SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER

POSITION GOAL

To work cooperatively with principals and other school personnel to effect successful school achievement and school attendance.

ESSENTIAL PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES

The School Social Worker shall carry out the performance responsibilities listed below.

• Engage in appropriate assessment activities that result in the identification of the special needs of individual students to include interviews, observations and / or home assessments.
• Plan and conduct appropriate mental health interventions to include short term solution focused individual, group and family counseling services for students for the purpose of facilitating personal, social, emotional and academic growth.
• Perform crisis intervention services as part of the Crisis Support Team and / or conduct short-term crisis counseling, staff support and parent education activities.
• Facilitate the monitoring of services, referrals, resources and other activities designed to improve the functioning of students and families.

Maintain appropriate reports and record keeping procedures to document the above.

• Coordinate home, school and district interventions to manage and improve student attendance including CINS / FINS and court petitions.
• Serve as a consultant and contribute specialized knowledge to interdisciplinary school-based teams and staffing committees in resolving the learning and adjustment problems of students.

This may include school wide and district program development and planning.

• Assist the schools in planning and providing parent involvement activities in which the expertise of the social worker would be of value such as leading parent education groups, staff development activities, and coordinating PTA / PTO collaborations.
• Participate in professional in-service training programs and staff development activities provided by the Director, School Social Work and Attendance in consultation with the Area Student Services Coordinators in coordination with Human Resources Department.
• Provide support and assistance to graduate interns and newly hired school social workers.
• Provide professional expertise regarding assessment, mental health, consultation, case management, parent involvement and staff development to address such special needs areas as child abuse, services for the homeless, teen pregnancy, cultural awareness (ESOL) and accessing community resources.
• Abide by the code of ethics established by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Professional standard for Social Work Services in Schools , and the standards of practice established by the School Social Work Association of America (SSWAA) and the Florida Association of School Social Workers (FASSW).
• Perform and promote all activities in compliance with equal employment and non-discrimination policies of the School Board of Broward County.
• Participate successfully in the training programs offered to increase the individual’s skill and proficiency related to the assignments.
• Review current developments, literature and technical sources of information related to job responsibility.
• Ensure adherence to good safety procedures.
• Follow Federal and State laws, as well as School Board policies.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Area Coordinator, Student Services or the Director II, School Social Work and Attendance.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• An earned master’s degree from an accredited institution with a major in Social Work (MSW).
• Successful experience as a school or clinical social worker.
• Eligible for certification as a school social worker, Master’s degree preferred.
• Computer skills as required for the position.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

Bilingual skills preferred.

SIGNIFICANT CONTACTS-frequency, contact, purpose

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Light work : Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and / or up to 10 pounds of force as frequently as needed to move objects.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT

Salary and benefits shall be paid consistent with the District's approved compensation plan. Length of the work year and hours of employment shall be those established by the School Board.