TITLE: School Social Worker FLSA Status: Exempt

REPORTS TO: Building Administrator FT/PT: Full Time

BASIC FUNCTION:Under general supervision of the school principal and oversight of the Special Education Facilitator, a School Social Worker provides comprehensive community support services to parents, students and school staff in order to address barriers that limit a student from receiving the full benefit from their educational experience. The position requires continuous use of independent judgment. The essential functions as shown below represent only the key areas of responsibility.

This position will be an operational sharing agreement with the Howard-Winneshiek Community School District. The position will be three days a week in Decorah and two days a week in Cresco. This position serves an additional 10 days beyond certified teaching positions. This position is funded by the Therapeutic Classroom grant and is designed to support students K-grade 4. Funding should support this position for at least five years.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Under the direction of the Principal, collaborate with families to help increase their understanding of the importance of daily school attendance.
• Work with families to alleviate barriers to children/youth’s social, emotional, and mental well-being.
• Interview students and parents to discuss issues in relation to non-attendance and develop a plan of action.
• Serve on student support teams at assigned schools in the district.
• Facilitate individual and/or small group student intervention services that are aligned to Iowa’s Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) competencies and Decorah SEL framework.
• Support families in connecting with community resources.
• Conduct home visits as a method to access the family and conduct interviews in response to school referrals.
• Maintain an ongoing liaison with community agencies and other resources to meet student needs; refers parents and students to agencies when appropriate.
• Review student records to identify previous barriers and/or interventions.
• Conduct parent and staff interviews to acquire socio-developmental information as needed for referrals.
• Analyze information gained through record reviews and interviews to determine environmental impacts and appropriate resource needs; integrate gained information into a written report and oral presentation.
• Assist the school in following school board regulations for excessive absences and truancy; attendant student support team meetings and court intervention.
• Assist in providing professional development training for educational staff and parents, as requested.
• Respond to referrals requesting verification of residence and assist in the registration process.
• Collect and review data on the impact of services.
• Participate in required staff professional development and meetings.
• Attend work on a prompt and regular basis.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Maintain satisfactory and harmonious working relationships with the public, students, and other employees.
• Assist with other duties as assigned.