HS Social Worker

Position: SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER Supervisor:
Principal General Job Description

The School Social Worker will develop and implement school programs focused on the physical, social, intellectual and vocational growth of each student. Other duties may be assigned.

Training and Licensure: School Social Workers are educated at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The areas of training include social work and educational topics:

• consultation
• policy
• diversity populations
• at risk
• practice
• professional ethics
• research
• social and economic justice
• family and community systems
• social work theory and practice
• group processes and leadership skills
• human behavior and development

Licensure of School Social New Mexico PED.

School Principal

The School Social Worker employs appropriate social work methods to assure students' positive academic and social outcomes.

• Promote parental involvement in the schools
• Promote parental involvement in school conferences
• Promote parental responsibility for regular school attendance
• Conduct home visits
• Conduct family needs assessments
• Promote safe, caring, and drug free schools
• Empowerment of/advocacy for families
• Provide culturally competent services
• Provide appropriate services/referrals for homeless families
• Provide crisis intervention services
• Refer to community agencies
• Facilitate parent groups
• Parenting skills
• Substance abuse awareness
• Special needs children
• Child abuse prevention
• Appropriate discipline
• Assist families with the interpretation of school policies and procedures
• Collaborate with community agencies
• Collaborate with support personnel within the school
• Participate in case conferences with other school specialists
• Participate in the identification and resolution of school-wide/community needs
• Interpret the School Social Work role to the community
• Serve as a liaison between the school/family/community
• Participate in referrals and case management of students/families involved in the court system
• Serve on school-based committee meetings
• Serve on community interagency teams and other task force teams relevant to School Social Work (Child Fatality Team, Child Protection Team
• Serve on the school Crisis Team to promote a safe school environment
• Promote a safe, caring, and drug free school environment

The School Social Worker facilitates, participates in, and provides input for system wide, school based, and departmental program planning, evaluation, and development of policies.

• Conduct individual and/or system-wide surveys to assess the school and/or community needs
• Implement appropriate programs, groups and initiatives to target at-risk populations (according to the assessment)
• Plan individual school and/or system-wide programs to promote a positive and caring school climate
• Collaborate with community agencies to coordinate services within the school system

The School Social Worker operates as an advocate with all community populations utilizing skills that respect issues of cultural and ethnic diversity and equity for every student and family.

• Facilitate the implementation of federal and state education regulations
• Address child abuse and neglect, due process, and liability issues
• Advocate for school environments to operate in the best interests of children
• Encourage parents to be actively involved in their children's educational experiences
• Adhere to the National Association of Social Workers code of ethical behavior and professional practice.(see attachment)

• Adhere to the values and ethics of the social work profession and use the NASW Standards for School Social Work Services and Code of Ethics as guides in decision-making model professional behaviors that contribute to addressing the needs of students, families, and the school community. When necessary and appropriate, actively seek the supervision of a school social work supervisor or another School Social Work professional
• Keep abreast of current community resources and determine how these resources may be beneficial to the student, her/his family, and the family's involvement in the academic process
• Understand, and practice in accordance with, federal, state, and local laws, statutes, and/or policies that relate to students and families; such as, child protection/child abuse, special education, attendance, education rights and privacy
• Consult with school personnel to encourage compliance with laws, statutes, and policies
• Assume responsibility for her/his own continued professional development
• With support from the LEA, maintain professional materials for professional growth and development; including periodicals, books, and software
• Practice professional renewal through a variety of means; such as, attending regional and national conferences, participating in professional organizations, and remaining abreast of current research and literature
• Expand and exchange knowledge…