Duties
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Other duties may be assigned.
Direct Service:
Casework/Intervention:
Provide individual, student, and group counseling
Maintain open and effective communication, as a team member, with administrators, staff, parents, and the community.
Liaison between Regional Office Education, district, and community services for our homeless families.
Make recommendations and monitor students’ efforts to improve their coping and problem-solving skills.
Provide support and follow-up for students and families with truancy issues.
Ensure and model strict confidentiality when discussing student and family concerns.
Is calm, objective, and supportive when dealing with students and parents.
Participate in the re-evaluation of children placed in special education programs.
Participate in hospital staffing for students who have been admitted to a psychiatric unit.
Make home and community visits related to social work activities with other staff.
Report suspected abuse and neglect and cooperate in the subsequent DCFS investigation as mandated by law (only in cases when the school social worker is the initial person to suspect abuse or neglect.)
Assessment:
Complete Social Developmental Studies case study evaluations.
Administer Adaptive Behavior Scales.
Evaluate students for school social work services.
Confer with teams to complete the Functional Assessment of Behavior (FAB) and Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP.)
Participate in Manifestation Determination Hearings.
Prevention:
Provide individual, group, and classroom services to general education students on specific topics i.e. social skills, bullying, and anger management.
Evaluate and implement specific crisis intervention services.
Complete Risk Assessments on students when there is a suicide/homicide attempt or concern
Support/Indirect Services:
Casework/Intervention:
Maintain and update social work records of students.
Model and encourage respect for and sensitivity to students, staff, and parents.
Attend IEP, parent conferences, team meetings, and departmental meetings, as scheduled.
Stay current and knowledgeable of available community resources.
Provide liaison services between the school, the home, community agencies, and other family services.
Assessment:
Report present level of function and develop and evaluate school social work benchmarks for Individual Education Plans.
Determine and evaluate the effectiveness of social work interventions and refine the intervention plan as needed.
Participate and/or facilitate Student Intervention Team Meetings.
Have expertise in district-wide formal Adaptive Behavior Scales.
Participate as a member of the school’s threat assessment team.
Prevention:
Confer with members of the Student Intervention Teams, Grade Level Teams, or Special Education Teams
Recommend appropriate intervention procedures for children exhibiting behavioral or social-emotional problems in the general education or special education setting.
Consult with the principal to create and maintain a safe and effective learning environment.
Consult with the classroom teacher(s) to help them better understand and work with student needs or classroom management.
Present workshops on specific social work topics as needed.
Consult for the professional development of social-emotional based school curriculum.
Maintain current best practice expertise through professional development
OTHER PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:
Perform all other duties as may be assigned by the Building or Special Education Administration
Qualifications
QUALIFICATIONS:
Certification: Valid Illinois Type 73 Certificate with School Social Work endorsement or willingness to pursue
Education: MSW degree in Social Work
Experience: Preferred experience in a school setting.
Additional Notes
SUMMARY: School Social Workers provide a vital link between the school, home, and community. School Social Workers are involved in providing services to all students. They provide direct services to students and their families including casework, group work, and classroom presentations as well as providing crisis intervention and consultation and making referrals to community agencies. School Social Workers are part of the assessment process for special education students as well as often providing direct and indirect services to those students. School Social Workers consult with teachers and administrators and frequently participate on teams within the schools.