School Counselor / Social Worker

JOB SPECIFICATION
POSITION: School Counselor/Social Worker
DEPARTMENT: Student Support Services
LOCATION: Great Hearts AZ (multiple academy locations)
REPORTS TO: Headmaster
EEO Classification: Professionals
FLSA STATUS: Salaried-Exempt
Position Summary:
The core responsibilities of the School Counselor) are (a) planning and oversight of the school counseling services provided; (b) managing and conducting therapy with IEP & 504 students with counseling on their plans; (c) managing and conducting therapy with general education students with counseling on their plans; (d) crisis support as needed and (e) to act as a liaison for students with social & emotional needs.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Planning and Oversight:

• Organizes a program that addresses school social & emotional needs
• Contributes to the development of program guidelines as appropriate.
• Cooperates with the Great Hearts lead office, community, and/or state programs
• Attends meetings, such as faculty meetings, special meetings, and parent-teacher conferences, as needed.
• Schedules interventions using a variety of service delivery models, including classroom intervention, consultation/collaboration and pull-out as appropriate to meet student needs in the least restrictive environment.
• Coordinates School Counseling services for students
• Collaborates with school personnel such as teachers, and other related service providers to best meet the needs of all students.
• Meets with related school personnel to coordinate specific objectives for individualized educational programs (IEPs).
• Safeguards confidentiality of student records.
• Adheres to established rules, regulations, laws and appropriate ethical standards.
• Demonstrates knowledge of federal, state and local rules, regulations and laws.
• Plans appropriate trainings relevant to social/ emotional health for faculty, staff or students.

Managing and Conducting Therapy with IEP/ 504 Students:

• Serves on the Student Multidisciplinary Evaluation Team (MET) and Individualized Education Program (IEP) team.
• Observes students in educational environments.
• Makes recommendations for services for IEP/504 plans.
• Writes goals for the IEP.
• Tracks Data for IEP goals and provides data & associated information on a quarterly basis.
• Plans evidence-based interventions appropriate for individual students and groups of students.
• Make all decisions regarding treatment (such as dismissal from services)
• Communicate with academy faculty, parents, and other relevant team members about plans for service.
• Write progress notes for each session
• Manage student data in SCUTA

Managing and Conducting Therapy with General Education Students:

• Collaborates/consults with classroom teachers in on social emotional development.
• Providing re-occurring direct and group school-based counseling to general education students returning and newly identified through a referral process. As the counseling is school-based it is limited in scope and duration.
• Plans evidence-based interventions appropriate for individual students and groups of students.
• Informs academy faculty and families about the frequency and duration of services
• Make all decisions regarding treatment (such as dismissal from services)
• Communicate with academy faculty, parents, and other relevant team members about plans for service.
• Write progress notes for each session
• Manage student data in SCUTA

Crisis Support:

• Responding to and providing limited-scope direct and group crisis counseling to students and staff in an emergency situation.
• As needed, responding to students experiencing active suicidal and/or homicidal ideation and threats and acute psychosis. Collaborating with families, academy administration and staff to develop a plan in response to student's' needs and psychiatric presentation to ensure safety for involved individuals.
• Consulting with families, Great Hearts and Academy administrative staff in assessing threat and risk to self and others.
• Providing students, families and staff referral information for local and community agencies where continued and long term support may be obtained.

Liaison:

• Provides consultation to parents, teachers and other appropriate school personnel.
• Seeks the assistance of teachers, parents and others to meet the communication needs of students.
• Gives written information to teachers, parents and others on ways to foster social and emotional growth
• Talks with teachers formally and informally about individual student's needs and progress.
• Consults/communicates with non-school agencies to enhance services as needed.
• Requests specific information on individual student's receiving services from non-school agencies (e.g., clinics, hospitals, physicians, health departments, day care centers, etc.) with signed release of information.

Qualifications, Competencies & Strengths:
Education:

• Master's Degree in School Counseling or a related field

Certification

• AZ School Counselor Certificate

Experience

• Two years of school-based experience preferred.

Special Skills

• Outstanding oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and to establish and maintain effective and cooperative working relationships with staff and site team members.
• Ability to contribute and participate in the assessment, intervention and documentation process.
• Proficient in the use of technology.

Compensation:
Great Hearts offersa very competitivebenefits package and overall compensation will becommensuratewith talent,experienceand education.
Additional Requirements:

• Type of fingerprint clearance: Must possess or obtain valid Arizona Department of Public Safety IVP fingerprint clearance card.

• Physical functions: Requires but is not limited to standing, sitting, repetitious hand and body movements, bending, squatting, and reaching. May be required to move or position equipment up to 15 pounds approximately.

• Travel required: none

• This description reflects management's assignment of essential functions, it does not exclude or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.

Great Hearts Academies is an Equal Opportunity Employer.