School Social Worker

WE ARE ACERO

Acero Schools Social Workers assist students with academic learning by providing strategic services that identify and address the social-emotional-environmental issues that interfere with the educational process.

Working with parents and / or guardians, teachers, school principal and / or principal’s designee, and community-based resources, the school social worker implements strategies promoting positive school adjustment.

School Social Workers are members of the Diverse Learning Team and School Team. Each Social Worker is assigned to the school(s) based on the identified needs of the student population as determined by the Diverse Learning Team.

JOIN OUR TEAM

• A team of driven individuals who contribute to, respect and serve in our communities.
• A team of professional collaborators leading students and supporting their educational paths.
• A team who embodies the values of achievement, community, equity, resilience and optimism.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Completion of IEP and or 504 minutes provided by the IEP or 504 per student in each building.
• Identifies and assesses academic problems through analysis of factors influencing student adjustment, including factors in the home, school and community.
• Serve as a liaison between families and the school to positively promote collaborative processes in educational planning for students by encouraging parent and / or guardian participation in the school setting.
• Complete psychosocial assessments to assist in the determination of special education services.
• Determine and implement appropriate therapeutic strategies to effect changes in social-emotional interactions of students and their families.
• Provide individual and group therapeutic counseling to students with IEPS or 504 plans.
• Collaborate with school staff and other school system personnel in implementing strategies to promote student learning.
• Participate as members of the IEP, MTSS, and other school-based teams to develop interventions for promoting students’ academic success.
• Serve on school-base and system-wide committees to address social-emotional educational issues, adjustment problems, safety issues, and student program development.
• Provide crisis intervention services and support in DCFS and CARES line situations.
• Provide staff consultation on behavioral-emotional-environmental issues affecting student participation in the learning process.
• Develop programs to address parent and / or guardian participation in the school and student engagement in the educational process.
• Maintain required clinical records and submit appropriate documents for statistical reports with adherence to program standards in school social work.
• Complete risk assessments on referred students.
• Complete functional behavior assessments and or behavioral management plans on identified students.
• Complete classroom observations.
• Serve as liaison with community agencies and assists in fostering communication between schools, parents and / or guardians, and community leaders.
• Locate and mobilize community resources to support the educational program.
• Attend meetings and professional development activities as required by individual schools and the Diverse Learning Team.
• Works with the Diverse Learning team in ensuring compliance with reporting.
• Complete and maintain the Suicide Prevention Program and Teen Dating Violence Prevention workshops for their schools.
• Advocate for students and collaborate with the student support team : exceptional education case manager, culture team, teachers, and student advisor.
• Serve student needs as indicated by IEPs, 504 plans, and referrals.
• Use data to identify and address the highest-need areas for support at your school.
• Run one-on-one and small-group interventions as needed.
• Research and refer students to community resources.
• Contribute to the staff learning on supporting students’ social-emotional wellness
• Other duties as assigned.
• Believe in our ability to create the future we envision.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Education : Master’s degree in Social Work from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) (required).
• Experience working with children who have been educationally underserved.
• Be able to demonstrate the academic progress of students under your leadership and articulate the methods used to achieve those results.
• Exhibit excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal skills.
• Bilingual - English / Spanish (preferred).
• Possess valid Illinois School Social Worker endorsement through the Illinois State Board of Education (required).
• Possess valid Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL) or equivalent (required).
• Residency in Chicago is not required.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States (required).

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING CONDITIONS

The nature of the work requires an ability to operate standard business office equipment, collect, compile and prepare work documents, set-up and maintain work files, and an ability to communicate and exchange information.

Physical demands include the ability to stand, bend, reach high and low, stoop, and walk around the classroom 60% of the day.

In addition, candidates must be able to lift and / or push and pull 15 to 20 lbs. for short periods of time, and walk up and down stairs several times a day.

Majority of work is performed in a general school environment. Position requires availability for extended hours plus non-traditional hours required to perform job duties.

Also requires participation and attendance at organization-sponsored events and meetings.

NOTE : The foregoing list of essential duties and responsibilities is intended to be representative of the tasks performed within this classification.

It is not necessarily descriptive of any one position in the class. The omission of an essential function does not preclude management from assigning duties not listed herein if such functions are a logical assignment to the position.

Acero Schools is committed to a policy of equal treatment for all individuals. Acero Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, handicap, age, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin.