the regular classroom
Equipment: This position may require the ability to use SMART boards and iPads in addition to basic office equipment such as computers, copiers, scanners, and fax machine. Must always comply with USD 259's guidelines for equipment use.
Travel: Occasional visits to students' homes will be required in order to collect social history and complete paperwork with a student's family.
Physical And Mental Demands
- Ability to work the required number of hours
- Work in standard office and school building environment
- Knowledge of appropriate assessment tools and intervention tools and strategies to be used within the student population
- Understanding of the IEP process
- Knowledge of the referral process and how to conduct appropriate follow-ups
- Knowledge of current state laws and regulations pertaining to social work particularly in the educational environment
- Ability to prepare an accurate student history for appropriate case evaluation
- Skill in knowing how to formulate the correct treatment plan to meet each student's specific needs
- Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing
- Displays a significant degree of professionalism and confidentiality
- Ability to conform to proper standards of professional dress and appearance
- Knowledge of company's mission, purpose, goals and the role of every employee in achieving each of them
Interrelations:
- Contact with personnel within the district and with customers and vendors
- Will be working under the direct supervision of the department supervisor in order to complete day to day tasks
- Will be working with a diverse population requiring the ability to handle all situations with tact and diplomacy
- Must understand and respond appropriately to customer needs and maintain a positive attitude with all customers and colleagues
- Expected to interact with all internal and external customers in a friendly, professional manner and provide quick, responsive customer service
- In order for schools to operate effectively, employees are expected to perform all assigned duties and work all scheduled hours during each designated workday, unless the employee has received approved leave
- Any deviation from assigned hours must have prior approval from the employee's supervisor or building administrator
- All employees are required to report to work dressed in a manner that reflects a positive image of USD 259 and is appropriate for their position
- Master's-level Social Work degree required
- Required to have current, valid license issued by the Behavioral Science Regulatory Board (BSRB) in the state of Kansas
- Recommended to have completed a practicum in the school setting
- Recommended to have completed a college-level course on school social work