Social Worker

Job Summary

The Social Worker will work with individual students, families, and YWCA personnel to support
the adjustment of children with special needs within the YWCA’s childcare programs by providing social services to children and families to help them function better socially, emotionally, and psychologically.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Provide counseling and information to children with personal and psychological issues that affect their performance, behavior, and socialization within the YWCA’s childcare program.
• Communicate with the child, their family members, physicians, and teachers to better understand the child’s challenges and to design effective treatment plans.
• Assist teachers and administrators with identifying social, emotional and/or psychological needs by communicating with child to identify the causes of their distress.
• Assist families with identifying and accessing resources for improving circumstances, expectations, and possible futures for family members.
• Teach and reinforce self-advocacy skills to children and families.
• Provide information, when appropriate, to outside support services to help a child with economic, emotional or physical issues.
• Adjust communication patterns to the child's age and level of understanding.
• Maintain case files by tracking both service delivery and all communications with family members.
• Ensure accurate documentation and create necessary reports that track progress and results.
• Delegate duties to support personnel as appropriate.
• Maintain communication with staff and outside agencies per state and professional guidelines.
• Support YWCA personnel with strategies and accommodations to benefit children with special needs.
• Contribute to staff training and parent support and events in areas of relevance and expertise.
• Recognize and implement compliance with Texas Department of Human Services Minimum Standards for childcare settings.
• Maintain professional knowledge to provide clients with the best service options available.
• Comply with federal, state, and local certification requirements.
• Attend the YWCAre afterschool program at specific school sites to observe and assist with implementing strategies for children with speech difficulties.
• Perform related job duties as required.

Job Qualifications

• A bachelor's or master’s degree in social work.
• Relevant license and certification.
• Very strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Must exhibit high levels of patience and tolerance when handling the child
• Must possess good analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Must display flexibility (especially in the case of different children). This is due to the fact that every child may not have the same difficulties, hence, might not respond to the same therapy procedure.
• Present self professionally in appearance and mannerism at all times.
• Ability to relate well with a variety of populations.

Physical Requirements
The physical demands described here are representative, though not comprehensive, of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Regularly sit, stand, bend, crouch, stoop, walk, climb stairs, use hands and fingers, reach with hands and arms, feel, talk, hear, and see.
• Regularly lift and/or move equipment and furnishings. Very physical job.
• Work on a computer up to eight (8) hours a day.
• Occasionally work at outdoor and indoor events for extended periods of time.

Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative, though not comprehensive, of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable the individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Noise level varies between quiet and loud.
• Pace varies between deliberate and fast.
• Outdoor climate varies between cold and hot, including conditions such as wind, dust, and precipitation.

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