Special Education Social Worker Duties and Responsibilities
1. Assess the social emotional needs of students receiving special education services, develop a service plan to provide social and/or emotional interventions to students in need, and document the services that are provided.
2. Determine the need for social work services based on the data collected during a review of existing documentation, observation, and/or social emotional assessment.
3. Provide direct group and/or individual counseling services to students who are referred and who qualify for social work services.
4. Participate in the development of the student’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP).
5. Participate in the comprehensive evaluation, review, and re-evaluation process.
6. Serve as a Functional Behavioral Assessments (FBA) and Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) team member for students receiving special education services.
7. Participate in manifestation determination meetings.
8. Maintain accurate and complete records in the student information system and Medicaid School Based Services billing software.
9. Develop realistic and attainable social emotional goals and measurable objectives for special education students who are referred and qualify for social work services.
10. Monitor student progress towards social emotional goals and adjust intervention style accordingly.
11. Support students through crises and work with families to determine the next level of support.
12. Complete threat assessment student interviews and serve as a member of the threat assessment team.
13. Connect students and their families to resources that will support the student’s social, emotional, and academic growth in the school setting.
14. Establish and maintain positive working relationships with community agencies and service providers.
15. Utilize appropriate referral procedures for community services.
16. Support students with program transitions and ensure continuity of special education support services in the community (referrals to CARC and DVR upon graduation, transition IEP meetings to other schools, etc.).
17. Collaborates and consults with school and community service providers regarding the needs of the student.
18. Serve as an advocate for students receiving special education services.
19. Advocate for the students’ social and emotional needs in the school setting.
20. Provides consultation and support to school personnel in dealing with problematic behavior.
21. Collaborates with students, administrators, teachers, parents, agencies, and paraprofessionals in planning to meet the needs of individual students.
22. Protect student confidentiality in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
23. Identify barriers to successful social, academic, and extracurricular functioning in the school setting.
24. Strive to reduce the negative effects of social, economic, and academic pressures faced by students receiving special education services.
25. Promote home/school partnerships by providing support to parents and family members of students receiving social work services.
25. Maintain a high level of ethical behavior and confidentiality of information regarding students, parents, and staff.
26. Maintain and execute the role as a mandatory reporter as required by law.
Education and Experience
1. Maintain accurate and complete documentation of services provided in the Student Information System and in accordance with Medicaid School Based Services standards, when applicable.
2. Hold a department-issued license for at least one of the following:
3. Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
4. Licensed Bachelor Social Worker (LBSW)
5. Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
6. Have or eligible for a New Mexico PED School Social Work license.
6. Must be able to pass employment verification.
7. Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Superintendent may find appropriate and acceptable.
