POSITION SUMMARY:
Under the direction of the Coordinating Supervisor, the School Social
Worker – Family Support Center serves in the primary role of providing services to families/guardians of students with
disabilities in the Family Support Center.
The incumbent of this position will collaborate with school staff
and community agencies to assist families who are seeking resources and
support. The School Social Worker will address
barriers that limit a student from receiving full benefits from their
educational experience through the use of assessments, consultations, coordination of school and community
resources, and program development. The School Social Worker may provide
direct services to support families and students, establish home/school
community partnerships and serve as a liaison between various departments
within Prince George’s County Public Schools.
DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.
Identifies, develops, and assesses workshops
designed to address families’ needs through
observation of factors impinging on student adjustment including factors in the
home, school, and community;
Provides outreach to families and establishes
partnerships with agencies that support families of students with disabilities;
Provides families with
strategies to effect changes in behavioral and social interactions in students
and their families;
Provides workshops designed to increase family
engagement, improve student achievement and increase positive student social
and emotional behaviors;
Provides
consultation, support and resolution on school-based issues through collaboration
with the school team, parents/guardians,
advocates or legal counsel and makes appropriate referrals as warranted;
Completes and submits documentation, reports, and resources as required
by the Department of Special Education;
Collaborates
with all stakeholder groups including central office, building administrators,
staff, parent councils, community organizations and other outside agencies and
appropriate departments to assist with promoting positive social and emotional wellness
for students with disabilities and their families;
Attends and participates in local, regional and
state meetings/conferences as a designated representative of PGCPS; and
Performs other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS:The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
Strong working knowledge of social
work theory, practice, and procedures;
Understanding of the most common
disorders and co-morbidity, as related to the diagnosis and the impact on
education;
Knowledge
of current best practices in school-based prevention and early intervention
strategies for students with mental health and/or social needs;
Ability to apply professional skills
to provide wide-range of counseling, diagnostic, and crisis intervention and
de-escalation services to the needs and requirements of a public school system;
Knowledge and a basic understanding
of Individuals with Disability and Education Act, 2004 (IDEA, at 20 U.S.C. §
1400, et seq.);
Skilled in completing Individualized
Education Program (IEP) goal development and an understanding of the IEP
process;
Ability to assist in program
development;
Ability to establish and maintain
positive relationships with other professionals within the school and the
community;
Ability to collect, interpret and
synthesize information about a student’s social history, community environment,
family and home dynamics, economic differences, and significant crises that
influence academic and behavioral functioning; and
Ability to communicate effectively,
both orally and in writing.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master’s
Degree in Social Work required. Three
(3) years of satisfactory related experience required.
CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
Holds or is eligible for a
Standard Professional Certificate; holds license from the Maryland Board of
Social Work Examiners as a Licensed Certified Social Worker-Clinical
(LCSW-C).
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
No direct supervisory responsibilities.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands 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 frequently required to stand, talk, hear, walk, sit, and use fingers, tools or controls. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision such as to read handwritten or typed material, the ability to adjust focus, and depth perception. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may occasionally push or lift up to 25 lbs.
WORKING ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
None.