Social Worker

Job Title : Social Worker

Reports To : Special Education Director

Classification : Full-time, Exempt

Salary : Based on Certification (Arizona Department of Education) or License (Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners)

Job Goals

Partners with district leadership and site to implement and instruct intervention programs to provide students the foundation for positive social development.

Serve as a liaison between internal programs, community agencies, and non-profit organizations to provide assistance to families with various needs.

AJUSD’s mission is to provide our students with a caring and inclusive educational experience that fosters academic excellence, social and emotional development and provides a challenging learning environment that will prepare them for a productive and fulfilling future.

Essential Duties and Functions

• Designs, facilitates, and oversees intervention services for children and families that include assessment, crisis intervention, individual counseling, group therapy, home visitation, case management, and advocacy.
• Coordinates, develops, and supervises student and family based programs regarding peer mediation, mentoring, parenting, adult education, substance abuse, and violence prevention methods.

Monitors and evaluates program development.

• Establishes and implements a system of community resources and partnerships as a school community. Develops, coordinates, and provides services to students and families to meet basic needs such as food, clothing, and shelter.
• Identifies and assesses the contributive or causative factors involved in the problems of student due to learning, physical, social, emotional, economic, cultural, linguistic, or behavioral obstacles.
• Provides consultation to school administrators, teachers, and family members regarding assessment and intervention plans of students targeted for services.
• Analyzes policies, programs, and regulations in order to consult school and district staff on current social / legal issues and resource information.

Advocates for policy development and modifications on issues impacting student success.

• Provides school or local community intervention in cases of student, parent or staff deaths, threats, or other disasters.
• Recruits, trains, and supervises social work interns, behavior para assistants, and volunteers.
• Other duties as assigned.

Professional Core Values

• Respond to all internal and external customers, in a prompt, efficient, friendly and patient manner
• Work with a large cross section of people in a professional and non-judgmental manner
• Be responsible, reliable, and punctual
• Adhere to the dress code appropriate to the site and job
• Be a positive role model for students
• Establish and maintain courteous, cooperative working relationships
• Maintain confidentiality of sensitive student and staff information
• Function effectively as a team leader and team member
• Direct constructive criticism toward improving the district
• Be a willing learner that models flexibility and adapts to change
• Positively accept direction
• Exercise positive problem solving behavior and conflict resolution skills

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in social work or a related field.
• Ability to analyze difficult situations
• Ability to communicate and work effectively with students, staff, and the community.
• Knowledge of and adherence to all AJUSD policies, regulations and rules related to : student supervision, student confidentiality, and HIPAA laws.

Preferred Qualifications :

• Master’s degree in social work or a related field.
• Bilingual (English / Spanish)
• Five years work experience performing similar duties and responsibilities with families and children
• Current in non-violent intervention training
• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of social and emotional learning
• Knowledge of restorative practices?

Physical Requirements :

Positions in this department typically require : stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, standing, walking, sitting, finger or manual dexterity, repetitive finger motion, speaking, hearing, seeing (with correction), focusing ability, or other factors applicable to this job.

Employees may be subject to travel, odors, dust, poor ventilation, workspace restrictions, and loud noises. Duties may require the employee to drive a vehicle, be exposed to outside weather conditions including extreme heat or cold, wind and rain.

Employees may be required to lift or exert up to 50 pounds of force to move objects occasionally, and up to 10 pounds of force to move objects frequently.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

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.

Notice of Non-Discrimination

The Apache Junction Unified School District does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, national origin, sex (Including orientation) or disability in its employment practices.