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

Boston Public Schools • Boston, MA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Boston Public Schools (BPS) is committed to providing an equitable, high-quality education for every child. The Office of Social Work supports BPS students and families by providing high-quality, culturally responsive direct services through school-based Social Workers. The office offers consultation, professional development, and crisis response, utilizing a regional support model with District Social Workers and a Program Director. The Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers (EMK), a Horace Mann In-District Charter High School, seeks an exceptional Social Worker to join its community. EMK is a college-preparatory and vocational high school focused on health careers, offering a supportive learning environment that promotes respect and diversity. The Academy is expanding significantly, adding new pathways, courses, and work-based learning opportunities, with graduates gaining access to careers at Mass General Brigham through a substantial grant.

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.
• If hired with an 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.
• 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.

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.
• Fluency in one of BPS's official languages: Spanish, Creole (Cape Verdean), Creole (Haitian), Chinese, Vietnamese, Portuguese, & Somali.

Responsibilities

• Support the implementation of behavioral health supports, including trauma response and recovery, healing, and resiliency-focused services.
• Support students and families in creating conditions that enable students to achieve their full potential academically, socially, and emotionally.
• Provide individual and group counseling and assessments.
• Conduct crisis intervention and response.
• Manage a caseload and coordinate referrals to external agencies and programs in partnership with students and families.
• Facilitate or collaborate in the collection and monitoring of data to identify trends related to conditions, policies, and practices affecting student needs.
• Utilize district-wide Student Success Team (SST) guidance and tools to assess SST practices.
• Continuously develop racial/cultural awareness and build authentic relationships with students and families for cultural learning and understanding.
• Attend professional development and receive coaching to ensure continuous improvement in service delivery and compliance with district protocols.
• Coordinate and/or actively participate in the Student Success Team (SST).
• Collaborate with School Leadership to establish sustainable structures and partnerships, ensuring student and family voices are heard.
• Support the design of tiered interventions that align with an equitable Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS).
• Support the collection of progress monitoring data within the Panorama platform.
• Model and promote authentic relationship-building and collaboration with students, families, school community, and partnering agencies.
• Establish and monitor MTSS Tier 1, 2, and 3 classroom and student-level interventions.
• Communicate goals and activities of the student support program to students, staff, and the larger community.
• Provide individual and/or group counseling, including IEP and non-IEP services.
• 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 as part of the Special Education eligibility process, which may include home visits.
• Support individual and whole-school crisis intervention, including Suicide Risk Assessments and Threat Assessments.
• Consult on school and classroom climate strategies that support social-emotional development and promote student engagement.
• Match students with appropriate services, including referrals to external agencies, and monitor their progress.
• Track and maintain data on mental health partners and their services.
• Maintain and provide student data and written reports, including monthly reports for the Office of Social Work.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Consultation
• Professional development
• Crisis response
• Access to good-paying careers at Mass General Brigham (for graduates, through grant funding)
• Professional development provided by the Office of Social Work focusing on department policies, evidence-based mental health practices, community partners, mental health, SEL, Trauma-informed practices, and healing practices.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level