Special Education Social Worker

1. Baccalaureate degree in social work
2. Minimum one year experience as a social worker in any setting OR
3. An equivalent combination of education and training and/or experience to successfully perform the essential functions of the work.
4. Strong computer skills with proficiency with Microsoft Office and MN-ITS
5. Must be able to work with confidential information
6. Social Worker license issued by PELSB, and a Social Worker license issued by the Minnesota State Board of Social Work

SKILLS DESIRED:

1. Emotional, social and psychological development of children and adolescents.
2. Systems theory and ecological perspectives.
3. Knowledge of positive behavior supports, special education processes, rules and regulations, including Educational Amendment (1974) and IDEA.
4. Effects of classification and educational placement.
5. Evaluations and assessments, including cultural bias inherent in certain assessment tools.
6. Environmental impact on students at home, school and community.
7. Data gathering and making inferences about data in order to conduct assessments and evaluations.
8. Community resources, including employment and assistance available to families.
9. Interdisciplinary teams structure and purpose.
10. Needs of different grade configurations, such as early childhood, elementary, and so forth.
11.  Verbal, written and listening communication, especially public speaking.
12. Verbal de-escalation and physical redirection.
13. Ability to prioritize multiple tasks and assess the multiple needs of clients and staff. services.
14. Assess and reassess student needs as part of the multidisciplinary team.
15. Advocating for the rights of students and families.
16. Crisis intervention and crisis management.
17. In working with diverse groups of individuals.
18. Establishing trusting relationships with students, families, staff and community members.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Provides identification, screening and referral services for community resources. Prepares social documents on family history.  Meets with students and families.  Performs classroom observations, home visits, and consultations with teachers and other staff, as well as with related community agencies.  Helps to develop and implement planned positive behavioral supports.  Works with truant and homeless children referrals. Functions as a mandated reporter, as appropriate.
2. Performs assessment, reassessment and program planning.  Functions as a member of various teams such as the multidisciplinary team and the Individual Educational Planning (IEP) team.  Explains parental rights and procedures.  Monitors and documents student progress.  Writes and implements IEP goals and objectives.
3. Implements programs for students with disabilities.  Provides social work services in accordance with goals and objectives listed on the IEP.  This includes providing group counseling, especially on such topics as social skills, anger management, children of divorce, death, alcohol and drug abuse, and so forth.
4. Serves as an advocate for students and families, especially when supporting the rights of vulnerable clients, individuals with disabilities, and students and families with limited resources.  Ensures that students of color have options for advocates.
5. Acts as a crisis manager, responding to directives of the immediate supervisor.  Performs interviews with students, staff, and families regarding the resolution of crises. Develops plans and provides resources within the school, home and community to assist in resolving crisis situations.  Crises can include physical assaults, threats, run-aways, suicide threats, pregnancy and so forth.
6. Participates in the evaluation of internal and external programs for students and families.  Collaborates with social services and community agencies resources such as truancy, children’s mental health, law enforcement, treatment facilities, and so forth.  Implements programs to meet the needs of students and families.  Coordinates and teaches curriculum based primarily on prevention activities.
7. Performs other miscellaneous duties such as serves needs of buildings and programs as directed by the director of special education.
8. Performs other duties as assigned.