School Social Worker

School Social Worker

Villa of Hope helps youth and families rebuild relationships, recover from trauma and renew Hope for their fu ture.

JOB TITLE : School Social Worker

DEPARTMENT / PROGRAM : Education

PAY GRADE : 81 salary range : 27.47hr-42.17hr commensurate with education and experience

SUPERVISOR : Director of Education

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS :

• Exercises full compliance with the Agency’s Code of Conduct, all Agency policies and procedures and Federal and State laws and regulations.
• Exercises full compliance with program policies and procedures.
• Completes initial assessments and assists students / families with admission documentation and consents to ensure the student’s safety through the intake and admission process.
• Provides crisis prevention and intervention for youth and families, including participating in clinical on-call responsibilities.
• Provides individual counseling, small group counseling and parent education & training as prescribed by each student’s IEP for assigned caseload.
• Completes discharge summary document upon discharge of each youth from the program.
• Maintains current knowledge in special education and clinical fields.
• Assists in the preparation of IEPs, report cards, treatment team reports and other written records contemporaneously.
• Attends staff meetings and in-service training as required and / or requested.
• Demonstrates, promotes and practices cultural sensitivity towards students and staff through respect and understanding achieved through training and Agency cultural activities.
• Arranges schedule to provide services to youth and families in their homes and their home communities, including evening and weekend hours if needed.
• Completes initial and ongoing assessments of each youth and family’s strengths, needs and progress utilizing information from the youth and family as well as collateral contacts and interdisciplinary treatment team members.
• Completes referrals for youth and / or families to receive specialized clinical treatment services (e.g. chemical dependency, sexual abuse) beyond the scope of practice of school counseling as needed and maintain collateral contact as appropriate.
• Arranges all program-oriented appointments and evaluations for the student including psychiatric and psychological evaluations.
• Represents the School at CSE, DSS / Family Court and other community agencies related to service provision.
• Leads the treatment team process for assigned caseload.
• Completes progress / service delivery notes and all other required documentation in a contemporaneous timeframe consistent with Agency and Corporate Compliance standards.
• Complies with content and timeframe documentation requirements for external reporting specific to program licensing agency (e.g. NYSED).
• Maintains responsibility for accuracy in record keeping, including student’s individual educational plan.
• Works with the classroom teacher and teacher assistant in evaluating and recommending educational and vocational programs for students.
• Collaborates and communicates with youth and families on an ongoing basis to maximize their leadership and involvement in the school placement and all services therein.
• Acts as an advocate and al liaison for the student and the family as they interface with their school district and / or other community resources and services.
• Maintains partnership relationship with families to support student’s plans and progress.
• Collaborates and coordinates case planning with school district Committees on Special Education and / or other local government agencies (ex : probation, DSS, Family Court).
• Collaborates and coordinates case planning and progress internally through team meetings and individual contacts with other disciplines.
• Collaborates, coordinates, and leads the interdisciplinary treatment team and its process.
• Acts as advocate and liaison of client and family in securing other resources when appropriate.
• Coordinates treatment planning and student progress internally through planning and review team meetings and contacts with other disciplines.
• Communicates regularly and effectively with classroom teacher and program personnel those daily events that have relevance to the individual student’s plan.
• Communicates with student’s parents regularly.
• Fulfills all legal requirements as a Mandated Reporter under NYS law and professional ethical standards.
• Other duties as assigned.

OTHER RESPONSIBLITIES :

COMPTENCIES : Leading Self

Leading Self

Character and Courage (Integrity and Trust)

Leading Others

Customer Focus

Leading the Organization

Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, Justice and Equity

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS : Masters degree in Social Work from an accredited institution, NYS current / active LMSW; LCSW preferred.

2+ years of related experience working with adolescents with behavioral health challenges (pre-MSW experience will be considered).

Strong interpersonal skills with youth, families, staff, and stakeholders. Exemplary written and verbal communication skills.

Exceptional organizational skills and ability to balance competing demands on time and resources. Ability to form, lead, and participate effectively on teams.

Creative problem-solving. Commitment to quality improvement. Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel.

SPECIAL SKILLS : Valid NYS driver’s license. Self-motived, strong verbal and writing skills, attention to detail, problem-solving, flexible and adaptable.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS : The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The following lists physical demands an employee will perform on a regular basis : standing, walking, sitting, bending, stooping, squatting, kneeling and climbing;

Must be able to perform a variety of tasks, climb stairs, move throughout the building , work cooperatively in a team environment and quickly respond to emergencies.

Position requires that the employee must be certified in protective techniques, at minimum, utilizing Therapeutic Crisis Intervention techniques.

Position may also require employee to transport clients utilizing an agency vehicle.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully complete Therapeutic Crisis Intervention Training : the ability to drop repeatedly to knees, twist and turn, exert oneself physically at an intense level, and support another adult’s weight.