Licensed Mental Health Professional

School Social Worker

Qualifications:

1. Master's Degree or higher from an accredited or approved institution;

2. Active Florida Clinical Social Worker License; and

3. At least three years' experience working in public schools;

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

The School Social Worker's principle task is to empower students, families, and school personnel to access available opportunities and resources that develop each student's potential. Integrated into all major functions are home, school, community assimilation; diversity and cultural competence; dropout prevention; graduation awareness; and adherence to federal and state statutes, professional development and practices, School Social Work Standards and the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics.

Reports To:

Director of Health Services / Mental Health

ESE Job Goal:

School Social Worker promotes and enhances the overall academic mission by providing services that strengthen home, school, and community partnerships and address barriers to learning and achievement.

The School Social Worker significantly contributes to the development of a healthy, safe, and caring environment. Such an environment is achieved by advancing the understanding of the emotional and social development of children and the influences of family, community, and cultural differences on student success along with the implementation of effective intervention strategies. The major functions of the school social worker job description incorporate the Wakulla County School District's guiding mission that every public school student will graduate from high school globally competitive for work and prepared for life in the twenty-first century.

Essential Functions:

1. Major Function:
Assessment of Student, Family, and School Needs Effectively and appropriately assesses and addresses the needs, characteristics, and interactions of students, families, LEA personnel, and community.

1.1 Conducts assessments and evaluations in accordance with family and student rights

1.2 Uses student, family, and school assessment results to identify needs that affect student learning.

1.3 Uses assessment and evaluation results to develop appropriate interventions for students, families, schools, and communities.

1.4 Develops long-term and short-term intervention plans consistent with curriculum; students' needs, strengths, diversity and life experiences; and social and emotional factors. 1.5 Uses a variety of appropriate formal and informal tools and techniques including observations and interviews to evaluate the progress and performance of students and families.

1.6 Addresses the needs of the school, student, families, and community by collaborating with the Student Support Services Team to design a holistic approach to any barriers or problems with the educational process.

2. Major Function:
Direct Services/Service Delivery Uses knowledge and understanding of the reciprocal influences of home, school, and community to intervene for student success via such practices as assessment, crisis intervention and response, home visits, conflict resolution, individual and group counseling, consultation, program development, dropout prevention, graduation awareness, and coordination of school and community services.

2.1 Promotes family support of students' learning experience within the context of multicultural understanding and competencies.

2.2 Provides services to students in ways that build upon individual strengths and offers students maximum opportunities to participate in the planning and direction of their own learning experience.

2.3 Develops and provides training and educational programs that address the goals and mission of the educational institution.

3. Major Function:
Advocacy Advocates for appropriate services for students and their families.

3.1 Advocates and facilitates change that effectively responds to the needs of students, families, and school systems using appropriate statutes, case law, policies, and procedures. 3.2 Promotes services to students and their families within the context of multicultural understanding and competence that enhances families' support of students learning experiences.

3.3 Assists students and their families in gaining access to formal and informal community resources.

3.4 Utilizes research and technologies to assist students, families, schools, and communities.

4. Major Function:
Consultation and Collaboration Consults and collaborates with stakeholders on behalf of students and their families.

4.1 Consults with stakeholders to facilitate an understanding of factors in the home, local education agency, and community that affect students' educational experiences.

4.2 Consults on such issues as attendance, diversity, mental health, behavior management, delinquency, crisis intervention, homelessness, child abuse, neglect, and the importance of confidentiality.

4.3 Initiates and supports activities to overcome institutional barriers and gaps in services as leaders and members of…