School Social Worker (Multiple Positions)

Job Functions

• Implement or assist in implementing a safe school climate that results in academic and personal success for each student.
• Intervenes in problematic student behaviors at the earliest stages possible and contributes to the District’s development of proactive preventative strategies intended to help address and alleviate such behaviors. 
• Establishes, facilitates and/or delivers social work services for students and their families who are experiencing social/emotional/behavioral challenges, attendance issues, homelessness and/or resource disparities. 
• Assists in developing and coordinating the student attendance operation to ensure staff compliance and family/student support. As needed, work with the students/parents and staff to correct student attendance and/or behavioral problems both within and outside of school. 
• Assist with accessing outside resources needed to help students become personally and academically successful. 
• Assist with the consultation of teachers as it relates to student behavior concerns. 
• Develops positive and collaborative working relationships with parents and caregivers to encourage parent-teacher-administrator communication
• Ensures compliance and accurate documentation of social work case notes, homeless and highly mobile forms, attendance letters, and Dakota County truancy and child protection reporting. 
• Ensure timely and accurate documentation in student information system 
• Adhere to all district policies and procedures.
• Support the district’s mission, vision and values.
• Provide guidance to help students cope effectively to personal, social, academic, and family concerns.
• Support the total need of each student (educational, personal and social), encourage maximum growth and development.
• Design and lead professional development for staff 
• Attend student, staff and parent meetings as deemed appropriate.
• Assist in implementing on-site crisis intervention/management plans.
• Consult and collaborate effectively with parents/guardians, teachers, administrators and other educational/community resources regarding students with identified concerns and needs.
• Ensures alignment of practice decisions with District policies so that work responsibilities can be performed purposefully, confidently and independently. 
• Establishes and maintains effective communication with school and district-wide social work departments. 
• Other duties as assigned by building administrators 

 
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear, lift, use hands for fingering, grasping and feeling, wrists, hands and/or fingers for repetitive motions. The employee is required to kneel, reach, stand and walk. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. The employee is occasionally required to lift and/or move up to and over 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.  

• Current Minnesota School Social Work Licensure, LICSW preferred 
• Prior experience as a School Social Worker or Teacher preferred.
• Knowledge and experience with trauma informed approaches to student and parent engagement 
• Knowledge and experience with implementing MTSS systems and supports 
• Knowledge and experience with restorative practices
• Knowledge of principles of effective leadership 
• Ability to develop rapport with students, parents, and colleagues
• Knowledge of protocols and procedures related to ensuring child safety (e.g. suicidality, self-harm, and child protective services)
• Commitment to working effectively with culturally, economically and socially diverse students and families.
• Ability to create and implement academic and behavioral interventions
• Knowledge of the law as pertaining to schools.
• Knowledge of at-risk behaviors and intervention strategies.
• Requires significant confidentiality responsibilities.
• Excellent technology skills.
• Demonstrate prompt, regular and reliable attendance.

 
Physical Requirements
Regularly required to sit, stand, walk, talk, hear, operate a computer and other office equipment, reach with hands and arms, and must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Vision abilities required include close vision.