School Social Worker

Cannon River STEM School
Job Description
 
Title:   FT School Social Worker/Special Education Case Facilitator (1 FTE) Date Created: 6/3/2021
Classification: School Year Instructional Staff        Reports To:  Special Education Director
 
Purpose
The uniqueness of School Social Work lies in the systems perspective in which the student is viewed within the context of the classroom, the family, the community, and his or her culture.  The social worker utilizes a number of theoretical constructs (i.e. Cognitive Behavioral, Solution/Strengths Focused, and Psychodynamic Theories) in addition to Systems Theory to create positive change and enhance school success.  The goal of the position is for the social worker to serve as a conduit to existing community and societal resources and to assess the student’s’ personal, social, and emotional needs to maximize family and student growth across the settings of school, home and the community.  Interventions that promote positive educational and interpersonal outcomes for all students are embedded in the historical social work commitment to social and economic justice for all people.
 
Duties and Responsibilities

• Provides school social work services to students who are at-risk and/or are demonstrating social/emotional/behavioral problems within the school setting.
• Provide direct services as outlined in a student’s IEP; individual and group counseling/ therapeutic services to students 
• Participate in multidisciplinary teams
• Provide social work and special education assessments other related services as defined in IDEA for students receiving special education support
• Consult with classroom teachers, parents, and administrators to develop intervention strategies to reduce barriers to school success (PLC meetings, Child Study)
• Consult and collaborate with community agencies and mental health professionals
• Identify those factors in a child’s home, school, and community, which adversely impact educational success 
• Identify and coordinate family, school, and community resources to enable each child to receive maximum benefit from the individualized educational program
• Provide school personnel with essential information and interventions to better understand how factors such as family, culture, socioeconomic status, and physical and mental health can affect students’ performance and behavior
• Crisis prevention and intervention
• Uphold the ethical standards of the social work profession
• Other duties as assigned

 
Supervisory Responsibilities

• None

 
Required Education, License, Experience and Skills

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work
• MN Board of Social Work Licensure
• MN Board of Education School Social Work Licensure 
• Interpersonal skills, including the ability to work well with others, be polite, helpful, courteous and compassionate
• Conflict resolution skills, team player and professional demeanor
• Ability to effectively present information to parents, students, administration, public groups, and/or the School Board
• Ability to facilitate meetings
• Knowledge and understanding of child find and special education due process 
• Ability to consistently and effectively design instructional activities for students, and to make adjustments in teaching strategies to meet individual needs
• Ability to work with a wide variety of students in a calm, patient, understanding, creative, flexible, student-centered environment
• Skill in planning, organizing and writing IEP goals and objectives in a multi-disciplinary team within timeline constraints
• Ability to utilize instructional and assistive technologies 
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing
• Ability to follow directives from supervisors
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of student information at all times
• Must clear pre-employment background check and substance abuse screening.

 
Desirable Qualifications

• Master’s degree in social work.
• Experience working with children in a school setting.

 
Physical Requirements

• Must be able to operate a computer, copier, printer, fax machine and phone.
• Must be able to move, traverse and position self in various locations, including rugged terrain
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear.
• The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; and use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms, climb steps, stoop, kneel, or crouch.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
• The employee must be willing to be trained in and use de-escalation/restraint techniques for managing crisis situations. 
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

 
Benefits

• This is a full-time regular school year position that is eligible for the Cannon River STEM School’s benefit program.  The benefit program includes health, dental, long-term care, long-term disability and life insurance, TRA retirement program, and PTO. 

 
 
CRSS does not discriminate against any student based on “race,” color, ethnicity, sex, age, national origin, ancestry, religion or creed, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, disability, intellectual ability, prior measures of achievement of aptitude, athletic ability, or for any other basis that would be unlawful for a public or charter school.