School Social Worker

Northeast Metro 916•Circle Pines, MN

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The School Social Worker provides support services to current and prospective students at Karner Blue Education Center, which serves students in grades K–8 with Emotional Behavioral Disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and Developmental Cognitive Disabilities. The role supports students’ academic and social-emotional success through assessment, counseling, behavioral and crisis intervention, restorative planning, and coordination with families, school staff, outside agencies, and community resources. The position includes providing psychoeducation to caregivers about how home, school, and community factors influence learning, and helping caregivers build strategies that strengthen student skills and success. The School Social Worker collaborates with school personnel through a mental health lens, participates in Professional Learning Communities and student support teams, and provides ongoing site-based professional development. The role also includes documentation and compliance responsibilities, attendance and truancy monitoring, and staff education on trauma-informed strategies. Karner Blue Education Center uses environmental supports and a nature-focused setting to provide a controlled, calming space for students to learn, play, and relax. Its Compassionate School model promotes physical and emotional well-being, relationships, self-regulation, and achievement in academic and non-academic contexts. This is a 1.0 FTE position for 184 days. Starting salary is based on education and years of experience; the position is fully benefit eligible.

Requirements

Master's degree in Social Work or a related field.
Two years of related experience.
Licensed through the Minnesota Board of Social Work as an LGSW (clinical) or LICSW.
Licensed, or able to obtain a license, from the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board as a School Social Worker.
Knowledge of social work principles and techniques; human behavior in the social environment; high academic standards; current instructional theory and practice; crisis intervention and problem-solving techniques; community resources; case management; child development and learning; applicable laws and regulations; recordkeeping principles; and computers and related software applications.
Skills in collaboration, interventions and assessments, counseling, crisis management, problem identification and resolution, applying relevant laws and regulations, preparing and maintaining records and reports, operating a computer and applicable software, and communication and interpersonal interaction.
Ability to meet the position's physical requirements, including climbing, balancing, stooping, reaching, standing, walking, fingering, grasping, talking, hearing, and seeing; light work involving up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, up to 10 pounds frequently, or negligible force constantly.

Nice To Haves

Five years of related experience.
Experience working in a school setting.
Multi-age training and experience with high school and at-promise students.
Cultural competency.
Background in behavior disorders and mental health.
DSM and diagnostic experience.
Understanding of special education due process.
Familiarity working with county systems to connect individuals with resources.
Third-party billing experience.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement behavioral and crisis interventions, restorative plans, and other plans of action tailored to individual student needs.
Administer and analyze student needs assessments; conduct interviews with students, families, and school staff; and observe students.
Plan and conduct individualized student sessions to teach social-emotional support tools and address prevention, problem solving, academics, peer relationships, and barriers to academic success; review student progress.
Monitor student progress toward IEP goals and provide related support services.
Evaluate and make referrals to outside providers, community resources, social services, and other programs; collaborate and communicate with school staff, students, families, and outside resources.
Collaborate with staff, families, outside agencies, and others to manage and support interventions.
Collaborate with, facilitate, and attend meetings with administrators, teachers, staff, related service providers, families, TAP services, McKinney Vento liaisons, and others to coordinate and provide services.
Educate and train staff on related topics, including trauma-informed strategies, and provide ongoing site-based professional development.
Provide psychoeducation to caregivers about factors in a child's home, school, and community that influence learning, and support caregivers in building strategies to strengthen their child's skills and success.
Collaborate with school personnel through a mental health lens, including participation in Professional Learning Communities, and work closely with classroom teachers, instructional coaches, and student support teams.
Prepare assessments, evaluation reports, progress reports, and other documentation or correspondence; maintain compliance with applicable local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations.
Monitor attendance and truancy issues, communicate truancy concerns to guardians, and contact external agencies and resources as necessary.
Perform other duties of a similar nature or level.