School-Based Social Worker [Candidate Pool Posting] (SY26-27)

Position Summary and General Responsibilities

Boston Public Schools seeks an exceptional School Based Social Worker who is highly qualified and knowledgeable to support the implementation of a variety of behavioral health supports that include trauma response and recovery, healing, and resiliency-focused school social work services that support students and educators to create conditions wherein students may achieve their full potential academically, socially, and emotionally.

The Social Worker, in partnership with the other BPS providers and outside mental health partners will support school communities by supporting with:

• 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

Responsibilities

Through a lead role in the Student Success Team (SST) and other leadership bodies within the school, and working in close collaboration with other school-based teams, Social Workers:

• 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 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.

Professional Learning

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. The social worker may be required to attend professional Development for up to 9 of the 18 contractually required PD hours to focus on mental health-specific topics offered by the Office of Social Work.

Direct Service

• Provide individual and/or group counseling which may include IEP and non-IEP services.
• A recommendation of a maximum of 10 individual sessions with students with IEPs per week.
• 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, upload 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 the students/families expressed need 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 related to mental health partners and the services that they provide.
• Maintain and provide student data and written reports as needed, including timely completion of monthly reports for the Office of Social Work.

Core Competencies

• Accountability for Student Achievement (II-A-1 Quality of Effort and Work, II-D-2 High Expectations, I B-2 Adjustments to Practice)
• Using the Rubric of Specialized Instructional Support Personnel (SISP), the Office of Human Capital has identified priority skills and abilities that all BPS SISP should demonstrate.
• Communication Professional Knowledge (I-A-1 Professional Knowledge, I-A-2 Child Adolescent Development, I-A-3 Plan Development)
• Equitable & Effective Instruction (II-A-3 Meeting Diverse Needs, II-A-2. Student Engagement, II-B-1. Safe Learning Environment, II-B-2 Collaborative Learning Environment, I-D-3 Access to Knowledge)
• Cultural Proficiency (II-C-1. Respects Differences, II-C-2. Maintains a Respectful Environment)
• Parent/Family Engagement (III-A-1. Parent/Family Engagement, III-B-2. Collaboration)
• Professional Reflection & Collaboration (IV-A-1. Reflective Practice, IV-C-1. Professional Collaboration, IV-C-2. Consultation)

Qualifications

- Required:

• Education: 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.

- Preferred:

• Prior work as a school-based social worker
• Knowledge of Special Education policies and procedures
• 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 who are fluent in one of BPS' official languages: Spanish, Creole (Cape Verdean), Creole (Haitian), Chinese, Vietnamese, Portuguese, & Somali.
• Certification as a trainer in Safety Cares de-escalation and restraint program.

Terms

BTU Group 1