Social Worker

Elkhart, IN

JOB TITLE: Social Worker

TYPE OF POSITION: Professional

REPORTS TO: Building Principal and the Director of Student Engagement


POSITION PURPOSE: To provide a system of supportive services aligned within the school community for the purpose of understanding students who are having difficulties in utilizing the resources of the school and helping to create a climate that encourages all children to participate effectively in the educational process, and to strengthen families in order that their students may better benefit from the education provided them. By providing this intentionality, students will have the opportunity for a successful post-secondary transition. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily.

  1. Collaborate with administrators on services provided to students and families. Develop referral services that may be needed for children.

  2. Collaborate with administration and teachers on systems related to students' development of the skills and dispositions contained in the district's Portrait of a Graduate.

  3. Collaborate on and provide leadership for school life skills development initiatives (i.e. Capturing Kids Hearts, Leader in Me, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, etc.) as appropriate.

  4. Work with small group or individual students on psychoeducation, developing Life Skills, working on how to get along with others or self, or other student needs. (not providing therapy)

  1. Provide a system of support to help students be successful in the classroom, at school, and at home. Help students overcome personal and social challenges that interfere with learning.

  1. Determine best action plan for the problem following referral through interview with student and conference with school staff, parents, or guardian. Make recommendations to administrators, teaching staff, students and/or parents/guardians.

  2. Guide families to appropriate community wrap-around services.

  3. Make home visitations to foster relationships, resolve concerns, accumulate data, and promote communication between home, school, and/or community resources.  

  4. Maintain professionalism in the social workers practices and dispositions and to schedule meetings at times that are convenient to families, including evenings.

  5. Be available at times of crisis to any individual, family, or school.

  6. Participate in case conferences/staffing as appropriate.

  7. Attend conference, workshop and professional meetings, when feasible, to keep informed of the most effective programs in the delivery of social work services.

  8. Plan, develop and recommend ideas to the principal and school staff to meet anticipated needs of students with emotional or social difficulties.

  9. Perform other non-administrative, non-disciplinary counseling program duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

  1. Masters Degree in Social Work.

  1. Ability to prepare written reports and correspondence.

  1. Ability to communicate effectively with groups of students and parents.

  1. Ability to plan and organize, good work habits.

  1. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from administrators, teachers, and school staff.

  1. Ability to maintain confidentiality.

  2. Other qualifications that the School Board may require.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:  The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

  1. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to sit and communicate effectively, including talking and hearing. The employee frequently uses hands to handle, operate, or manipulate objects, tools, or controls. The employee may occasionally be required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms, and to exert up to ten (10) pounds of force.

  2. Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:  The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

  1. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

  2. There are no environmental hazards indicated for this position.

TERMS: Length of year and salary to be determined by the School Board.

EVALUATION: Concord Evaluation and Development System