POSITION SUMMARY

The District Social Worker will provide a full range of school counseling and mental health services to children grades K-12 under the direction of the Director of Special Education or the site Principal. The District Social Worker will be an integral member of the Student Support Team.

ADMINISTRATIVE RELATIONSHIP

The District Social Worker is directly responsible to the site Principal.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide consultation and ongoing casework management of related cases.
• Arrange for student/family treatment and services, as needed.
• Help to plan, implement and monitor programs at the school sites.
• Possess an extensive knowledge of a variety of forms of evidence based practice intervention and prevention models for both individuals and group settings.
• Collaborate with schools on universal interventions for students such as Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBIS) and Restorative Justice.
• Forster healthy families through community and school programming, including but not limited to: parent education and community service.
• Create and maintain relationships with outside agencies to help foster better learning and support for the students of Paramount Unified and their families.
• Perform initial intake screening; assess need and urgency of response; determine services and potential need for referral to other service providers; monitor deliver of treatment and social services.
• Link students and parents to mental health, medical and social services; including food, clothing and shoes.
• Provide crisis counseling and referrals for students as needed.
• Consistently and routinely update case files for students under their caseload.
• Oversee the monitoring of students and assist in follow-up by phone.
• Exhibit positive rapport with students and families.
• Work with school and District personnel in obtaining needed assistance for pupils and/or families form community agencies.
• Assist site and District staff in conducting home visits as needed.
• Possess a thorough understanding of and abide by the NASW Code of Ethics.
• Create positive and consistent communication with Paramount Unified staff and administration about social work goals and processes.
• Attend and participate in a variety of internal and external meetings at school site and District levels, inter-disciplinary case conferences, inter-agency meetings, etc.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge of:

• Organizational structure of educational systems.
• All applicable laws, regulations and policies related to students.
• Principles, practices, trends, goals and objectives of public education, particularly as they apply to school social work and child welfare and attendance.
• Legal mandates, policies, regulation and guidelines pertaining to student attendance.
• Homeless education, Foster Youth Services and At-risk students.
• Socio-economic and psychological social behavior affecting individual behavior, social functioning and behavioral abnormalities.
• Techniques for dealing with individuals from a variety of socio-economic, ethnic and cultural backgrounds including those with emotional problems.

Ability to:

• Plan, organize and complete responsibilities independently.
• Learn methods, regulations and guidelines pertaining to student attendance.
• Collect, analyze and present data.
• Evaluate and analyze complex problems, issues and concerns, recommend appropriate alternative solutions and make effective and timely decisions.
• Communicate effectively in oral and written form, with the ability to utilize a “non-jargonized” communication mode that ensures understandable and thorough communication.
• Establish and maintain professional relationships with students, parents, faculty, staff and representatives of the community served, employees of County departments, professional staff and other public agencies.
• Effectively use and apply computer and other technology in daily work, including but not limited to word processing, spreadsheets, web-based and presentation programs.
• Strong problem-solving and organizational skills. Must be detail-oriented, flexible and decisive with outstanding customer service skills.
• Be organized and manage time efficiently by demonstrating an ability to successfully handle multiple cases concurrently.
• Work as part of a team and demonstrate abilities to adjust to and use new approaches in the performance of duties.
• Deal with obstacles and constraints in a positive manner.
• Perform the duties of a field instructor to MSW level interns/PPS interns.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Possession of Pupil Personnel Services Credential specializing in school social work.
• Master’s Degree in social work.
• Possession of a valid Class C California Driver’s License (Vehicle will be required).
• Insurability by the District’s liability insurance carrier.
• Minimum of three (3) years of successful experience in a position performing pupil personnel services and/or related functions in a K-12 school setting or as a teacher in a K-12 school setting.
• California License in Clinical Social Work (LCSW).
• Bilingual English and Spanish preferred.