School Social Worker - Middle School chez Round Lake Area Schools District 116

JOB SUMMARY:

This position accounts for providing direct and indirect social work services to students, as indicated on students' Individualized Education Plans (IEP). This position also works as a member of an interdisciplinary team to provide mental health assessments, services, resources and referrals.

CERTIFICATIONS AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• Valid Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL) with a School Social Worker Endorsement registered in Lake County required.
• 3 years of experience as a school social worker preferred.
• Bilingual Spanish preferred.
• Familiarity with the Round Lake community preferred.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

1. Knowledge of social work modalities and procedures; models of school social work practices;
2. Knowledge of theories of human behavior and development;
3. Knowledge of IEP and due process requirements;
4. Knowledge of community resources, availability of resources and referral procedures;
5. Knowledge of mental health assessment; an understanding of the most common disorders and co-morbidity, as related to the diagnosis, and the impact on education;
6. Knowledge of crisis assessment, intervention and de-escalation; suicide assessment;
7. Skill in communication, especially regarding conflict resolution;
8. Skill in social work individual and group processes;
9. Skill in performing assessments for mental health, chemical dependency, and crisis;
10. Skill in completing IEP goal development for social work goals;
11. Ability to work with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

The following identifies the primary and essential functions of the position and is not intended to be an exhaustive listing of all duties.

1. Provides direct services to students, including one-to-one education, processing, group work, consultation with staff, parent and social services liaison, probation, and referral to community agencies after assessment. Services are designed to improve social skills, assist with problem-solving, provide behavior management skills, and understand how mental health issues impact students' education. All the students have IEP's. Must be responsible for arriving at multiple work sites; this usually means driving between various work sites;
2. Provides indirect services for students, as specified on the student's IEP. These services include working with teachers in helping them to understand family, mental health and chemical issues, so that the curriculum and instruction might be modified in order to improve educational performance and success. Provides teachers with behavior management ideas and strategies;
3. Assesses students' needs for community resources; facilitates referral, including wrap-around referrals. Community resources may address mental health, chemical abuse/dependency, resources needed to improve transition success, social service and other community needs;
4. Provides crisis management and referrals in situations involving a behavioral, mental health, or chemical health crisis. Crisis management may include suicide assessments. Provides support for students dealing with mental health or behavioral issues, which are not at a crisis level, but negatively impact the student's ability to continue the school day;
5. Promotes, plans for and participates in systematic measures for the creation of and continuation of a positive, affirming and support school environment;
6. Documents student contact, including Medical Assistance (MA) billings;
7. Performs related duties as required.

Apply:

Apply online at http://www.applitrack.com/rlas/onlineapp/default.aspx