Social Worker - Washington, United States - DC Public Schools

Description

We are looking for highly motivated and skilled Social Workers to join our team at District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS). We seek individuals who are passionate about transforming the DC school system and making a significant difference in the lives of our students, families, and greater DC community.

DCPS serves 49,000 students in the nation's capital through the efforts of approximately 4,000 educators in 117 schools. As part of a comprehensive reform effort to become the preeminent urban school system in America, DCPS intends to have the highest‐performing, best paid, most satisfied, and most honored educator force in the nation and a distinctive central office staff whose work supports and drives instructional excellence and significant achievement gains for DCPS students.

Position Overview

The School Social Worker is jointly managed by DCPS local school administration and the Office of Teaching and Learning; receiving technical assistance, guidance and instruction while working in coordination with managers from the OTL. The offices are responsible for providing services to students with special needs and the general education student population. As such, the School Social Worker is involved in the following three (3) key areas: (1) preventive and advocacy work with students, staff, and families that promotes positive school climate and social/emotional well‐being; (2) program development and planning to meet the unique needs of the school through contributions to school wide policies; and (3) direct services to students and families inclusive of general and special education students. This position is a safety‐sensitive position. As a result, throughout employment this position will be subject to the Employee Mandatory Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy.

The Social Worker will report to the Principal.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The below statements are intended to describe the general nature and scope of work being performed by this position. This is not a complete listing of all responsibilities, duties, and/or skills required. Other duties may be assigned.

Preventive work with students, staff, and families

• Providing consultation to school staff and parents to facilitate student educational, social, and emotional growth. Obtaining information concerning the effects of environment, including family, cultural, and economic disadvantages that may be adversely affecting student progress.
• Conducting home visits that encourage home/school communication.
• Working collaboratively with the Student Support Team (SST) to develop plans of assistance for students at risk of academic and/or behavioral difficulty.
• Coordinating school and community services.
• Serving as the home‐school‐community liaison responsible for effective resource utilization and positive relations with stakeholders.

Program Development

• Conducting needs assessments.
• Planning for support services both within and outside the school.
• Facilitating special support groups, i.e. students with incarcerated parents, grief and loss, divorce, teen parents, conflict resolution, etc. as needed.
• Managing family resource centers, where parents/guardians can access needed information and participate in opportunities to learn how to support their student(s).

Program Planning

• Working with administrators to implement effective policies that address school safety, school attendance, substance abuse, teen pregnancy, child abuse, and neglect.

Advocacy

• Serving as a mediator within the school.
• Communicating with other agencies involved with students.
• Attending court hearings as a DC Public Schools representative.
• Making appropriate referrals for community resources.

Direct Services

• Providing individual counseling.
• Providing group counseling.
• Providing psycho‐education.
• Providing crisis intervention.
• Providing parent training.

Special Education

• Serving as a member of the multi‐disciplinary team (MDT).
• Conducting social work evaluations and other related assessments for initial evaluations and re‐evaluations. Providing related services as prescribed by Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), including social skills, life skills, and transitional skills that can be transferred from school to community.
• Participating in MDT, IEP, manifestation determination, and other related meetings.
• Working collaboratively within the classroom setting to implement student IEPs.
• Collecting data for the purpose of monitoring social/emotional progress and evaluating effectiveness of services.
• Providing technical assistance on strategies that improve outcomes for special education students.
• Coordinating the design and implementation of behavior intervention plans and functional behavior assessments.
• Keeping thorough records of each student receiving services.
• Completing student progress reports.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Social Work (MSW).
• District of Columbia Government, Department of Health Professional License, which must be renewed every two years by obtaining the required continuing education units: Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW).
• District of Columbia Certification as a School Social Worker, which must be maintained throughout employment with DC Public Schools.
• At least three years of work experience as a Social Worker in an urban school/settng with a track record of high student achievement.
• Ability to conduct clinical interviews and write comprehensive social history evaluations.
• Ability to administer, interpret, and analyze related assessment instruments.

Personal Qualities of Top Candidates

• Commitment to Equity: Passionate about closing the achievement gap and ensuring that every child, regardless of background or circumstance, receives an excellent education.
• Leadership: Coaches, mentors, and challenges others to excel despite obstacles and challenging situations. Focus on Data‐Driven Results: Relentlessly pursues the improvement of central office performance and school leadership, instruction, and operations, and is driven by a desire to produce quantifiable student achievement gains.
• Innovative Problem‐Solving: Approaches work with a sense of possibility and sees challenges as opportunities for creative problem solving; takes initiative to explore issues and find potential innovative solutions.
• Adaptability: Excels in constantly changing environments and adapts flexibility in shifting projects or priorities to meet the needs of a dynamic transformation effort; comfortable with ambiguity and non‐routine situations.
• Teamwork: Increases the effectiveness of surrounding teams through collaboration, constant learning and supporting others; sensitive to diversity in all its forms; respects and is committed to learning from others.
• Dependability: Does whatever it takes to consistently deliver with high quality under tight deadlines; successfully manages own projects through strong organization, detailed workplans, and balancing of multiple priorities. Communication and Customer Service Skills: Communicates clearly and compellingly with diverse stakeholders in both oral and written forms; anticipates and responds to customer needs in a high‐quality and courteous manner.