Job Details
We are looking for highly motivated and skilled Social Workers to join our team at the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS). We seek individuals who are passionate about transforming the DC school system and making a significant difference in the lives of our students, families, and the greater DC community.
DCPS serves 50,000 students in the nation's capital through the efforts of approximately 4,000 educators in 117 schools. As part of a comprehensive reform effort to become the preeminent urban school system in America, DCPS intends to have the highest performing, best-paid, most satisfied, and most honored educator force in the nation and a distinctive central office staff whose work supports and drives instructional excellence and significant achievement gains for DCPS students.
Position Overview
The School Social Worker is jointly managed by DCPS local school administration and the Office of Teaching and Learning; receiving technical assistance, guidance, and instruction while working in coordination with managers from the OTL. The offices are responsible for providing services to students with special needs and the general education student population. As such, the School Social Worker is involved in the following three (3) key areas: (1) preventive and advocacy work with students, staff, and families that promotes positive school climate and social/emotional wellbeing; (2) program development and planning to meet the unique needs of the school through contributions to school-wide policies; and (3) direct services to students and families inclusive of general and special education students. This position is a safety-sensitive position. As a result, throughout employment, this position will be subject to the Employee Mandatory Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy.
The Social Worker will report to the Principal.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
The below statements are intended to describe the general nature and scope of work being performed by this position. This is not a complete listing of all responsibilities, duties, and/or skills required. Other duties may be assigned.
Preventive work with students, staff, and families
- Providing consultation to school staff and parents to facilitate student educational, social, and emotional growth. Obtaining information concerning the effects of the environment, including family, cultural, and economic disadvantages that may be adversely affecting student progress.
- Conducting home visits that encourage home/school communication.
- Working collaboratively with the Student Support Team (SST) to develop plans of assistance for students at risk of academic and/or behavioral difficulty.
- Coordinating school and community services.
- Serving as the home school community liaison responsible for effective resource utilization and positive relations with stakeholders.
Program Development
- Conducting needs assessments.
- Planning for support services both within and outside the school.
- Facilitating special support groups, i.e. students with incarcerated parents, grief and loss, divorce, teen parents, conflict resolution, etc. as needed.
- Managing family resource centers, where parents/guardians can access needed information and participate in opportunities to learn how to support their student(s).
Program Planning
- Working with administrators to implement effective policies that address school safety, school attendance, substance abuse, teen pregnancy, child abuse, and neglect.
Advocacy
- Serving as a mediator within the school.
- Communicating with other agencies involved with students.
- Attending court hearings as a DC Public Schools representative.
- Making appropriate referrals for community resources.
Direct Services
- Providing individual counseling.
- Providing group counseling.
- Providing psychoeducation.
- Providing crisis intervention.
- Providing parent training.
Special Education
- Serving as a member of the multidisciplinary team (MDT).
- Conducting social work evaluations and other related assessments for initial evaluations and reevaluations. Providing related services as prescribed by Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), including social skills, life skills, and transitional skills that can be transferred from school to community.
- Participating in MDT, IEP, manifestation determination, and other related meetings.
- Working collaboratively within the classroom setting to implement student IEPs.
- Collecting data for the purpose of monitoring social/emotional progress and evaluating the effectiveness of services.
- Providing technical assistance on strategies that improve outcomes for special education students.
- Coordinating the design and implementation of behavior intervention plans and functional behavior assessments.
- Keeping thorough records of each student receiving services.
- Completing student progress reports.