Social Worker

The USD 320 Special Services Cooperative is currently seeking applications for a Social Worker for the 2024-2025 school year. This Special Education Cooperative serves the Wamego- Rock Creek- and Wabaunsee school districts. Applicants should hold or be eligible for a valid Kansas Social Worker`s License.  Interested applicants should fill out the online application and attach any applicable documents. The online application can be found at https://wamego.tedk12.com/hire    This position will be posted until filled.

JOB DESCRIPTION

SPECIAL SERVICES COOPERATIVE

SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER

TITLE:  School Social Worker

QUALIFICATIONS:  A Master’s Degree plus those additional graduate hours and the completion of a practicum as required by the Kansas State Board of Education-Certification Department.

LINE OF AUTHORITY:  Wamego Board of Education and Sponsoring District Director of Special Education

JOB GOAL:  To enable students to derive the fullest possible educational opportunities from their school experience; to promote students’ sense of self-worth; to assist in the achievement and adjustment of all children through the development of a positive learning climate.

SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK:  As defined by K.A.R. 91-12-63 is a related service which shall be provided as required to assist an exceptional child to benefit from special education.  The School Social Worker shall deal with social and cultural influences in the home and the community as well as factors within the school which impact upon the student’s special needs and which must be considered in the development of the IEP.  School Social Work is a supportive service to both regular education and special education. 

EVALUATION: School Social Workers will be evaluated pursuant to the time lines of the state statutes for staff evaluations.  They are evaluated by the Director and Building Administrators as stated in the Special Services Cooperative agreement.

PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:

Assist in the development and implementation of the local education agency (LEA)

screening program to tentatively identify children in need of special education services.

Assist in screening those children brought to the Child-Find activities; providing social

histories and behavioral assessments for K-12 comprehensive evaluations- some of which

may need to be gained through home visitations.

Act as a liaison between the home- school and the community to prevent problems in

learning and to promote quality education.

To enable the child to profit from the educational experience- assist as a coordinator

between the school and other community agencies to mobilize resources.

Assist through group and individual counseling with the child and family to affect the

child’s adjustment in school.

Assists in the preparation for return of students from a detention home- mental health

facility- or a State facility into the public school and provides follow-up after the

student’s return.

Assists in the establishment of trust relationship with parents as possibly the first

representative from the Sped services staff to have contact with the family.

Assists in communicating parental concerns to the school staff and the school’s concerns

regarding the child to the parents; acts as a mediator when necessary.

Maintains follow-up of children being seen by another community agency.

Assists the parents in locating and acquiring any additional services which are needed;

assisting in accessing valuable resources within the community for the parents and.

students.

In cooperation with other support personnel- plans and conducts parent meetings are

training to assist parents in a better understanding of their child’s unique needs and their

role in effective parenting.

Provides supportive group and individual casework and counseling services to students

and parents on school related problems.

Provides assistance to the family and school during the adjustment period when a child is

returned to the community from a State institution or other placement.

IN RELATION TO SCHOOL PERSONNEL

Serves as a member of the multidisciplinary team responsible for comprehensive

evaluations. (And)Serves as a member of the team responsible for reporting the results of

the evaluations.

Channels appropriate community information to the school to help improve school-child

relationship through better understanding.

Consult with teachers and other school staff to assist their understanding of the cultural

and social factors related to a child’s performance in school.

As a member of the total school staff- assists in developing a better understanding of

factors which may be counter-productive to learning; emphasize prevention of problems

as well as supportive assistance to individual children- parents- and school staff.

Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings- advisory councils- interagency councils-

building crisis intervention teams and any other committees as requested/time allows

which will assist in the betterment of services to exceptional children.

Consults with administrators or other school personnel concerning social and cultural

factors contributing to pupil problems in the school system.

Participates in the formulation of policies designed to improve the school learning

climate.

Assists other special education services personnel in providing school in-service related

to the special needs of children.

Reviews in cooperation with other appropriate school personnel- current information

pertaining to a child’s progress and assists in the reformulation of the Individualized

Education Program as needed.

Assists in effective school and community cooperation by acting as a liaison between the

school and existing community resources.

IN RELATION TO THE DIRECTOR AND SPED REGULATIONS:

Collect and compile data from evaluations and other sources which are required by Sped

regulations. Make this information available to the administrator of special education or

other school administrators as directed and assist where needed in the planning and

development of necessary programs.

Assist in planning and conducting school staff in-services for awareness and

understanding of exceptional children.

Initiate/participate in educational research as approved by the LEA.

IN RELATION TO OTHER AGENCIES AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE:

Participate in referral and follow-through on referrals to community specialists and

confer with ‘outside’ agencies- as given parental permission- to assist in intervention

processes for students.

 Assist the school in the development of public awareness activities which lead to a better

understanding of the needs of all children. This includes activities at all grade levels such

as the kindergarten round-ups in assigned buildings.

Is available to consult in community planning and to interpret the role of school social

work to institutions and other community agencies.

Assists in developing community awareness of the needs of all children- including those

with exceptional needs.

Acts as a liaison when the school is working cooperatively with another community

agency such as the juvenile court- mental health center- of Department of Social and

Rehabilitation Services.

IN RELATION TO PERSONAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT:

Keeps abreast of new developments in the fields of school social work and special

education. Takes advantage of membership in professional organizations to assist in this

process.

Assumes responsibility for own professional growth and development; for keeping

current with the literature- new research findings- and improved techniques- and for

attending appropriate professional meetings and conventions.

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