Department Lead - School Social Worker

Job Summary

The Department Lead works to support the success of Global Psychological and is responsible for the leadership, administration, and supervision of the assigned discipline/department. The Department Lead will plan, organize, and direct the overall functioning of the department. 

The Dept. Lead will also function in the capacity of a School Social Worker, advancing the understanding of the emotional and social development of children and the influences of family, community, and cultural differences on student success and by implementing effective intervention strategies. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

Leadership – 

• Maintains comprehensive awareness of school assignments for assigned discipline, with the goal of increasing capacity and efficiency as a priority 
• Improves management and oversight of the diagnostic, intervention, and referral process for special education eligibility 
• Facilitate research regarding trends and best practices to support appropriate recommendations for student success through rigorous, innovative, and technological programming related to the assigned discipline 
• Plan and implement professional development for assigned discipline; involve staff in continuous improvement through self-evaluation and goal setting 
• Facilitate and organize all monthly department meetings including agenda, all content, and evidence-based practice presentations 

Assessments and Services –

• Provides direct school social work services to referred students who have serious social and emotional problems that interfere with learning
• Identifies and assess academic problems through analysis of factors impinging on student adjustment including factors in the home, school, and community
• Completes psychosocial assessments to assist in the determination of special education eligibility
• Determines and implements appropriate therapeutic strategies to effect changes in behavioral/social interactions of students and their families
• Explains nature and purpose of assessments, its use and limitations, in an understandable manner to parents or other professionals
• Provides individual and group therapeutic counseling to students and their families
• Provides and connects parents with community resources for additional support, as needed
• Must understand the IEP Process and the ability to develop Individual Educational Plans, Multidisciplinary Evaluation Team Reports, Evaluation Review Reports, Functional Behavior Assessments, Behavior Intervention Plans, Manifestation Determination Reviews, 504’s, and other special education reports pertaining to student needs and issues

Interdisciplinary Administration –

• Coordinates and facilitates crisis intervention and trauma response services
• Serves as a liaison between families and the school to positively promote collaborative processes in educational planning for students by encouraging parent/guardian participation in the school setting
• Prepares written reports that are succinct, direct, in appropriate language that provides insight into the presenting problem of the student
• Maintains current knowledge of FERPA and other applicable state and federal confidentiality requirements

Other –

• Demonstrates general knowledge of disability areas in special education with specific knowledge in emotional impairment and autism
• Demonstrates skill in conducting effective meetings and conferences
• Maintain current knowledge of FERPA and other applicable state and federal confidentiality requirements
• Other duties as assigned

Required Education, Licensure, Certifications

• Master’s degree in social work from an accredited college or university
• Valid state of Michigan Master’s Social Work license
• Social Worker Permit
• Applicants not holding full approval must be eligible for temporary or continuing temporary approval

Required Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Knowledge of special education requirements in K-12 school setting
• Advanced knowledge of social work services, facilitating individual or group discussions, and preparing social and family histories
• Ability to utilize principles and methods of effective and persuasive speaking
• Ability to communicate expectations clearly, and to effectively utilize a teamwork approach with staff at all levels
• Ability to utilize various computer and web-based software programs

Environmental Factors and/or Physical Demands

• The job may be performed in a school setting. As such, buildings may have varied heating/cooling/air filtration/plumbing systems
• Buildings may have stairs and may not have an elevator
• Employees may work in a variety of elementary and/or secondary education, individual, or team settings
• If supervising children outside, the employee will be exposed to the elements
• The employee may encounter situations where students are physically or verbally aggressive
• The noise level may vary from quiet to moderate to loud
• The employee will be expected to stand, sit, and move around within the school setting
• The employee may be required to carry, lift, or shift a weight of up to 50 pounds