Social Worker - Attendance en Stafford County Public Schools

Job Title:           School Social Worker - Attendance

Department:  Office of Student Support Services

Pay Grade:       Teacher Salary Scale – 11 month

FLSA Status:  Exempt

GENERAL PURPOSE

Under the supervision of the Director of Student Services, the Attendance Social Worker works with students, families, school personnel and community agencies to promote school attendance and enforce compulsory attendance laws.

MAIN JOB TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Attendance Services Responsibilities

• Enforces compulsory attendance laws.
• Assess students and families to determine appropriate interventions and encourage school attendance.
• File Child in Need of Supervision petitions in Stafford Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, when appropriate.
• File criminal charges against parents/guardians, when appropriate.
• Prepare court cases and present cases in court as a representative of Stafford County Public Schools.
• Maintain an effective working relationship with students and parents/guardians, including meeting with families in the school, home, and community environments.
• Assist families in accessing appropriate community resources to include making referrals and monitoring progress.
• Collaborate with community agencies (ie Juvenile Court Services, Department of Social Services, Rappahannock Area Community Services Board, and Court System) to ensure the needs of students and families are met.

School Division Responsibilities

• Provide training to school personnel regarding compulsory attendance laws, meaningful tiered interventions to address attendance barriers, and the court process.
• Collaborate with school personnel on information related to the student and family including strengths, needs, and barriers to positive attendance.
• Conduct regular meetings with school-based attendance teams to review data and trends.
• Consult with school personnel, parents/guardians and other appropriate individuals to help increase the understanding of students and to help provide an atmosphere conducive to the student’s growth and development.
• Support the Attendance Coordinator in the facilitation of division attendance initiatives.
• Monitor division attendance trends and chronic absenteeism in collaboration with the Attendance Coordinator.

Support and demonstrate core values of Stafford Schools

• Engage in ongoing professional development relevant to position.
• Respond promptly and thoroughly to written and oral requests for information.
• Maintain a clean, neat appearance, appropriate to position.
• Maintain a record of appropriate attendance and punctuality.
• Serve as a role model for students, colleagues, and the general public.
• Work in close harmony with colleagues, supervisors, and co-workers.
• Comply with all District and School policies and regulations, including but not limited to guidelines for confidentiality.
• Perform other related duties as required/assigned.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Master’s in an accredited School Social Work program with a minimum of 60 graduate hours.
• Three (3) years of experience working with diverse populations required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge
  • Compulsory attendance laws
  • McKinney-Vento and all requirements
  • Juvenile court system and other community agencies
  • Child development and growth stages
  • Current special education regulations, issues and related laws
  • Alternative education programs and placements
• Skills
  • Effective interpersonal communication and human relations skills with students, staff, parents, and administration
• Ability
  • Work effectively with diverse populations.
  • Communicate appropriately in both oral and written form; thorough knowledge of English grammar and usage.
  • Adhere to confidentiality as prescribed in federal, state laws and division policies and regulations.

WORKING CONDITIONS and PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Work environment is primarily inside, where the noise and temperature levels are moderate, and can also include outdoor responsibilities, with exposure to weather conditions and no exposure to chemicals or other negative air quality elements.
• The work is light work which requiring exertion of  up to 20 pounds of force to move or lift objects.
• The following physical and mental abilities are representative of those expected to complete the essential functions of the job: standing for prolonged periods; sitting for prolonged periods; operating motor vehicles or heavy equipment; moving the hands, wrists, or fingers repetitively; moving with force on the back or lower body repetitively; feeling, grasping, or holding objections by hand; identifying colors visually; identifying objects in low light or distant conditions; communicating via spoken language; communicating via written language; perceiving sounds; making decisions using logic and rational thinking.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily.  Reasonable accommodations shall be made, as required by law, to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described.

Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties, just as though they were actually written out in this job description.