Social Worker (Bilingual) – Elementary School
About the Role
Applicants will be eligible for Early Childhood Social Work roles (Kindergarten, 1st Grade) and Elementary School Social Work roles (2nd Grade to 4th Grade). Social Workers at The Equity Project (TEP) Charter School serve as the primary leaders of mental health services for TEP students and families, design and implement (proactive and preventative) Social Work programs that promote social and emotional health, and respond to day-to-day student issues and unanticipated crises. Each Social Worker focuses their efforts on the students, families, and teachers of one specific cohort.
In this role, you will serve as the Social Worker for one TEP cohort, then move up with this cohort of students throughout their time at TEP until they graduate 4th grade. This is an opportunity for an experienced and creative social work clinician who thrives in an autonomous environment, is passionate about social justice and child/family work, and seeks to form long-lasting relationships with students and families.
Early Childhood Social Workers will work in vibrant and colorful spaces that reflect the learning and development in Kindergarten and 1st grade, supporting students in developing foundational emotional and social skills within classrooms and private or collaborative Social Work office spaces. Elementary School Social Workers will work in a learning environment crafted to instill a love of learning for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders, as well as private and collaborative Social Work office spaces. Our unique school setting in Washington Heights provides a perfect environment for young learners.
Responsibilities
Clinical Counseling Services
- Provide regular counseling to students and families in need of social and emotional support, including mandated counseling to students with IEPs (Individualized Education Plans) as well as individual and group counseling to other students in need.
- Lead mediations as necessary using relational-based models within your social work practice, in alignment with TEP's commitment to Restorative Justice Practices.
- Respond to day-to-day crises and collaborate with the school community to create a safe and supportive environment for all students.
- Design and implement creative clinical interventions for students with repeated instances of similar challenges.
Mental Health Programming
- Develop and lead programs for students and families to promote emotional, mental, and psycho-social health.
- Build strong relationships with families to facilitate a collaborative approach to student support, and coordinate the delivery of mental health and family services at community organizations for students and families requiring outside social services.
Qualifications
- Language Proficiency: Complete fluency in Spanish required.
- Mission Alignment: Deeply aligned to TEP’s mission of providing world-class mental health services and social work interventions to historically under-resourced student communities (90% of TEP students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, 22% receive Special Education services, and 25% are Multi-Lingual Learners).
- Social Work Experience: Minimum of five (5) years of clinical social work experience working with children and families, with a preference for individuals who have worked within a school setting.
- Program Design: Ability to design and implement in-school prevention programming according to current best practices within the field of social work.
- Special Education Knowledge: Working knowledge of the instructional and social needs of students with disabilities.
- Task Management: Ability to simultaneously manage a regular counseling schedule and triage crises, while prioritizing multiple competing urgent tasks.
- Education: Master’s Social Work degree highly valued, though individuals with degrees in related fields (e.g., School Counseling, Mental Health Counseling, or School Psychology) are also welcome to apply.
TEP does not require Social Workers to have any specific level of certification/licensing (e.g., LCSW) outside of the above educational and experience requirements.
Benefits
- Compensation: Clinical Social Workers earn an annual salary of $95,000.
- Redefined Work-Year: 3 extended rest breaks and 3 professional development institutes focused on learning and collaboration with the teaching and social work team.
- Community: Collaborative environment surrounded by experienced, passionate Social Workers and Educators who care about educational equity.
- Time Off: Approximately 10 weeks of vacation per year (all school vacations).
- Employee Wellness: Staff Food Program, Staff Retreats, and Wellness Programming.
- Healthcare: World-class medical, dental, vision, Short-Term Disability (STD), Long-Term Disability (LTD), and Life Insurance policies.
- Family Focus: Parental leave and dependent care account.
- Retirement Plan: 403b Retirement Plan.
- Learning & Development: Professional development and tuition/continuous learning reimbursements.
This role requires a strong on-site presence and is a fully in-person position at either TEP's Early Childhood or Elementary School campus in Washington Heights, NYC.