REPORTS TO:Building Principal and Director of Special Services
JOB GOAL: Provide assistance in meeting the physical and emotional needs of children to improve their ability to learn and adjust in school. School social workers employed by the Seaman Public Schools are considered mental health professionals who provide direct and indirect therapeutic services with- or on behalf of- exceptional students and their families.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Hold a current and valid license to practice social work in the state of Kansas- issued by the Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board.
The license must be at the Masters (LMSW) or the Clinical Specialist (LSCSW) levels.
PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:
Work together with teachers to ensure the access of all children to a free and appropriate education- and to provide social work services as needed.
Participate in comprehensive evaluations to identify family- health- developmental- emotional- and community elements that may affect a student`s ability to learn.
Identify those factors in the life of an exceptional student (home- school- and community) that may impact his/her education.
Apply knowledge and skills when working with exceptional students and families- individually or in groups- for the purpose of enhancing positive educational experiences.
Collaborate with family- school- and community agencies to enable an exceptional student to receive maximum benefit from his/her educational program.
Provide direct IEP services to students with disabilities- and billing insurance for services to those students who are both disabled and eligible for Medicaid.
Consult with the building Student Intervention Teams (SIT) in the general education interventions and problem-solving process. (This includes providing services to students as outlined in the general education intervention plans.)
Engage actively in building level Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS). This is especially true of the positive behavior intervention supports effort- as well as the anti-bullying and social-emotional character development programs.
Special assignments are available to those if interested or as assigned. These may include representing the district in community service organizations- being on district-level steering committees- and providing training in programs such as NCI.
EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS:
Social work services are related to the social- emotional- and developmental adjustments of exceptional students within the context of their community. As mental health providers- the school social work role requires expertise in the following areas:
Family Contacts __ which may include interviewing the family to discuss their child`s educational adjustment; identifying with the family the resources they might access to alleviate family stress; working with parents to facilitate support of their children`s school adjustment; and serving as liaison between the home and school.
Individual Interventions __ which may include crisis intervention regarding suicide/hospitalization; working with an exceptional student in a therapeutic goal-directed process; and working with school staff to find ways to respond more effectively to a student`s needs.
Group Dynamics __ which may include forming groups of exceptional students and non-identified students to work toward specific goals; consulting with teachers of exceptional students about classroom management techniques; and offering group support opportunities for parents of exceptional students interested in enhancing their parenting skills.
School-Community Liaison __ which may include linking and/or coordinating school and community resources to better serve the families of exceptional students; helping schools obtain appropriate support from social and mental health agencies; and advocating with community planning bodies for new or improved services to children with special needs.
System Interventions – which includes identifying problem areas and- in conjunction with other staff members- planning and implementing programs for exceptional students (such as those at risk for dropping-out or those needing help with transitions).
Problem Solving __ which may include identifying problem areas and- in conjunction with other staff members- planning and implementing programs for exceptional students (such as those at risk for dropping-out or those needing help with transitions).
Assessment and Analysis __ which may include interviewing parents; formalizing information gathered about a student in a manner helpful to the understanding of that student in an educational setting; and employing this knowledge in referral of families to community agencies when appropriate.
Professional Development – which includes continuously updating professional knowledge on the mental health of children- the role of family dynamics- socio-cultural environmental factors in the community and in our school buildings – all toward the development of effective therapeutic interventions.
School Social Work Internship Supervision – school social workers may supervise school social work interns in conjunction with local universities offering graduate level social work programs. Training in field instruction is required.
SIGNIFICANT ASSOCIATIONS:
The performance responsibilities are not limited to those outlined in this description and may include any other responsibilities as assigned by the administrator/supervisor.
EVALUATION:Performance of this position will be evaluated in accordance with provisions of the board policy on evaluation of Support Service Personnel.
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: 184 days; salary and work year to be determined by the Board of Education.
If you are applying for a Seaman USD #345 vacancy, you must do so by going to our website; http://www.seamanschools.org , click on Job Openings or you can link to https://seamanschools.tedk12.com/hire/ to start the application process.
Seaman USD 345 is primarily a suburban district of about 4,000 students, located within and adjacent to Topeka, Kansas. USD 345 is large enough for a well-diversified academic program, but small enough to provide individual attention. The district operates one high school, one middle school, five elementary schools, one alternative school, and one early learning center. Seaman has high quality teachers, administrators, and professional support staff members, with approximately 700 district employees. Many staff members have received recognition at the state and national levels as leaders in their field. Seaman is committed to excellent professional development, and new teachers participate in a high quality mentoring program. The Seaman School District is an excellent place to live and to work. Please visit our website at www.seamanschools.org to learn more about our outstanding district and the opportunities it provides.
