Social Worker

Primary Professional Functions

The role of the Social Worker at The Frances Xavier Warde School is to enable students to achieve to their fullest potential academically by assisting students with developing coping skills, increasing self-esteem, improving social skills, and facilitating environmental changes that will enable successful functioning within the learning setting. School social workers also provide crisis intervention as well as individual, group, classroom and grade wide intervention services, supporting mental health challenges for students and the community.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Meet individually or in small groups with students who have an identified need for social and/or emotional support.

• Work in coordination with school personnel and parents to develop appropriate supports and programming for students.

• Ability to effectively communicate with teachers, administrators, and parents.

• Consult with teachers about classroom interventions and additional ways to support students with diverse learning/emotional/behavior needs in the classroom setting.

• Collaborate with Director of Climate and Culture on restorative justice and advisory topics.

• Conduct peer mediation.

• Facilitate parent meetings about student needs/topics of mental health/developmental transitions.

• Assist with the transition from 3rd to 4th grade, and from 8th grade to high school.

• Conduct comprehensive intake assessments to incorporate an understanding of family background and cultural diversity when implementing interventions.

• Implement and support with Tier 1 interventions.

• Participate in the socio-emotional assessment of students, and intervene in peer relational dynamics, as needed.

• Write socio-emotional and behavioral intervention progress reports for possible consideration for Chicago Public School IEP/504, as needed.

• Provide support during family transitions (health, divorce, separation, death).

• Consult with parents/guardians and outside providers.

• Maintain appropriate records.

• Attend grade level/team meetings and conferences to discuss student socio-emotional needs and to provide recommendations.

• Connect students and their families with outside community and educational resources, as needed.

• Ensure all services are performed in accordance with state laws and regulations, and ethical mandates of the mental health profession.

• Build relationships with all students within assigned grade levels so students are aware of how to seek out support, should they need it.

• Perform other social work/counseling duties/responsibilities within the scope of maintaining licensure and/or certification.

• Other duties as assigned.

  Qualifications and Skills

• Required – master's degree in social work or related field from an accredited college or university.

• Preferred – Licensed Clinical Social Worker or licensure in related field and maintenance of licensure.

• Strong clinical skills with 4th-8th grade students and parents.

• Dedication to professional growth including keeping up to date with innovations and changes in the field of social work/counseling and knowledge of where to seek out resources to support new challenges.

• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with faculty, parents, and administration.

• Excellent oral and written communications skills.

• Ability to work independently, be organized, and be flexible with ever changing priorities and/or situations.

• Demonstrated ability to communicate and collaborate with students, parents, administration, faculty, and staff.

• Familiarity with a wide range of learning styles, socio-emotional needs, and mental health diagnoses.

• Commitment to the creation and sustainability of an inclusive, equitable learning environment for all students.

• Must be able to maintain strict confidentiality.

• Employee must be able to support philosophy and mission of the School.

  Additional Skills and Experience

• Familiarity with ISACS criteria and standards of excellence.

• Strong interest to teach in an inclusive faith-based school and comfortable teaching a Religion Curriculum- either Catholic or Interfaith in subject matter.

  Key Relationships The teacher reports to the campus principal and will be supervised, evaluated, and mentored by the principal and/or the assistant principal. Other key relationships include: the Head of School, other teachers and administrators, staff, students, and parents.

  Compliance

Although FXW is an Independent Catholic School, all faculty and staff comply with the Archdiocese of Chicago’s

Protecting God’s Children Requirements.

• Complete the required new hire paperwork and mandatory Archdiocese training.

• Must clear Background Check/Fingerprints.

• Required to attend additional training classes as designated by the Campus Leadership and/or FXW administrative staff.

  Physical Requirements

The physical demands described herein are representative of those that an employee must meet to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform these functions. The Social Worker must be able to sit, stand, walk, and move throughout the school campus for extended periods during the workday. The employee must be able to effectively communicate with students, parents, faculty, staff, and community members in person, by telephone, and through electronic communication. The role requires the ability to observe and assess student behavior and interactions in a variety of settings, conduct individual and small-group counseling sessions, navigate stairs, and occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, and lift or carry materials weighing up to 20 pounds. The employee must also be able to operate standard office equipment and technology, including computers, telephones, and printers, and maintain focus, sound judgment, and professionalism during emotionally sensitive, high-stress, or crisis situations.

Work Environment

Work is performed primarily in a school setting, including offices, classrooms, meeting spaces, hallways, cafeterias, playgrounds, and other areas throughout the campus. The Social Worker regularly interacts with students, parents or guardians, faculty, administrators, staff, and external service providers. The position is subject to the noise levels, activity, and interruptions common in a busy educational environment and requires flexibility to respond to changing priorities, student needs, and unexpected situations throughout the day. Occasional attendance at meetings, school events, professional development activities, or conferences outside of regular school hours may be required. The employee may also be exposed to communicable illnesses and other conditions commonly found in school environments.

Compensation and Benefits

Compensation and Benefits

FXW offers a competitive salary and robust benefits program, commensurate with experience and consistent with independent schools.

Expected compensation for this role includes a salary within the range of $64,000.00 - $74,000.00.

Benefits include but are not limited to:

• Medical

• Dental

• Vision

• Life & Disability

• Short- Term Disability

• Long-Term Disability

• Basic Life & AD&D

• Voluntary Life & AD&D

• Voluntary Benefits

• Financial Wellness

• FSA

• Commuter Benefits

• 403B Retirement Savings

• Wellbeing & Balance

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

• Mental Health Resources

If you believe you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. FXW is dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce.

Not sure you meet 100% of our qualifications? We understand. If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply and welcome a chance for us to review your background. We are dedicated to building and maintaining a diversified workforce and considering a broad array of candidates with a variety of skills, workplace experiences, and backgrounds.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

FXW is dedicated to fostering an inclusive workplace and values candidates who bring diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds. We encourage individuals who may not meet 100% of the listed requirements, but who believe they could excel in this role, to apply. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodation throughout the hiring process and within the workplace to support all employees in performing the essential functions of the job.

Non- Discrimination Policy

It is The Frances Xavier Warde School’s goal to attract, recruit and retain exceptional faculty and staff that are inspiring, diverse and committed to the school’s mission. We support our teachers and staff by welcoming them into an environment that encourages them to excel and by maintaining a rich benefits package that helps them to flourish and grow personally and professionally.

FXW will not engage in discrimination or harassment against any person because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, order of protection status, genetic information, marital status, disability, sexual orientation including gender identity, unfavorable discharge from the military or status as a protected veteran

and will comply with all federal and state nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action laws, orders, and regulations. This nondiscrimination policy applies to student admissions and employment.

We invite you to become a part of our community and FXW makes a deliberate effort to employ faculty and staff of diverse races, ethnicities, and backgrounds. No phone calls please.

Mission Statement

The Frances Xavier Warde School is a Catholic elementary school in downtown Chicago that provides an excellent academic, values-oriented education to students of all ethnic, religious, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds in a child-centered urban environment. As a keystone of its diverse community, The Frances Xavier Warde School provides need-based scholarships to thirty percent of its students.

The Frances Xavier Warde School partners with its families, nurtures faith development for its Catholic students, and engages all its students to learn about and respect other faith traditions. The Frances Xavier Warde School uses a rigorous curriculum that enables students to grow, clarify their values, and develop decision-making skills and a sense of responsibility for themselves and the world they will inherit.