High School Social Worker

Licensed School Social Worker

General Definition of Work

Provide comprehensive school social work services to parents, students, and school staff, addressing barriers that limit a student from recieving full benefit of their educational experience. Respond to referrals from school administration, parents, teachers, and problem solving teams by providing direct support services to students and by assisting families in accessing appropriate community resources. Develop positive relationships with students, parents, school staff, and community agencies.

Qualification Requirements
BSSW or MSW degree in Social Work from an accredited program
Licensure with the Minnesota Board of Social Work
Licensure with the Minnesota Department of Education

Reporting Relationship
Social workers report to the building principal(s) regarding the interpretation of job duties and responsibilities and to assess role performance of job duties and responsibilities. Social workers will also report to their assigned social work licensure supervisor, if needed for licensure.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Apply state and federal regulations and laws regarding general education and speical edcuation in the state of Minnesota
• Access community resources for students and families
• Support academic and behavioral interventions
• Provide direct intervention with students including individual counseling, group counseling, and family work
• Consult with administrators, teachers, school staff, parents and other professionals regarding student issues
• Develop appropriate change strategies as needed
• Practice effective casework, including having an understanding of ethical issues, professional standards, and the role of a school social worker
• Work as a team member within the district to provide the most appropriate services to identified students
• Participate in elementary and high school problem sovling teams
• Provide crisis prevention and intervention to students and families
• Serve as the district liaison to all students placed outside the district
• Serve as the Child Protection Coordinator for the district – provide mandated reporting training for the school staff, assist in mandated reporter reports, and maintain documentation of reports made
• Maintain and share current information on community resources available to students, families, and school staff
• Facilitate support groups for students
• Assist in the planning and presentation of in-service trainings for teachers and staff
• Conduct classroom lessons for students as needed (SEL Curriculums, personal safety, mental health education, etc.)
• Provide support services to general education or special education students and families as needed
• Conduct home visits as needed
• Serve as a liaison between school and community resources
• Participate in district level crisis teams
• Work with the School Resource Officer to address and process reports of offensive behavior/sexual harassment between students
• Work with the School Resource Officer to train district staff on offensive behavior/sexual harassment policies and procedures
• Work with the School Resource Officer, students, and families regarding truancy issues, including monitoring attendance with students and reporting truancy violations as needed to address and process reports of offensive behavior/sexual harassment between students
• Perform other duties as assigned by administrators for effective school operation and student success

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Child development, psychopathology, and social and environmental conditioning
• Practice with cultural competence
• Communication with students
• Ability to develop and maintain positive working relationships with students and families
• Practice social work skills consistent with the NASW Code of Ethics
• Follow HIPAA and FERPA guidelines regarding confidential use of private data
• Provide support, consultation, and collaboration with staff, teachers, and administration 
• Maintain daily schedule, organizing workload, and record keeping

Supervisory Responsibility
None

Other Skills and Abilities

• Effectively use computers and software programs
• Maintain professional behavior at all times
• Initiate and follow through with work tasks
• Maintain positive working relationships with staff, teachers, administrators, and community partners
• Work independently
• Work as a member of a team
• Respond effectively in emergency situations
• Work in a fast-paced environment, interacting with students, staff, and teachers throughout the day
• Flexible with the work day schedule

Physical Demands

• Ability to sit for long periods of time
• Ability to perform extended times of keyboarding
• Ability to occasionally perform lifting and carrying (up to 10 pounds), reaching, stooping, standing, bending, crouching, and walking