Job Title:              School Social Worker

Location:              School Based

Pay Grade:           Licensed

Work Calendar:     200 Days

FLSA Status:         Exempt

GENERAL PURPOSE

Under the supervision of the Building Administrator and Coordinator of School Social Work, the School Social Worker serves as liaison between home, school, and community in order to facilitate the students' appropriate personal/social adjustment.

MAIN JOB TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Serve as a liaison between the school and the student and family

• Confer with school personnel to bring information relating to the home which may be helpful in working with a student.
• Provide for an effective working relationship with students, parents, school personnel, and others concerned with student welfare.
• Assist in the process of referring students and families to appropriate community resources.
• Consult with school personnel, parents, and other appropriate individuals to help increase the understanding of students and to help provide an atmosphere conducive to the student’s growth and development.
• Provide direct social services to students with attendance problems, poor health, emotional/behavioral concerns, and those who are culturally and/or socioeconomically disadvantaged.
• Consult with parents regarding student adjustment in the school or home situation through various counseling methods.

Assist school personnel in matters related to student needs.

• Assist others in assessing the needs of students.
• Assist school personnel in matters related to school attendance
• Serve as a participant on the school's Child Study Committee, Eligibility Committee, and Crisis Intervention Team to assist in meeting the student's individual needs.
• Assist in the development and revision of special programs for individual students which may include IEPs, ITPs, 504 plans and other intervention strategies when appropriate.
• Adhere to guidelines of confidentiality as outlined in federal and state laws, and School Board Policies and Procedures, and the NASW Code of Ethics.
• Maintain appropriate case records and documentation.
• Provide school personnel with general knowledge regarding school social work services.
• Work cooperatively and collaboratively with community agencies.
• Prepare sociocultural assessment on students referred for special education consideration within required time lines.
• Conduct short-term individual and/or group counseling when deemed appropriate and as time permits.

Support and demonstrate core values of Stafford County Public Schools

• Engage in ongoing professional development relevant to position.
• Respond promptly and thoroughly to written and oral requests for information.
• Maintain a clean, neat appearance, appropriate to position.
• Maintain a record of appropriate attendance and punctuality.
• Serve as an role model for students, colleagues, and the general public.
• Work in close harmony with colleagues, supervisors, and co-workers.
• Comply with all District and School policies and regulations, including but not limited to guidelines for confidentiality.
• Perform other related duties as required/assigned.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Masters of social work from an accredited school of social work with a minimum of 60 graduate hours.
• Supervised practicum or field experience of a minimum of 400 clock hours in an accredited school discharging the duties of a school social worker or completion of a minimum of one year full-time supervised successful experience as a school social worker in an accredited school.
• A minimum of 6 graduate semester hours distributed in at least two of the following: school law; school administration; assessment and evaluation; and education of students with disabilities.
• Hold or eligible for a license issued by the Virginia Department of Education in School Social Work

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge
  • Community agencies and resources.
  • The NSAW Code of Ethics
  • Child development and growth stages.
  • Curriculum and instructional programs.
  • Current special education regulations, issues, and related laws.
• Skills
  • Variety of assessment instruments and techniques for diverse populations.
  • Interpersonal communication and human relations skills with students, staff members, parents, and administrators

• Abilities
• Work cooperatively in a team environment to meet goals
• Organize and perform work independently
• Meet deadlines for all work even when working on multiple projects
• Show sustained effort and enthusiasm in quality and quantity of work

WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Work environment is primarily inside, with low/moderate noise, temperatures that are primarily controlled, and no exposure to chemicals or other negative air quality elements.
• The work is light work, requiring exertion of up to 20 pounds of force to move or lift objects.
• The following physical and mental abilities are representative of those expected to complete the essential functions of the job: standing for prolonged periods; sitting for prolonged periods; moving the hands, wrists, or fingers repetitively; moving with force on the back or lower body repetitively; feeling, grasping, or holding objects by hand; identifying colors visually; identifying objects in low light or distant conditions; communicating via spoken language; communicating via written language; perceiving sounds; making decisions using logic and rational thinking.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily.  Reasonable accommodations shall be made, as required by law, to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described.

Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties, just as though they were actually written out in this job description.