JOB DESCRIPTION SUMMARY
The position of
Social worker is directly supervised by the
School Principal and supported by the Director of Student Support Services. This position is responsible for providing and coordinating appropriate social services for students and their families, individually or in groups. This position coordinates the efforts of students, families, faculty, community agencies, and school administration to facilitate the student's effective school adjustment. The Social Worker coordinates the combined resources of the school district with those selected from appropriate community agencies that will enable students to achieve their maximum performance; to educate, assess, and provide intervention, referral, and support to students and/or families regarding their identified needs; to promote shared decision-making regarding service goals; and to deal immediately with individual student's problems of a crisis nature in a constructive, supportive, and non-judgmental manner, while meeting the Comprehensive Education Improvement Plan (CEIP) objectives and maintaining confidentiality of students and their families.
WORK MONTHS
10
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
1. Develop, coordinate, implement, and evaluate comprehensive social work services and programs for students and families by utilizing data to ensure that students are learning academically, developing strong character and gaining skills that prepare them for college and career.
2. Provide and coordinate group counseling programs for students whose needs may include social dysfunction, excessive fear and anxiety, chemical abuse problems, or other serious developmental problems.
3. Meet with families of troubled students when such meetings would be beneficial to the student.
4. Conduct and coordinate individual or group counseling for at-risk students.
5. Provide counseling that will lead each student to increased personal growth, self-understanding, and maturity.
6. Meet with students individually or in groups to help facilitate the development of a plan to address personal problems related to issues such as family relations, health, emotional adjustment, and attendance.
7. Work with students and their families individually or in groups regarding personal problems related to such crises as child abuse and family emergencies.
8. Interact proactively with students and families to avoid crisis situations.
9. Maintain case records that evidence planning and appropriate record-keeping which promotes an effective delivery of services, including service plans on all referred students.
10. Respond to transitional information shared from various feeder forms.
11. Consult with Student Services, faculty, and community agency representatives to cultivate a mutual understanding and teamwork, when appropriate.
12. Attend staffing meetings.
13. Coordinate the homebound process to ensure a smooth, continuous flow of education.
14. Process records for students involved in school transfers, including those returning from correctional facilities, juvenile detention centers, hospitalizations, and related agencies.
15. Assist with the completion of the Comprehensive Evaluation Report as a part of the Program for Students with Exceptionalities referral process.
16. Maintain and continually updates a directory of referral services to be utilized in crisis situations affecting students.
17. Serve as a liaison between appropriate social service and community agencies and the school.
18. Maintain a professional awareness of regulations regarding child welfare and attendance, by having a working knowledge of state law, Board policy, and administrative regulations.
19. Schedule and conducts legal notice conferences at the school.
20. Initiate attendance related petitions and prepares cases for formal hearing.
21. Prepare all investigative data necessary for the completion of the citation process.
22. Review enrollment, attendance, and transfers on the school to assure compliance with applicable laws and sound principles of accounting for the student attendance.
23. Counsel students in matters of attendance and tardiness to effect compliance with the attendance standards.
24. Visit the homes of students to enforce school attendance and residency, when necessary.
25. Provide support to staff, teachers, and administrators by working with children experiencing attendance problems.
26. Provide assistance to a multidisciplinary and flexible Student Services Team to generate options that reflect and respond to the needs and priorities of the students as directed by the principal and the CEIP.
27. Other relevant duties as assigned by supervisor in support of the department's or school’s goals and objectives and the District's mission and Superintendent's Priority Goals
EDUCATION REQUIRED
Master’s Degree in Social Work
CERTIFICATION/LICENSURE REQUIRED
Pennsylvania Department of Education Educational Specialist Certification in School Social Worker
OR
Pennsylvania Licensed Social Worker
For more information on Pennsylvania (PA) Department of Education Certification Requirements visit the <a href="https://www.education.pa.gov/Educators/Certification/PAEducators/Pages/PACerts.aspx">PA Department of Education’s Certification Types and Codes</a> webpage.
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
Varies based on the specific need of the school.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES
· Experiences in analyzing data and assessing students' needs to inform work and develop and implement procedures and programs to support student achievement.
· Knowledge and understanding of the principles, methods, and procedures for the following: diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, career counseling/guidance, curriculum and training design, individual/group teaching and instruction, evaluation of trainings.
· Knowledge of IEP Processes, assessments, emotional needs of students, applicable federal/state laws and regulations, mandates related to mental health services and Special Education programs.
· Experience working collaboratively with stakeholders, families, students, and school personnel to coordinate resources for students and families.
· Experience in strategic planning and implementation of counseling services and programs.
· Ability to foster and promote innovation.
· A commitment to accelerating student achievement, eliminate racial disparities, and create a positive school/district culture.
· The ability to be a culturally-responsive educator who knows how to leverage students' unique skills, interests, and learning styles to create a learning experience that unequivocally includes and empowers each and every student.
· A capacity to solve problems, to stay organized and manage multiple priorities.
· Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Teams, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint (Schoology, ESchools, IEP Writer plus preferred)
· Excellent oral, written and interpersonal communication skills.
· Ability to exercise a high degree of confidentiality, professionalism, poise, tact and diplomacy to accomplish objectives.
· Enthusiastic about the fundamental goal of advancing student achievement in an urban public school district.
· Ability to work collaboratively as a team player, under pressure with multiple competing deadlines, and with culturally, educationally, and racially diverse internal and external customers.
· Value, demonstrate, and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion
WORKING CONDITIONS & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
The working conditions and physical requirements described here are representative of, but not limited to, those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made.
· Regularly required to sit, stand, walk, talk, and hear.
· Required to operate a computer, hand-held learning devices and other office equipment.
· Occasionally required to reach with hands and arms.
· Frequently required to work at a fast pace.
· Considerable concentration which includes prolonged mental effort with limited opportunity for breaks.
· Frequent adjustment of daily work plans and work hours to be highly responsive to school needs.
- Subject to stress caused by a changing environment, diversity in the organization, and tight deadlines.
APPLICANT ELIGIBILE CRITERIA
External applicants and internal non-school-based professional employees who are properly certified are eligible to apply for this position. This job posting is
not a component of the School-Based Professional Internal Transfer Season. Current Pittsburgh Public School employees who are school-based professionals (teachers, librarian, counselors, social workers, etc.) are not eligible to apply to this position.
CITY OF PITTSBURGH RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT
This position does not have a residency requirement.
