School Social Worker

Reports To: Principal

Position Summary: Meridian Charter Schools is seeking a School Social Worker to strengthen support structures intended to promote access and equity for all students. School Social Workers possess an unwavering belief that all students can succeed on the path of their choice and lead exemplary lives, and ground their work with students and staff in this belief. By anticipating and meeting the social-emotional needs of the school community, School Social Workers ensure that students are ready and available for learning and feel welcome, safe, and encouraged. Further, School Social Workers equip students with effective coping strategies, social-emotional guidance, and the interpersonal skills needed to be successful inside and outside of school. Finally, School Social Workers partner with families, teachers, counselors, administrators, and other stakeholders to promote equity, a positive school environment, and advocacy for students. The School Social Worker will report to the Principal or designated member of the leadership team, will serve as a member of MTSS/RTI team, and will partner with school and network leadership teams to carry out the responsibilities of the role. The School Social Worker will also work with families. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are generally representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Duties and Responsibilities: Mission, Vision, Core Values: Facilitate and promote equity, a positive school environment and advocacy of students that aligns with the organization's mission and values. Collaborate with colleagues and school leaders to strengthen support structures intended to promote access and equity that meets the needs of all students. Demonstrate respect and regard for students, colleagues, and parents. Ethics and Professional Norms: Participate positively and productively in team, department, school, network, and parent meetings. Actively participate in the development and implementation of new social work structures, techniques and approaches to service delivery and program construction. Actively participate in discussions and programs to improve student performance, experience, attendance, conduct. Consult with teachers about building positive, productive relationships with students. Identify and report child abuse and neglect. Prepare written reports as required. Maintain accurate and current records of services rendered to students, parent contacts, and coordination of services for students and families. Troubleshoot a student’s living situation when circumstances affect the child’s adjustment and functioning in school and at home. Prepare a social or developmental history on a diverse learner. Equity and Cultural Responsiveness: Demonstrate preparation and skill in working with students from diverse cultural, economic and ability backgrounds. Support the creation of inclusive, identity-affirming spaces for students Implement professional practice and responsibilities, demonstrating cultural competence. Implement D.E.I principles in interactions with members of the school community. Community of Care and Support for Students: Develop and implement intervention strategies to increase social, emotional, and personal growth. Assist with conflict resolution and anger management. Help disciplinary personnel with investigations. Help students develop appropriate social interaction skills. Train students on harassment, bullying, Title IX policies and protocols, and other guiding principles and regulations critical for student understanding and implementation. Assist students in understanding and accepting self and others. Engage in and support anti-racist practices and interactions. Provide crisis intervention for individual and small groups of students, coordinating with community agencies, partners, and administrators to address the crisis. Act to address emergency mental health situations, contacting the proper agencies and authorities. Serve on the crisis intervention team and help lead school wide crisis response. Assist students in identifying and solving emotional and social problems, adjusting to school and community life, troubleshooting family relationships, and preparing for appropriate post-secondary training. Participate in re-entry processes for students who are returning to school after an extended absence due to discipline, illness, or other circumstance. Assist students in evaluating and devising solutions related to their relationships with other students and with teachers and/or administrators. Help students predict the consequences of various courses of action open to them; reinforce behavior appropriate to the school environment by utilizing guidance techniques. Assist in the planning, development and implementation of programs which include initiating group and individual activities to assist students with social, emotional, and personal growth. Plan and execute school wide programming to address or prevent systemic issues affecting the student body and school community or to contribute to a positive school climate. Professional Capacity of School Personnel: Collaborate with the school faculty and administration in revising programs based on current and future needs and programming. Engage actively, positively, and productively in the instructional coaching process. Accept and apply coaching feedback. Participate in special education meetings as well as IEP (Individualized Education Program) meetings to apprise the team of student progress, present levels of performance, and continued needs. Draft goals for diverse learners receiving or in need of social work services and share goals with Case Manager. Professional Community for Teachers and Staff: Develop staff in-service training programs. Train staff on protocols pertaining to mandated reporting, students living in transitional situations, Title IX, and other state, district, and network requirements. Provide staff with essential information to better understand factors (cultural, societal, economic, familial, health, etc.) affecting a student’s performance and behavior and help staff devise strategies to prevent or address concerns thoughtfully. Assist teachers with behavior management. Provide direct support to staff. Meaningful Engagement of Families and Communities: Work with parents/families to facilitate their support in their student’s school adjustment. Help families develop strategies to alleviate family stress in an effort to enable the student to function more effectively in the school community. Develop and maintain a comprehensive, culturally responsive database of community resources and agencies that families and students can access. Assist parents in accessing and utilizing school and community resources. Provide guidance on alternative placement options for students, when needed. Conduct parent meetings on issues/topics that address parent concerns, improve parent skills, or connect parents to critical information needed to support a positive and productive school experience. Build positive and respectful relationships with staff, students, families, and community partners. Develop and facilitate individual, small group, and family counseling groups, based on identified or expressed need. Mobilize family, school, and community resources to enable the child to learn as effectively as possible in the school setting. School Improvement: Actively participate in the development and implementation of new social work structures, techniques and approaches to service delivery and program construction. Actively participate in discussions and programs to improve student performance, experience, attendance, conduct. Consult with teachers about building positive, productive relationships with students. Perform other duties as assigned.

Certification: Current Illinois State Board of Education licensure for social workers or current, comparable out of state licensure is required. An ELL Endorsement is preferred.

Education Level: A Bachelor’s Degree is required. A Master’s Degree in Social Work is required.

Experience: 1-2 years experience working with students in a school or similar setting is required. Experience working in an urban high school setting is strongly preferred. Leadership Skills: Ability to work effectively and professionally with students, parents and/or guardians, staff members, and community representatives. Strategic Vision: Understanding of the differences between social work and school counseling and ability to operate with that understanding. Substantial knowledge of school social work principles, techniques, and scope and limitation of practice. Strong ability to apply contemporary principles and practices to school social work. Fundamental understanding of human development principles as applied to children, adolescents, and families. Communication and Collaboration: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with various leaders in the school and community. Bilingual in Spanish/English; Arabic/English; Urdu/English is strongly preferred. Results-Oriented: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to use data to drive decision-making Strong ability to apply contemporary principles and practices to school social work. Change Management: Demonstrate ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and adapt to changing priorities. Capacity to be flexible in approaches to programming structure and delivery of services. Educational Ethics: