About this role
Title: School Social Worker Reports to: Principal/Student Services Support Coordinator Terms of Employment: 10 Months Supervises: None Salary: State Salary Scale and Local Supplement Nature of Work The School Social Worker provides comprehensive, student-centered social work services to address social, emotional, behavioral, academic, and environmental barriers that may interfere with student achievement, school attendance, and overall well-being. The School Social Worker promotes equitable access to educational opportunities by identifying student and family needs, providing interventions, facilitating access to community resources, and collaborating with school personnel, families, and community agencies. School social work duties include social and developmental assessments, individual and group counseling, crisis intervention and prevention, attendance interventions, family engagement, case management, advocacy, home visits, and referrals to appropriate support services. The School Social Worker promotes culturally responsive practices, positive school climates, student safety, and supportive relationships among students, families, schools, and communities. In addition to the regular duties and responsibilities of the School Social Worker, the employee shall serve as the district-designated McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Liaison. In this additional capacity, the employee coordinates districtwide efforts to identify, enroll, and support children and youth experiencing homelessness in accordance with the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act and applicable federal and state requirements. The Liaison facilitates access to educational opportunities and support services, coordinates school stability and transportation efforts, supports dispute resolution procedures, and collaborates with school personnel and community agencies to remove barriers to enrollment, attendance, and academic success. The McKinney-Vento Liaison assignment is an additional responsibility and does not replace, diminish, or eliminate the employee's regular school social work responsibilities. The employee is expected to fulfill both functions in accordance with district priorities, applicable law, and assigned work responsibilities. Qualifications and Licensure
• Master's degree in Social Work from an accredited program.
• Appropriate North Carolina licensure or certification required for the position, consistent with applicable North Carolina law and North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) requirements.
• Demonstrated experience working with children, families in crisis, and at-risk or underserved populations.
• Knowledge of social work principles, child development, family systems, community resources, and intervention practices.
• Knowledge of applicable federal and state laws, regulations, professional ethics, confidentiality requirements, and student educational rights.
• Knowledge of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act or the ability to obtain appropriate training.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships with students, families, school personnel, community agencies, and government service providers.
• Strong verbal, written, interpersonal, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage confidential information, coordinate multiple cases, and advocate effectively for students and families.
Essential Job Functions I. School Social Work Responsibilities The employee shall perform the regular duties and responsibilities of a School Social Worker, including but not limited to the following:
• Conduct social, emotional, behavioral, and environmental assessments to identify factors affecting student attendance, academic performance, adjustment, and well-being.
• Provide individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, prevention services, and appropriate short-term support within the scope of professional practice.
• Develop, implement, and monitor intervention plans in collaboration with students, families, teachers, administrators, and other service providers.
• Identify students at risk of academic disengagement, chronic absenteeism, behavioral difficulties, neglect, abuse, or other circumstances that may impede educational progress.
• Connect students and families with appropriate school-based and community-based services.
• Support positive student behavior, conflict resolution, emotional regulation, school engagement, and social-emotional development.
• Collaborate with school administrators, teachers, attendance personnel, and support staff to identify and address barriers to regular school attendance.
• Conduct home visits, family interviews, and other outreach activities as appropriate to understand student and family circumstances and facilitate access to support services.
• Provide families with information, guidance, and referrals to address educational, behavioral, social, and economic challenges affecting students.
• Serve as a liaison among students, families, schools, counseling providers, social services, court services, and community-based agencies.
• Coordinate case management and follow-up services to support continuity of care and monitor student progress.
• Communicate relevant findings and recommendations to authorized school personnel in accordance with applicable confidentiality laws, professional ethics, and district procedures.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential case records and documentation of services provided, referrals made, and follow-up activities.
• Recognize and respond appropriately to suspected abuse, neglect, threats to student safety, and other situations requiring mandated reporting or emergency intervention.
II. District McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Liaison In addition to the School Social Work responsibilities outlined above, the employee shall serve as the district-designated McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Liaison and coordinate the district's implementation of applicable McKinney-Vento requirements. A. Identification and Outreach
• Coordinate districtwide procedures to identify children and youth experiencing homelessness, including preschool-aged children and unaccompanied youth.
• Collaborate with school administrators, registrars, counselors, teachers, community organizations, shelters, and public agencies to identify potentially eligible students.
• Ensure that information regarding the educational rights of children and youth experiencing homelessness is communicated to families and school personnel.
• Provide guidance and training to school staff on identifying potential homelessness, making referrals, and responding appropriately to students and families.
• Promote respectful, culturally responsive, and non-stigmatizing identification and outreach practices.
