School Social Worker

Heartwood Community School and Heartwood Community Preschools are sister schools in Jasper County, SC.

• Heartwood Community School is a community-focused, tuition-free charter school serving Jasper, Beaufort, and Hampton Counties in South Carolina.
• Heartwood Community Preschool is a private, non-profit 501c3.

We believe in educating the whole child—nurturing each student academically, socially, emotionally, and physically. Honoring every child’s unique journey, we bridge home and school to foster a compassionate, empowering environment where students feel seen and valued.

Our mission goes beyond academics; we guide students to become resilient problem-solvers, compassionate community builders, globally minded citizens, emotionally intelligent leaders, and lifelong learners. Embracing mistakes as part of growth, we equip students to thrive in school and life—ready to make a meaningful impact in their communities and beyond.

Heartwood Community Schools seeks a compassionate, highly organized, and trauma-informed School Social Worker to support the overall well-being of our students and their families.

This Social Worker, shared between schools, will lead school-wide social work initiatives, provide both preventative services and crisis intervention, create and manage family support plans, and collaborate with other school staff including the School Counselor in managing student cases. Working both independently and collaboratively, the School Social Worker builds trusting relationships with families and provides emotional support, practical guidance, and resource navigation to help them achieve personal and financial stability.

This role is integral in creating a safe, inclusive, and emotionally supportive environment for all our students, families and staff.

Family Advocacy

• Build relationships with community organizations and appropriate outside agencies that provide health, mental health, and social supports for families and make referrals for families as necessary
• Serve as a resource for families on outside-of-school issues that impact student success
• Develop and maintain consistent communication with families about strategies to support their child at home and school, and the resources available within the school and broader community
• Conduct home visits, family meetings, and community outreach to build trust and strengthen partnerships
• Connect families with local services including housing, food assistance, mental health care, and transportation
• Maintain a thorough understanding of and connections to community resources available to our neighbors in Jasper, Beaufort, and Hampton counties
• Use a strategic and solutions-focused approach to anticipate challenges, identify opportunities, and support clients in overcoming barriers

Family Education

• Collaborate with the Student Support team and Business Services team to design inclusive family programming that reflects family needs and identities
• Design and deliver lessons to parents on various topics such as emotional regulation, resilience, and healthy relationships
• Organize workshops aimed at helping families navigate systems such as healthcare, Medicaid, other public benefit programs, and other topics requested by families

Crisis Response & Intervention

• Conduct client intake and assessments to identify needs and connect clients to appropriate services and resources
• Design and implement school-wide crisis intervention protocols in collaboration with the School Counselor and School Security Officer
• Respond to student crises with empathy and professionalism, coordinating with families and external agencies as needed
• Provide direct follow-up care and referrals to students and families
• Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings to coordinate care and monitor progress

Compliance & Reporting

• Maintain accurate records of interventions, referrals, and family communications
• Ensure compliance with state and federal regulations related to student welfare, mandated reporting, and special education services
• Maintain confidential documentation in compliance with FERPA and ethical standards
• Collaborate with the Dean of Student Supports to monitor trends and…