Social Worker Manchester

Job Summary

The School Social Worker is responsible for the clinical treatment aspects of the program for students at the Academies. The School Social Worker collaborates with administration and appropriate staff, families and external service providers to synthesize the components of treatment into a unified plan. The Social Worker assists in the development of new programs as requested, and is an active change agent relative to programs in place, insuring that such programs are current with respect to recent research findings and that they serve the needs of a changing population of students with multiple needs. This is a full-time, 219-day, non-exempt position that reports directly to the Director of Education.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provides individual and group counseling as mandated in each student’s IEP.
• Provides crisis intervention to students at The Academies and completes necessary follow up with staff, families and collateral contacts.
• Monitors student attendance on a daily basis and follows up with families regarding student absences.
• Collaborates with the special education teacher, the behaviorist, the teacher support staff, job coaches and the Director of Education to ensure that there is a unified understanding of student issues as well as a consistent approach to addressing the student through behavior management strategies and affective educational programs.
• Maintains regular contact with each student’s family/guardian, DCF worker, outside providers of mental health services, probation officers and other service providers.
• Participates in therapeutic holds when a student is at risk of injuring him/herself or others.
• Participates in all student-centered meetings including PPT meetings, morning meeting, case review meetings, meetings to follow up on critical incidents and crisis intervention. Coordinates or takes notes during emergency meetings. Ensures that appropriate parties are copied on the meeting notes.
• Is familiar with Academy and agency policies and procedures as well as Academy handbook.
• Represents the agency at PPTs for students on assigned caseload.
• Develops goals and objectives for social/emotional/behavioral domains and gathers data to present at PPTs.
• Ensures appropriate discharge planning for students.
• Makes referrals for outside services including Bureau of Rehabilitation Services and DMHAS for post-secondary services.
• Refers for outside mental health services when needed.
• Maintains and updates client records on each assigned case, including intake narrative forms, assessments, telephone communications, progress notes, change of nexus forms, counseling IEPs and discharge summaries.
• Leads or assists in the creation of forms and data collection instruments to record a student’s progress.
• Participates in professional development and provides staff development when requested.
• Organizes and conducts pre-placement tours and interviews with appropriate school team members.
• Participates in the intake PPT and ensures that all required documents and releases of information have been signed and received.
• Conducts other meetings as assigned by the Director of Education.
• Displays exemplary role modeling while working.
• Performs all other duties as assigned by the Director of Education.

Education, Experience, and other Qualifications

The Behavioral Associate must possess a Bachelor’s degree. The candidate must be willing to complete further education in graduate level courses to pursue certification as BCaBA (Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst) or BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst). The candidate must be a student enrolled in a behavior analysis educational program accredited by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, or a graduate educational program in which behavior analysis is an integral part of the student’s course of study such as Master’s level in psychology, special education or a related field. Associates should have experience working with individuals with social, emotional or behavioral difficulties (1+ years’ experience). The ideal candidate will have previous experience supervising others in a work setting (educational or human services preferred). Current certification in First-Aid, CPR, and PMT required (provided upon hire).