Social Worker

Pay Grade: Social Worker Salary System
Department: Varies
Accountable to: Site Administrator and Director of Social Services
FLSA Status: Exempt
Calendar: 208 Days
Creation/Revision Date: Janaury 8, 2024
Position Summary: The school social worker provides direct and indirect student services to reduce barriers to education, increase social/emotional growth and provide links to needed services.
Essential Functions:

• Designs, facilitates and oversees direct services for children and families that include assessment, crisis intervention, individual and group support services, home visits, case management and advocacy.
• Coordinates, develops and oversees evidence-based education and prevention programs including but not limited to: bullying, substance abuse, violence/aggression, suicide/self-harm.
• Provides family and parent support programs.
• Establishes and promotes a continuum of community resources, services and partnerships in order to support all members of the school community.
• Develops, coordinates and provides services to students, families and staff to meet basic needs.
• Identifies and assesses for potential barriers to student academic success. Understands and offers consultation regarding special student populations - homelessness, students in poverty, refugees, victims of trauma etc.
• Secures funding via grants, fundraisers, public/private donations in order to enhance services and resources for students and families.
• Consults and collaborates with school administrators, staff and family members regarding assessment and intervention plans for identified students. Implements and supports multi-tiered programs and practices, monitors progress and evaluates for service effectiveness
• Consults, collaborates and supports school staff with concerns of suspected child abuse and neglect. Facilitates child abuse reporting, coordinates with law enforcement and state agencies and provides mandated reporting in-service trainings.
• Provides crisis interventions and support in the event of a family, school or community crisis or disaster.
• Facilitates and actively participates in team, committee, staff meetings and school events.
• Analyzes policies, programs and regulations in order to consult and collaborate with school and district staff on current social/legal issues.
• Promotes a school climate and culture conducive to student learning. Utilizes effective practices that provide for safe environments and supportive relationships.
• Recruits, trains and supervises social work interns and volunteers.
• Other job-related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:
To be eligible for this position, an applicant must meet the following required qualifications. Verification of these required qualifications is necessary.

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work; and/or
• Bachelor's degree in related field; and/or
• Bachelor's degree with a certificate in social work.

Preferred Qualifications:
It is preferred that applicant possesses the following qualifications; however, the following qualifications are not required to be eligible for this position.

• Previous School Social Work experience
• Master's degree in Social Work
• Current LMSW or LCSW
• AZ Dept. of Ed School Social Worker Non-Teaching Certificate
• Five years experience working with families and children

Knowledge and Skills Required:
To perform the job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The qualifications for this job description are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Skills required, but not limited to, for this position include:

• Understanding causative factors of social, emotional and behavioral issues associated with PreK-8th grade students.
• Knowing parenting education and guidance issues.
• Applying knowledge and intervention strategies particular to specialized populations.
• Assessing student/family needs in terms of academic, physical, social, emotional, cultural, linguistic, behavioral or familial issues and potential impact on student performance.
• Applying supportive counseling and crisis response strategies and practices.
• Directing, facilitating, supervising and evaluating individual/group/class presentation and intervention sessions.
• Providing consultation to administrators and teachers concerning student and family needs, strengths and areas of concern.
• Organizing and maintaining timely confidential records, assessments and intervention plans.
• Researching, consulting and training school staff and administrators concerning policies and procedures dealing with mandated reporting, bully prevention, trauma or crisis, domestic violence, etc.
• Networking with community agencies to create and coordinate resources and services.
• Seeking and developing grants and partnerships with businesses/organizations.
• Recruiting and training social work interns and volunteer staff.
• Using leadership and team collaboration/cooperation skills.
• Using highly effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Possessing proficient computer software and technology skills.
• Demonstrating strong organizational, time management and decision-making skills.
• Bilingual abilities or ability to arrange for interpreter services and direct services in appropriate language.

Physical Requirements:
The physical requirements 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.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand and walk. The employee is occasionally required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
Working Conditions:
The working environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; moving mechanical parts; high, precarious places; fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; and outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
The Washington Elementary School District is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Civil Rights Act Title VII of 1972, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. Washington Elementary School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identify or expression, disability or age in employment or in any of its educational programs or in the provisions of benefits and services to students. For information regarding discrimination grievance or complaint procedures contact the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources at 602.347.2801.