About this role
Job Title: School Social Worker
Grade Level/Terms of Employment: Teacher's salary scale / 11 Month (230 days) Contract
FLSA Status: Exempt
Work Location: Culture, Climate, and Student Services
Immediate Supervisor: Senior Social Worker
General Description: Provide specialized social work services to students and families to support student social-emotional development and academic progress; provide counseling, referrals, assessment, and consultative services to support students experiencing social, emotional, and behavioral challenges that interfere with school success.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
• Assists families in connecting with a full range of community support resources.
• Provides support to enhance students' social-emotional learning and development.
• Serves as a designated Attendance Officer.
• Assesses the home and neighborhood environments of students to determine eligibility for special education services or other school-based supports.
• Shares findings with eligibility committees and participates in meetings of the School-Based Intervention Team as needed
• Conducts interviews to obtain social history information and prepares reports about assessment interviews.
• Attends and participates in Child Study and team meetings, as necessary, and investigates issues that surface through School Referral Forms.
• Conducts home visits as necessary during assessments and investigations.
• Reviews student records, maintains copies of all reports in an orderly fashion, and submits monthly activity and travel reports.
• Serves on school crisis team and refers students to, and serves as liaison with, outside agencies such as the social services bureau, juvenile probation, juvenile detention, and the juvenile court.
• Counsels students and parents concerning living and learning environments and assists in diagnosing or supporting students' specialized needs.
• Assists students in gaining vocational experiences.
• Performs other related tasks as required.
Qualifications:
• Pupil Personnel Services License with an endorsement in school social work and completion of a two-year Master's Degree program from an accredited school of social work.
• A minimum of one year of successful experience as a school social worker is preferred.
• Bilingual - fluency in Spanish is preferred but not required.
• Excellent communication, organizational, public relations, and presentation skills are required.
• Must have experience and/or demonstrate a willingness to work with diverse students, parents, and communities.
• Must have the ability to effectively communicate with students, parents, teachers, and administrators.
• Must have the ability to work in a cooperative, collaborative manner with administrators, teachers, parents, and other professionals about student problems and appropriate change strategies.
• Must be able to establish appropriate networks with school programs, community agencies, and resources to provide essential services for families and children.
• Ability to work with students who have had a history of academic, attendance, and behavioral challenges required.
• Necessary Special Requirements: Valid Virginia driver's license and willingness to use personal automobile.
HOW TO APPLY: All applicants (including RPS employees) must submit an online application. Please access the website at: www.rvaschools.net Please upload the following information with your application: a current resume, a Master's degree transcript, and a copy of your license. Three reference names and contact information will be required if you progress to the interview step of the selection process. Richmond Public Schools will conduct a background investigation, fingerprinting, and tuberculosis screening as a condition of employment. EOE.