School Social Worker

Caddo Parish Schools Job Description

Job Title: School Social Worker

Prepared By: Nadalie Thomas

Prepared Date: January 20, 2005

Approved By: Jan Holliday

Approved Date: January 24, 2005

SUMMARY

Reports to the assigned Pupil Appraisal Facilitator; enables students to derive the fullest possible educational experience from school by providing or arranging necessary social work services for referred children.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Essential duties and responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Develops performance objectives and prepares a professional growth plan supporting department and school system goals.

• Explains and interprets school social work services to parents, teachers, principals and other members of the parish school system.

• Facilitates communication between the home and the school, seeking to involve families in the educational process of their children and providing feedback to the school on family situations and problems.

• Provides consultations/counseling services to students and their families when necessary.

• Functions as evaluation coordinator for designated referred students.

• Serves as liaison between the school and community agencies, through reciprocal referral arrangements, collaboration on cases, and assistance to families in obtaining and utilizing local resources.

• Functions as a pupil appraisal services staff member in conducting evaluations of referred children when social, developmental, adaptive behavior, socio-economic, and/or family assessments are determined necessary.

• Interprets social and other pupil appraisal assessment findings including a thorough interpretation of the child's exceptionality to parents, teachers, principals and other professional parish personnel and responsible practitioners outside the school.

• Produces a written report of any social work assessments or other services provided to clients.

• Explains to parents and other interested persons due process procedure as defined by legislative acts.

• Participates in due process proceedings when necessary.

• Provides or assists in the provision of in-service training of school personnel in areas of responsibility and expertise.

• Participates in special education eligibility determinations and IEP staffing.

• Maintains accurate case records on all clients regarding their referral, evaluation, and any other services provided by the social worker in accordance with the requirements of parish, state and federal laws, regulations, and/or policies.

• Attends staff, professional, and interagency meetings including those assigned.

• Keeps abreast of new developments in the area of school social work and keeps other appropriate school personnel informed of the same.

• Completes all reports required by the school system and State Department of Education.

• Makes progress toward achieving objectives in the professional growth plan.

• Prepares a self-evaluation as described in the Performance Evaluation Plan.

• Performs other such duties and assumes such other responsibilities as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

Master's Degree in social work from a university with an accredited graduate school of social work. A minimum of two years of supervised clinical social work practice following the grant of graduate degree.

Licensure in the state of Louisiana by the Board of Certified Social Workers. Certification by State Department of Education as a School Social Worker.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

• Ability to relate to and verbally communicate with all professional contacts on the level of each individual's ability and level of understanding.

• Ability to effectively communicate in written reports and correspondence information germane to the individual case.

• Ability to plan and organize duties in an effective manner.

• Ability to maintain stability to work effectively under pressure.

• Ability to work effectively and harmoniously with Special Education Center staff, schools, agencies and the public.

• Neat, well groomed appearance.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit. The employee frequently is required to talk or hear.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.

PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

Employee acknowledges that he/she is required to maintain a high standard of professional conduct. Breach of said professional conduct includes but is not limited to: neglect of duty, dishonesty, engagement in acts that are contrary to CPSB policy, unlawful activities, or any other conduct which is seriously prejudicial to the school system.

CHAIN OF SUPERVISION

Assigned Pupil Appraisal Facilitator

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT

10 months (202 days), or as assigned