School-Based Social Worker, Gr. 9-12 (SY26-27)

Boston Public Schools•Boston, MA

15h•Onsite

About The Position

The Boston Public Schools is committed to providing every child in every classroom an equitable, world-class, high-quality education with the same unfettered access to every conceivable resource to unlock the greatness within them. As part of an equitable Multi-tiered System of Supports that advances students’ learning and outcomes, The Office of Social Work serves BPS students and families by supporting school-based Social Workers across the district with providing high-quality, culturally responsive direct services. The Office of Social Work supports social workers with consultation, professional development, and crisis response. Through a regional support model, all school-based social workers receive support from a District Social Worker in addition to the Program Director of Social Work. The Office of Social Work aims to provide high-quality culturally and linguistically relevant mental health support in all BPS schools. The Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers (EMK) seeks an exceptional Social Worker who is highly qualified and knowledgeable to join our community of teachers, learners, and leaders. Kennedy Academy teachers and leaders are committed to the vision of high expectations for achievement, equal access to high-quality instruction, academic proficiency for all students, and the closing of the achievement gap among subgroups within the schools. Kennedy Academy is a Horace Mann In-District Charter High School. It is a college-preparatory and vocational high school for Boston students exploring careers in health and health-related fields. The Academy provides a supportive learning environment that promotes respect and embraces diversity. Students will attain the life skills needed to become productive and positive members of society. Kennedy Academy is a great place for those who seek to work in an environment that supports their creativity and innovation and respects their skills and abilities as educators. In addition, over the next five years, Kennedy Academy will double in size, add new health-care pathways, college courses, and work-based learning, and offer graduates access to good-paying careers at Mass General Brigham thanks to a $38 million grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies, which marks the largest philanthropic investment in BPS history. Kennedy Academy School-Based Social Worker will support the implementation of a variety of behavioral health supports, including trauma response and recovery, healing, and resiliency-focused school social work services. The Social Worker will support students and families in creating conditions that enable students to achieve their full potential academically, socially, and emotionally. BPS Office of Social Work supports school-based social workers with consultation, professional development, and crisis response. Kennedy Academy Social Worker, in partnership with the other BPS providers and outside mental health partners, will support school communities by supporting the following: individual and group counseling and assessments crisis intervention and response managing a caseload, coordinating referrals to external agencies and programs in partnership with students and families

Requirements

Master of Social Work (MSW) or Master of Mental Health Counseling
MA DESE School Social Worker/School Adjustment Counselor License (All Levels)
Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) or Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) at the time of hire or if hired with a Master’s of Social Worker (MSW) must obtain a LCSW by the last day of school in the year of hire.
Minimum of 3 years of effective professional experience in an urban setting similar to Boston Public Schools providing clinical services.
Ability to meet the BPS Standards of Effective Practice as outlined above.
Strong interpersonal skills to work with school, students, parents, and community-based agencies.
Demonstrates understanding of racial equity and ability to engage in dialogue about race, intersectionality, and systems of oppression
Demonstrates a deep sense of cultural humility and self-awareness.
Current authorization to work in the United States - Candidates must have such authorization by their first day of employment.

Nice To Haves

Prior work as a school-based social worker
Knowledge of Special Education policies and procedures
Certification as a trainer in the Safety Cares de-escalation and restraint program.
BPS values linguistic diversity and believes that candidates who speak another language bring added value to the classroom, school, and district culture and diversity. BPS is particularly interested in candidates fluent in one of BPS's official languages: Spanish, Creole (Cape Verdean), Creole (Haitian), Chinese, Vietnamese, Portuguese, & Somali.

Responsibilities

Facilitate or collaborate, as needed, with School Leaders, colleagues, and other stakeholders in the collection and monitoring of data to identify trends with a close eye on conditions, policies, and practices that may be creating or exacerbating issues that lead to the need for counseling and Tier 2/3 support.
Utilize district-wide SST guidance implementation tools and support to actively assess Student Success Team practices.
Continuously work to develop their own racial/cultural awareness alongside their colleagues (CLSP Competency 1) and authentic relationships that allow for cultural learning and understanding with students and families (CLSP Competency 2) in order to do this work well.
Coordinate and/or actively participate in the Student Success Team.
Collaborate with School Leadership to establish sustainable structures and partnerships and ensure the voices of students and families are elevated in co-constructing solutions to issues.
Support the collection of progress monitoring data within the Panorama platform in collaboration with other staff to ensure that intervention, support, and services lead to the desired outcome(s) for participating students.
Model and promote authentic relationship-building and collaboration with students, families, school community, and partnering agencies.
In partnership with the Student Success Team, the School-Based Social Worker will establish & monitor a Multi-tiered System of Support (MTSS): Tier 1, 2 & Tier 3 classroom and student-level interventions in a manner that does not pathologize students.
Social Workers will collaborate with the SST members to ensure students elevated to the student success team have a plan, progress monitoring, and assessment of the interventions
Communicate goals and activities of the student support program to students, staff, and the larger community.
Attend monthly professional development provided by the Office of Social Work. The topics will focus on department policies and practices as well as evidence-based mental health practices, community partners, mental health, SEL, Trauma-informed practices, and healing practices.
Provide individual and/or group counseling, including IEP and non-IEP services.
As needed/ if applicable, serve as a member of the IEP/504 Team for assigned students.
Provide Tier 2/3 interventions such as check-in/check-out, suicide, and threat risk Assessments.
Conduct sociological assessments when requested as part of the Special Education eligibility process, and upload them to Edplan in a timely manner. This may include home visits.
Support individual and whole-school crisis intervention, in collaboration with the BPS district-wide Crisis Team as needed. This includes supporting Suicide Risk Assessments and Threat Assessments (with the school crisis team).
Consult around school and classroom climate strategies that support social-emotional development and promote active student engagement in learning.
Match students with appropriate services that align with students' and families' expressed needs and aspirations, which may include referrals to external agencies; monitor their progress and coordinate follow-up services for each student, serving as a case manager.
Track and maintain data on mental health partners and the services they provide.
Maintain and provide student data and written reports as needed, including timely completion of monthly reports for the Office of Social Work.
Performs other related duties as assigned by the School Leader or Program Director of Social Work.