Social Worker (Academy Grand)

About the role

The UCAN Academy and High School is an innovative therapeutic day school in the Humboldt Park and Auburn-Gresham communities. It serves students from diverse backgrounds who have experienced difficulties in public or private school settings. The program aims to help these students see schooling in a positive light and reach their highest potential.

Responsibilities

• Performs diagnostic tests and evaluations of students referred for services.
• Interviews students and individuals closely related to students such as family members.
• Evaluates test results and plans IEP goals and therapeutic approaches.
• Develops clear and specific IEP goals for each student based on their individual needs.
• Identifies at-risk students and behaviors.
• Effectively conducts appropriate social work minutes in a timely manner.
• Engages and develops rapport with a wide range of students.
• Utilizes clinical knowledge and skills to provide appropriate and effective therapies.
• Structures therapy sessions in accordance with IEP goals.
• Creates a therapeutic environment by providing adequate, varied, culturally competent and developmentally appropriate activities/materials.
• Maintains consistency and safety throughout the session.
• Plans time effectively and efficiently to meet all job commitments.
• Organizes caseload to meet expected level of IEP service minutes on a monthly basis.
• Obtains and evaluates information necessary to implement student services.
• Responds in a timely manner to all written correspondence, email, and phone call inquiries regarding students.
• Consults with supervisor, other Social Workers, and school staff on details of cases and Individual Education Plans.
• Contacts other social service agencies, schools, hospitals, courts, and public mental health organizations; makes referrals or obtains case-related information as needed with proper consents.
• Contact caseworkers assigned to student or student's family; discusses progress of case; obtains case-related information if applicable.
• Works effectively with other team members in a multi-disciplinary setting.
• Establishes and maintains positive working relationships with other social service agencies, schools, courts, etc.
• Provides timely information to teachers, probation officers, parents/guardians, and others as needed.
• Regularly consults with parents and guardians regarding student progress.
• Actively listens to others and their points of view and treats others with sensitivity.
• Notifies principals and supervisor of critical incidents, problems, concerns, and needs in a timely manner.
• Clearly documents actions taken in a timely manner and in a format consistent with IEP requirements.
• Completes all documentation, reports, and correspondence in a timely manner.
• Concisely and professionally writes clinical documentation and reports that accurately reflect clinical interventions and progress made towards IEP goals.
• Delivers written information to appropriate parties.
• Maintains accurate, complete, and timely student records as required by Chicago Public Schools and UCAN.
• Enters updates and maintains accurate data in Max Capture and Infinite Campus as required.
• Reports all possible critical incidents and unusual incidents to supervisor, management, or DCFS as required by UCAN or by mandated reporting law.

Qualifications

• MSW required.
• One of the following certifications preferred: PEL in School Social Work Certification, LSW, LCSW.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience and ability to use computers for data entry, communication, and report writing.
• Open and respectful of cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of clients.
• Understanding of trauma-informed practice and Positive Youth Development.

Benefits

UCAN offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability insurance, accident coverage, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement plan, tuition reimbursement, group life and AD&D insurance, long-term disability, employee assistance program (EAP), and more. UCAN is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages candidates with lived experience and diverse backgrounds to apply.