School Social Worker

Bucks County Intermediate Unit•Levittown, PA

17d•Onsite

About The Position

The social worker's role is to enhance students' educational progress, to provide counseling, instruction, consultation, collaboration, assessments, and monitoring services for Bucks IU and/or district designated students, their families, and the staff who support them, and to help students benefit from their educational program. The services of the school social worker are delivered as part of a broader support team. School social workers address the social and psychological issues that can impede school success. Through counseling, crisis intervention, community resourcing, family engagement and prevention programs, school social workers help students overcome the difficulties in their lives, and as a result, increase the chance of success.

Requirements

Master's Degree in Social Work required
Licensed Social Worker required
School Social Worker certification required
Citizenship or work authorization to meet work authorization/security clearance requirements
Ability to work with diverse learners
Implement IEP's with fidelity
Follow classroom schedule
Direct support staff
Ability to communicate effectively across a variety of team members including parents

Nice To Haves

Individuals who hold a PA license as a Social Worker (LSW) or Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with the Department of State OR hold a PA Home and School Visitor certificate with the Department of Education may apply for and receive a School Social Worker certificate if they satisfy the following requirements: Are currently licensed through the PA Department of State as a LSW or LCSW; Are currently employed by a local education agency (LEA) in the Commonwealth; and Have completed at least one year of satisfactory service as a School Social Worker or other titled position providing social work-related services in a Commonwealth LEA within the prior two years.
After August 1, 2023, all persons employed as a School Social Worker must either (1) hold a valid, active PA School Social Worker Educational Specialist certificate or (2) have an emergency permit, be a LSW or LCSW, and be enrolled in a PDE-approved school social worker program.

Responsibilities

Develop intervention plans consistent with curriculum, student needs, strengths, social and cognitive functioning, and cultural experiences
Assist in the planning of therapeutic, remedial and behavioral modification activities provided by the educational agency
Provide direct interventions to students, including individual and group modalities, and educational and informational programs
Provide supportive case work to children and their families, including parent education and self-advocacy
Assist students and their families in gaining access to formal and informal community resources
Consult with stakeholders to facilitate understanding of factors in a student’s home, education agency and community that affect their educational experience
Consult and collaborate with educational agency personnel, parents and community resources in areas that impact student learning (e.g. mental health, behavior management, school safety, diversity, crisis management, child abuse and neglect)
Assist staff in collaborating with community agencies and organizations
Work with individuals, groups and organizations to develop programs and systems that promote student welfare and achievement
Promote collaboration among community health, mental health, and welfare service providers and facilitate greater access to these services for students
Participate in interagency panels to assist effective integration of services to students