Location:
To Be Determined
JOB PURPOSE
Under the direct supervision of the Director of Student Services, promotes and enhances the district’s overall academic mission by providing services that strengthen home, school, and community partnerships to alleviate barriers in learning. The District Social Worker significantly contributes to the development of children and the influences of family, community, and cultural differences on student success and by implementing effective intervention strategies.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Provides direct services to students with social-emotional problems that impact on their education.
Provides clarification to parents about the effect of students’ social-emotional factors on their educational functioning.
Communicates to parents how to effectively participate in the educational services for the best interests of their child.
Provides consultation and in-services to school personnel.
Helps school personnel understand the role of appropriate school social work services.
Promotes awareness and sensitivity to cultural diversity.
Acts under the federal, state, and district and school policies and practices.
Serves as liaison between schools, home, and community agencies in the interest of the students
Conducts quarterly parenting workshops to assist parents in better understanding how to interact with their children to accelerate student achievement, in conjunction with the district parent liaison.
Interprets and explains to parents and staff children’s developmental stages and their impact on children’s academic, social, and emotional growth.
Assists individual students in understanding their strengths and needs and attempts to develop coping skills and problem-solving techniques.
Provides mediation/conflict resolution services to schools.
Assists schools with follow-up on attendance issues.
Serves as a student advocate when indicated.
Acts as an advocate for the students’ and families’ needs in meetings with school and community personnel.
Acts as a liaison between the student and family, and school personnel.
Assists students and their families to gain access to formal and informal community resources.
Utilizes research and technologies to assist students, families, schools, and communities.
Consults with stakeholders to understand factors in the home, school, and community that affect students’ educational experiences.
Consults on attendance, confidentiality, ethnicity and diversity, mental health, behavior management, discipline, crisis intervention, and child abuse and neglect.
Collaborates with school personnel, including principal, guidance counselor, mental health counselor, teacher, and school psychologist to develop quality interventions that best serve the student and family, when appropriate and necessary.
Assesses student adaptive behaviors skills.
Assesses cultural background.
Participates in multidisciplinary or case management conferences.
Facilitates communication of parent rights concerning student’s education.
Reports suspected child abuse and neglect per district guidelines and cooperated in the subsequent investigation.
Participates and provides appropriate assistance in the district and school crisis response situations.
Conforms to the National Association of Social Work (NASW) Code of Ethics and Standards for School Social Work practice.
Maintains accurate case records and documentation. Submits monthly reports to supervisor in a timely manner.
Maintains current knowledge of and abides by federal and state laws and regulations, emphasizing persons with disabilities, child welfare, mental health, confidentiality, and student and parent rights.
Organizes time, resources, energy and workload in order to meet responsibilities.
Evaluates own practice and shares findings with supervisor to maximize the effectiveness of services and resources provided to students.
Participates in appropriate professional development activities to improve knowledge and skills. 5.7 Communicates effectively and professionally with school and district personnel in person, over the phone, and via email.
Performs related duties as required.
QUALIFICATIONS
Requires a Master’s degree in a social work program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education or from a social work or social welfare program offered by a regionally accredited institution. Experience as a professional Social Worker. Requires license by the South Carolina Board of Social Work Examiners. Comprehension and application of federal, state and local laws. Grammatically accurate written and oral skills to communicate ideas clearly and concisely. Ability to work effectively as a team member and under stressful conditions at times.