SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER - 26-27 SY

School Social Worker

The Social Worker provides comprehensive school social work services to parents, students and staff by addressing barriers that limit a student from receiving full benefit from their educational experience. The social worker assists with mental health concerns, behavioral concerns, positive behavioral support, academic and classroom support, consultation with teachers, parents and administrators as well as provides individual and group counseling/therapy.

Essential Functions:

• Analyze information gained through record reviews and interviews to determine environmental impacts and appropriate resource needs for the purpose of integrating information into a written report and summary oral presentation.
• Collaborate with a variety of groups and/or individuals (e.g. parents, teachers, administrations, team members, other professional, etc.) for the purpose of communicating information, problem-solving, and providing services.
• Conduct parent interviews and home visits to acquire socio-developmental information as needed for Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) for the purpose of providing the social history, making recommendations, and developing plans for services with those of other disciplines.
• Maintain an ongoing liaison with community agencies and other resources to meet student needs and provide parents with referrals when appropriate.
• Participate in a variety of meetings and facilitate educational team meetings as directed for the purpose of conveying or gathering information.
• Participate and provide professional development activities aimed at best practices for the purpose of providing comprehensive school social work services.
• Provide individual and/or group counseling as appropriate and in response to school-wide crises for the purpose of supporting students' social/emotional well-being as well as the social/emotional well-being of the school community.
• Provide on-going technical assistance to school staff as it relates to improving outcomes for students.

Other Functions:

• Performs other related duties as assigned for the purpose of ensuring the efficient and effective functioning of the program.
• Facilitate an office atmosphere of service, competence and congeniality.
• Support NSSEO policy, NSSEO, and governing board goals and objectives, and The School Code of Illinois.

Working Environment:

• To perform the physically demanding job functions, strength and/or endurance for lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling are occasionally required.
• To perform the most physically demanding job functions, the physical capabilities of climbing and balancing are seldom required.
• To perform the most physically demanding job functions, the physical body movement of stooping, kneeling, crouching and/or crawling is seldom required.
• To perform the most physically demanding job functions, the upper extremity physical capabilities reaching, handling, and/or fine motor dexterity are constantly required.
• Exposure to temperature extremes is seldom or not present.
• Exposure to hazardous conditions (e.g. mechanical, cuts, burns, infectious disease, high decibel noise, etc.) is seldom or not present.
• Frequency of exposure to injury to self and/or others is seldom or not present.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Valid Professional Educators License (PEL) endorsed for a School Social Worker.
• Participate in twelve (12) hours of Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (NVCI) training and techniques.
• Ability to travel within NSSEO and districts and move about NSSEO and district buildings as necessary.

Specific Requirements:

• Specific skills related to proficient use of technology including accessing the internet, email, phone systems, and software are required.
• Potential need to upgrade skills in order to meet changing job conditions will be required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job.
• Ability is required to independently problem-solve, schedule daily activities, make announcements, and use job related equipment.
• Flexibility is required to work with others in a variety of circumstances and to work with a significant diversity of student abilities and needs.
• Specific abilities required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include: communicating with diverse groups, maintaining confidentiality, meeting deadlines and schedules, completing work accurately with minimum supervision, working as part of a team, and maintaining a positive attitude.
• Responsibilities include: working under limited supervision following standardized practices and/or procedures; leading, guiding, and/or coordinating others; and operating within a defined budget.
• There is a continual opportunity to significantly impact the Organization's services.