Social Worker, Special Needs ​/ Learning Disabilities

EMBRACING ABILITIES. EXPANDING POSSIBILITIES.

Easterseals Academy is a therapeutic school that provides schooling for children with an autism spectrum disorder, emotional disability, developmental delay, or intellectual disability. School districts refer students to Easterseals Academy where the schools provide an alternative school placement for these students to help them to achieve independence. Easterseals Academy has three campuses, located in Chicago, Machesney Park, and Tinley Park.

For more information about our organization, please visit us online tersealschicago.org.

The school Social Worker holds responsibility for delivering mandated social work services specified in student IEPs, following the guidelines set by the Illinois State Board of Education. They are also tasked with offering advocacy, crisis intervention, and support to students, staff, and families. In addition, the Social Worker may engage in internal case management for new intakes, maintain ongoing communication with districts, and facilitate the IEP process alongside representatives from the home district.

This position is located at the Easterseals Academy - Machesney Park Campus at 8301 Mitchell Road, Machesney Park, IL 61115.

• Adhere to all mandated reporters and OIG guidelines at all times.
• Complete goal sheets for all students receiving direct and/or consulting services at least one week prior to IEP/FIE.
• In collaboration with the classroom team, arrange for and perform activities, materials, and prompting hierarchies that relate to the IEP goals throughout the school year.
• Provide and document direct/consult therapy minutes as required on student IEPs on caseload throughout the school year.
• Interact with the School Administrator/Program Coordinator/Clinical Coordinator and classroom staff regarding recommendations throughout the school year.
• Participate in all classroom team meetings on caseload throughout the school year.
• Participate in at least 2 outside trainings per school year directly related to serving students with special needs, particularly those diagnosed with autism.
• Participate in all scheduled in-house training throughout the school year.
• Update and provide progress reports quarterly and for FIEs and 30-day IEP meetings throughout the school year.
• Participate in all scheduled clinical meetings throughout the school year.
• Notify Clinical Coordinator and classroom teacher in the event of therapy cancellation throughout the school year and document this in the service statement binder.
• Assist classrooms during extracurricular activities and field trips as needed throughout the school year.
• Complete required in-house and district-mandated documentation and/or billing requirements.
• Participate in IEP/FIE meetings for students on caseload as needed throughout the school year.
• Complete progress/contact notes on the appropriate form and maintain them in specified locations throughout the school year.
• Provide 2-3 in-services, either individually or in conjunction with another clinical area, for the entire staff throughout the school year.
• Establish and maintain a consistent form of communication with the parents/guardians of students as needed on caseload throughout the school year.
• Provide support, resources, and recommendations for all classrooms on caseload as needed throughout the school year.
• Provide advocacy, crisis intervention, and support to staff members throughout the school year.
• Coordinate services for students on caseload with outside agencies such as DCFS, other schools, health care providers, etc. throughout the school year.
• Address concerns for student family situations throughout the school year.
• Act as a team leader in issues dealing with and documenting issues of student abuse and neglect throughout the school year.
• Schedule and coordinate two parent group meetings per school year.
• Provide supervision to interns as needed throughout the school year.
• Act as an internal case manager as needed.
• All other duties as assigned.

Education/Certification:

• Master’s Degree in Social Work.
• Illinois State Type 73 preferred.

Experience

Required:

• Minimum of 5 years experience working with special needs populations.
• Completion of required clinical hours for degree/license.

Vehicle/Transportation Requirements:

• Valid driver’s license.
• Auto insurance.
• Reliable vehicle.

Skills/Abilities:

• Ability to multi-task in a high-stress environment.
• Ability to interact with diverse personalities.
• Ability to perform all functions necessary to obtain certification in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) and CPR.

ADA:
Easterseals will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disability Act of 1990. Unless exempted by the Americans with Disabilities Act, all persons hired for this position are required to possess the ability to perform the physical tasks necessary to treat clients, i.e., bending, floor-sitting, etc., as well as to have the ability to lift up to 50 pounds frequently.