B. Enrollment and Access to Education
• Coordinate district procedures to support the prompt enrollment of eligible students, including students who lack ordinarily required enrollment documents, consistent with applicable law.
• Work with school administrators and enrollment personnel to remove unnecessary barriers to enrollment and participation.
• Coordinate access to eligible educational programs and services, including preschool, special education, academic support, school meals, extracurricular activities, and other appropriate educational opportunities.
• Facilitate access to school records and coordinate with appropriate personnel to support continuity of instruction.
• Inform parents, guardians, and unaccompanied youth of their educational rights under McKinney-Vento.
C. School Stability and Transportation
• Coordinate school placement and school-of-origin procedures in accordance with applicable law and the best-interest requirements of McKinney-Vento.
• Facilitate communication among families, school administrators, enrollment personnel, and other relevant parties to support educational continuity.
• Coordinate with district transportation personnel and other school districts, when applicable, to address transportation needs for eligible students.
• Monitor barriers related to transportation, school placement, and changes in residence that may affect student attendance and academic progress.
D. Dispute Resolution and Student Advocacy
• Inform parents, guardians, and unaccompanied youth of their rights when enrollment or school placement decisions are disputed.
• Coordinate district procedures for providing required written explanations of decisions and information about applicable appeal processes.
• Facilitate access to the appropriate dispute resolution procedures and ensure compliance with applicable requirements concerning enrollment during disputes.
• Maintain appropriate documentation of disputes, notices, decisions, and resolution outcomes.
• Advocate for the educational rights and best interests of students experiencing homelessness.
E. Support for Unaccompanied Youth
• Identify and assist eligible unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness.
• Help ensure access to enrollment, school placement, transportation, academic support, and other eligible educational services.
• Coordinate referrals to community resources addressing housing instability, food insecurity, health care, safety, and other basic needs.
• Assist eligible youth with applicable financial aid-related determinations and documentation when appropriate and consistent with governing requirements.
F. Community Partnerships and Resource Coordination
• Establish and maintain relationships with shelters, housing assistance providers, social services agencies, health and mental health providers, food assistance programs, and youth-serving organizations.
• Maintain information regarding community resources available to children, youth, and families experiencing homelessness.
• Coordinate referrals and follow-up to address barriers affecting enrollment, attendance, well-being, and academic progress.
• Participate in appropriate interagency collaborations and professional networks related to homeless education.
G. Documentation, Monitoring, and Compliance
• Maintain appropriate documentation of identification, outreach, enrollment support, transportation coordination, referrals, dispute resolution, and other liaison activities.
• Monitor district procedures related to McKinney-Vento implementation and recommend improvements when barriers or compliance concerns are identified.
• Coordinate required program documentation, data collection, and reporting with district leadership and appropriate personnel.
• Participate in required McKinney-Vento training and professional development.
• Communicate relevant changes in federal and state guidance to appropriate district personnel.
• Protect student and family confidentiality in accordance with applicable law and district policy.
III. Collaboration, Advocacy, and Professional Responsibilities
• Collaborate with school-based and district-level multidisciplinary teams to address student needs and improve educational outcomes.
• Apply knowledge of child development, mental health, family systems, cultural diversity, and social and environmental factors affecting student success.
• Maintain knowledge of applicable laws, regulations, professional ethics, mandated reporting requirements, student confidentiality, and educational protections for students experiencing homelessness.
• Establish and maintain partnerships with public agencies, nonprofit organizations, health and mental health providers, housing assistance programs, and other community resources.
• Participate in case conferences, student support meetings, intervention planning, and professional development as assigned.
• Communicate clearly and professionally with students, families, school personnel, and community partners.
• Demonstrate sound professional judgment, ethical conduct, cultural responsiveness, and respect for the dignity and rights of students and families.
• Perform other related duties and responsibilities as assigned by the supervisor.
Special Requirements
• Ability to travel between and among school sites and community locations as required.
• Ability to conduct home visits and engage with families in a variety of settings, using appropriate safety procedures.
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries, exercise sound judgment, and respond appropriately to sensitive or crisis-related situations.
• Ability to manage multiple cases, prioritize competing responsibilities, and maintain accurate documentation.
• Ability to coordinate districtwide McKinney-Vento responsibilities while continuing to fulfill regular school social work duties.
Work Environment The employee performs school social work duties in school buildings, family homes, community settings, and other locations necessary to provide student and family support. The position also includes districtwide coordination responsibilities related to homeless education and may require collaboration with multiple schools, agencies, and community organizations. Equal Employment Opportunity The District is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to providing a workplace free from discrimination and harassment. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Disclaimer: This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, qualifications, or working conditions. Management reserves the right to modify or assign other duties as organizational needs require.