Job Description:

Location:
  Jefferson Elementary School

REPORTS TO
District Supervisor of Special Education, District Coordinator of Special Education and/or building Principal.
PRIMARY FUNCTION
Social Workers intervene at the individual and system level to develop, implement and evaluate preventive
programs within the school setting.
QUALIFICATION PROFILE
CERTIFICATION / LICENSE
Connecticut special services endorsement as a School Social Worker (071).
EDUCATION
Master’s degree in School Social Work.
EXPERIENCE
Previous experience working with children in school settings preferred.
SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & ABILITIES
 Demonstrates experience in working directly with students and families.
 Possesses a thorough knowledge of current educational practices and trends in the social work field.
 Has a working knowledge of community resources.
 Possesses effective communication skills - both oral and written.
 Is able to present information and respond to questions from students, staff and parents.
 Demonstrates ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team in order to determine the clinical needs of students with social, emotional, and behavioral problems.
 Is able to utilize a data-based decision-making model to design, analyze, implement, evaluate, and modify
individualized educational programs to ensure student success and whole child development.
 Working knowledge of IEP development and writing of measurable goals/objectives in order to measure
student progress.
ESSENTIAL PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES
 Intervenes to establish and support positive learning environments for students from diverse backgrounds and ensures that all have equal access to effective educational and psychological services that promote healthy development and emotional wellness.
 Provides individual and small-group interventions, including counseling, crisis intervention and social skills instruction.
 Facilitates referrals to community-based agencies or medical/psychiatric services for students in need of emergency services, medical evaluation or hospital treatment.
 Participates in Attendance Team, Student Assistance Team, Planning and Placement Team and 504 Team meetings for “at-risk” youth and/or students already identified with disabilities.
 Works collaboratively with school teams to develop, implement, and monitor the use of scientific, research-based interventions and effective educational approaches for students with social, emotional, and/or behavioral challenges.
 Reviews social/emotional screening data to inform decision-making regarding the determination and implementation of interventions and behavioral strategies.
 Consults with outside service providers and representatives from community agencies in an effort to identify unique needs and support students across home, school and community settings.
 Makes recommendations to administration and directly assists school-based staff in supporting students who have been out of school for extended periods of time and develops/implements safety plans, as needed.
 Conducts home visits and prepares social work assessments as recommended by the PPT and/or as
requested by the Director of Pupil Services or his/her designee
 Completes Functional Behavioral Assessments, as assigned, and works with multidisciplinary teams to develop and implement positive behavioral support plans to address areas of concern.
 Maintains ongoing communication with parents and documents conversations in the form of conference notes, telephone logs, or consultation logs.
 Schedules and coordinates the provision of relevant parent training activities.
 Maintains and reports students’ progress toward attainment of IEP goals/objectives in district’s data management system.
 Maintains logs of all services rendered to students, completes required paperwork, and prepares summary
reports as required or requested for educational reporting and/or billing purposes.
 Assists in the daily functions of the school, including dealing with crises and facilitating conflicts among students.
ADDITIONAL DUTIES
 Consults with teachers and other school staff around effective classroom management strategies and positive behavioral interventions with students.
 Keeps current in the field of school social work.
 Conducts professional development activities, as requested, for the purpose of sharing professional literature and innovative practices with staff.
 Contributes to school committees, staff meetings, and other district initiatives.
 Makes constructive use of personal evaluation.
 Follows school procedures as established by building-based leadership in accordance with the contract.
 Serves as liaison between outside agencies and the school district.
 Participates in professional development activities offered by the district in addition to any professional activities outside the school setting needed to maintain certification or licensure.
 Performs other duties as assigned.
EQUIPMENT
Must be able to use a personal computer and job-related equipment.
TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS
Travel between schools, as needed.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT
SALARY & BENEFITS
Salary and benefits as set forth in the Local 871 collective bargaining agreement.
WORK SCHEDULE
As set forth in the Local 871 collective bargaining agreement.
UNION AFFILIATION
Local 871, New Britain Federation of Teachers.
FUNDING SOURCE
Determined by position.