Social Worker

NATURE OF WORK
Promotes and enhances the overall academic mission by providing services that strengthen home, school, and community partnerships and address barriers to learning and achievement. Collaborates with administrators and teachers to advance the understanding of the emotional and social development of children and assists in carrying out the guiding mission that every public school student will graduate from high school.
 
MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE
Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Master’s Degree preferred.  Must either have or be eligible
for a North Carolina Department of Public Instruction License for School Social Worker.
 
PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES/ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF JOB

1. Helps students and families make the best use of available opportunities and resources and to fully develop each student’s individual potential 
2. Provides the necessary professional skills to assist students and communities in problem solving and conflict resolution in a safe and healthy manner 
3. Assists parents in utilizing school and community resources to help children maximize their educational abilities 
4. Coordinates services with community agencies and other disciplines within the school 
5. Coordinates various prevention and intervention programs and services 
6. Participates in referrals, placements, behavioral modification plans and case studies 
7. Provides individual and group counseling, case management, home visits and assessments 
8. Serves as liaison between school, family and community 
9. Adheres to the National Association of Social Workers code of ethical behavior and professional practice 
10. Models professional behaviors that contribute to addressing the needs of students, families and the school community 
11. Keeps abreast of current community resources and determines how these resources may be beneficial to the student, his/her family, and the family’s involvement in the academic process 
12. Understands, and abides by, federal, state and local laws, such as child protection/child abuse, special education, attendance, education rights and privacy 
13. Consults with school personnel to encourage compliance with laws, statutes and policies 
14. Practices professional renewal through attending regional and national conferences, participating in professional organizations and remaining abreast of current research and literature 
15. Expands and exchanges knowledge through consultation with coordinators, specialists, psychologists, counselors and other colleagues.

 
MINIMUM STANDARDS REQUIRED TO PERFORM RESPONSIBILITIES
 
Physical Requirements: Must be physically able to operate a variety of equipment including computers, copiers, calculators, etc. Must be physically able to operate a motor vehicle. Must be able to exert up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Light Work usually requires walking or standing to a significant degree. 
Data Conception: Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural or composite characteristics (whether similar or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things. 
Interpersonal Communication: Requires the ability to speak and/or signal people to convey or exchange information. Includes giving instructions, assignments or directions to subordinates or assistants. 
Language Ability: Requires the ability to read a variety of correspondence, reports, forms, strategic plans, etc. Requires the ability to prepare correspondence, reports, forms, evaluations, budgets, etc., using prescribed formats and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style. Requires the ability to speak before groups of people with poise, voice control and confidence. 
Intelligence: Requires the ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; 
Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in standard English. 
Numerical Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas; to add and subtract; multiply and divide; utilize decimals and percentages; and to apply the principles of algebra, descriptive statistics and statistical inference.
Form/Spatial Aptitude: Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape. 
Motor Coordination: Requires the ability coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using office equipment. 
Manual Dexterity: Requires the ability to handle a variety of items such as office equipment and hand tools. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination. 
Color Discrimination: Does not require the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color. 
Interpersonal Temperament: Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress and when confronted with emergency situations. 
Physical Communication: Requires the ability to talk and hear: (Talking: expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words. Hearing: perceiving nature of sounds by ear.) Must be able to communicate via telephone.
 
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT
Full-time for ten (10) months
Salary based on state and local salary schedules
 
DISCLAIMER 
The preceding job description was designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification.  It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees to this job.