Social Worker - Middle School

About KIPP NYC:
Founded in 1995, KIPP NYC Public Schools is a non-profit network of 18 free, public charter schools located in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Manhattan. We partner with families and communities to create joyful, academically excellent schools where every child grows up free to create the future they want for themselves and their communities.

From our first middle school, KIPP Academy in the Bronx, to today’s network of eight elementary schools, nine middle schools, and one high school, KIPP NYC provides students with engaging academics, arts, athletics, and social–emotional learning that prepare them for college, career, and beyond.

Our commitment doesn’t end at graduation. Through KIPP Forward, we continue to support our alumni as they navigate college, career, and life, helping them define success on their own terms and pursue the paths that align with their goals and sense of purpose.

Together, we serve more than 9,400 students, support 4,700 alumni, and employ over 1,100 dedicated team members who bring passion, expertise, and commitment to our mission every day.

Job Description

Position Overview:
School social workers are responsible for supporting the emotional, social, academic and character growth and well-being of KIPP NYC students and families. Social workers play a vital role in ensuring our students succeed in school and go on to lead self-sufficient, successful, and happy lives.

General responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

* Provide direct services to the school community, including:

• Providing regular one-on-one counseling or group counseling to students and families;
• Providing crisis intervention as needed;
• Managing, tracking, and documenting student interactions and counseling schedule;
• Setting goals with students and tracking progress towards those goals;
• Working directly with students to help them successfully work towards high school graduation, college matriculation and self-sufficiency;
• Collaborating and communicating daily with supervisors, colleagues, and teachers to meet students’ needs.

Manage aspects of the referral process for social services, partnerships, and special education services, including:

• Provide support and documentation for all students with IEPs.
• Meet regularly with students who have mandated counseling on their IEPs;
• Conducting regular assessments of current and emerging student and family needs;
• Developing and maintaining partnerships with external agencies;
• Referring individuals and families to external resources and services, and when necessary, referring cases of suspected child abuse to the State Central Registry.
• Monitoring and facilitating the delivery of external resources and services;
• Administering records, documentation, and other compliance activities.

Design and coordinate student engagement, family engagement, and family education activities, including:

• Home visits for newly enrolled and current students, as appropriate;
• Workshops to educate families, staff, and/or students on specific issues;
• Support the Principal, Deans, and teachers when discipline issues arise.
• Participate actively in department meetings, faculty meetings, and other meetings.
• Consult with the school’s Student Response Teams to develop comprehensive supports and interventions to students who are presenting challenging behaviors.
• Share responsibility for grade-level and school-wide activities, including chaperoning day and overnight trips.
• Provide recommendations to the staff and leadership team around approaches to working with struggling students.
• Implement and enhance the school’s systems and culture by discussing character education with students.
• Meet with parents (English and Spanish-speaking) regularly regarding student issues.
• Establish a professional rapport and strong relationship with students, staff, and families.
• Display the highest ethical and professional behavior and confidentiality when working with students, parents, and staff.
• Ensure a safe, positive environment in group and one-on-one counseling sessions.
• Commit to professional growth.

Qualifications

• Strong interpersonal skills that contribute to a collegial work environment and reflect the character traits we value: zest, grit, hope, social intelligence, gratitude, and a sense of humor
• A passion for being part of a team-oriented, mission-driven school culture
• Documented track record of personal and professional success
• Extensive knowledge of adolescent development
• Experience in therapeutic modalities related to children and families from the communities KIPP NYC serves, including assessment and treatment of trauma
• Experience working within a school environment or extensive work with teenagers and young adults
• LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker) or LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker)
• Oral and written fluency in Spanish is highly preferred

Additional Information

Compensation and Benefits:

KIPP NYC offers a competitive salary ranging from $70,829 - $136,704. Salaries are determined using an equitable compensation scale that accounts for years of experience relevant to the role, NYS certification and licensure, and longevity within the KIPP network. The KIPP NYC Recruitment Team will evaluate a candidate’s years of experience, certification/licensure, and longevity at point of hire to determine the step/level a new hire will be placed within our salary scale.

KIPP NYC offers a generous benefits package including, but not limited to, the following:

• Robust benefits include medical, dental, and vision. 
• Generous time off including 5 school vacation weeks, sick and personal days, and an extended summer break. 
• Up to 12 weeks of 100% parental leave. 
• Bright Horizon Back-up Child and Elder Care.
• Employer-paid Life Insurance and Short term/Long term disability.
• Employee incentives include 8 Weeks paid Sabbatical after 10 years, annual professional development funds, and tuition reimbursement. 

This description is intended to describe the type of work being performed by a person assigned to this position. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities required by the employee.

This role is based in NYC and will require travel to our schools. If you relocate outside of a commutable distance or out of the state of NY, your employment will be subject to review, which may include separation from KIPP NYC. You must notify HR if you move or have plans to relocate.

KIPP NYC LLC does not offer visa sponsorship or work authorization. 

KIPP NYC LLC is committed to creating a welcoming environment that includes employees with diverse backgrounds and experiences. We believe that enables us to better meet our mission and values while serving students and families throughout New York City. 

KIPP NYC LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. KIPP NYC LLC is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity for all employees and applicants for employment.