About Job

SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER

POSITION SUMMARY: The School Social Worker is responsible for providing clinical services and general case management as part of a treatment team for youth and families served by The Children’s Center of Hamden. The School Social Worker provides leadership and guidance in clinical interventions to help remove non-academic barriers to learning within the school setting.

In this role, the School Social Worker maintains a counseling caseload and offers clinical support and crisis intervention to students at Whitney Hall School. The School Social Worker also serves as a liaison with school districts, outside agencies and personnel, DCF, hospitals, insurance/managed care providers, the legal system, private consultants, and others.

The School Social Worker reports to the Manager of School Social Workers or their designee at Whitney Hall School. As a member of a multidisciplinary team, the Social Worker contributes clinical expertise, strategies, and teamwork to support youth treatment.

POSITION STATUS: Exempt

TECHNOLOGIES: Microsoft Office Suite, Electronic Health Record System Platform, Scheduling Platform, Online Trainings Platform, Payroll System Platform

Accountable and responsible for the following results:

Knowledge and understanding of special education law, the PPT process, and IEP documentation.
Maintain regular contact with instructional staff and treatment team members regarding clinical and educational issues, as well as inter-departmental communication about student performance.
Provide therapeutic support and counseling to students based on IEP goals and objectives.
Facilitate psycho-educational groups in the school setting, as needed.
Demonstrate understanding of professional boundaries and roles within the educational system.
Attend, participate in, and contribute to diagnostic, treatment team, case review, and discharge conferences.
Collaborate with students’ LEA from pre-admission through discharge.
Maintain contact with and contribute to decision-making meetings involving outside agencies (e.g., DCF, juvenile courts, community resources, school districts, other treatment providers, and alternative placements).
Create and propose social-behavioral goals, intervention plans, and objectives based on measurable student data.
Ensure that the legal rights of students regarding privacy and confidentiality are upheld.
Review intake materials and participate in pre-placement visits, as assigned.
Provide crisis intervention and risk assessments for students as needed.
Conduct Functional Behavior Assessments (FBAs) as recommended via the PPT process. Provide written summaries and proposed Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs) for PPT review.
Communicate with school personnel about family and community influences on student performance.
Participate in staff and departmental meetings, in-service trainings, workshops, and conferences. Utilize supervision effectively.
Stay current with developing educational and social trends.
As a salaried employee, the School Social Worker may be required to stay beyond contracted hours in emergency situations. This may include off-campus scenarios, for example, accompanying a student to the emergency department for a medical or behavioral health evaluation and remaining until a parent or guardian arrives.
Successfully complete CCG (Crisis Consulting Group) training and perform physical restraints with clients when necessary.
Demonstrate sensitivity and cultural awareness in work with diverse client populations.
Maintain the care, welfare, safety, and security of students and staff by reporting any actual or potential safety hazards.

Stay current with all certifications and training requirements.
Other duties as assigned.
Maintains all required agency mandatory trainings.
Maintains appropriate personal boundaries with clients and families served at The Children's Center of Hamden. Adheres to The Children’s Center of Hamden’s Boundary Code of Ethics.
Is aware of the Policy and Procedure Manuals and can access information as needed.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Working knowledge of DSM-IV/V, child development, mental health, and substance use disorders.

Familiarity or experience with trauma-informed practices.

Ability to engage clients in a therapeutic relationship.

Ability to design and implement interventions that support positive change.

Ability to work effectively with adolescents and their families.

Capacity to work independently while collaborating within a treatment team model.

Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Bilingual candidates preferred.

LICENSURE /

CERTIFICATIONS

Connecticut State Department of Education (SDE) Certification as a School Social Worker [Endorsement #071].

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS /

WORK ENVIRONMENT

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to perform the following essential job functions:

Light lifting (<20 lbs.)

Standing

Sitting

Seeing

Moderate lifting (20 – 50 lbs.)

Reaching

Walking

Hearing

Heavy lifting (>50 lbs)

Bending

Climbing

Talking

Driving

Repetitive Motion

Push/Pulling

Other, specify:

The work environment is primarily representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job.

Potential exposure to waste and bodily fluids

Potential allergenic and/or irritant conditions

CORE COMPETENCIES

Behaviors and skills employees are expected to demonstrate to carry out the mission and goals.

Values/Ethics: Ability to act with integrity and respect in personal and organizational practices, treating all people equitably including respecting professional, ethical and people values.
Communication: Ability to write and speak clearly and succinctly in a variety of communication settings; can get messages across that have the desired effect.
Conflict Resolution: Facilitating the prevention and/or resolution of conflict while preserving working relationships while maintaining composure.
Organization: Ability to manage multiple projects; determine project urgency, uses goals to guide actions; organizes and schedules task effectively.
Teamwork: Readily sharing information, knowledge, and personal strengths. Seek to understand and build on differing perspectives of others to enhance team efficiency and quality outcomes.
Computer: Ability to use computers and other forms of technology. Ability to learn required office software products.

Decision Making/Decisiveness: Making and taking responsibility for and demonstrating commitment to appropriate decisions in a timely manner. Ensuring that decisions are made based on policies, rules and organizational directives and solving emerging problems.
Leadership: Creating a working environment that promotes and encourages team members' participation to attain common and individual objectives. Leading by example.
Project Management: The discipline of planning, organizing, and managing resources to bring about the successful completion of a specific project.
Strategic Thinking: Innovating through analysis of issues and trends and how these link to responsibilities, capabilities, and potential of the organization.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The Children's Center of Hamden is an Equal Opportunity Employer.