Social Worker - Social Worker Intern

POSITION SUMMARY

The School Social Worker Intern is an active participant, along with a School Social Worker mentor with the diagnostic team, and can serve as a vital link between family, school, and community in accordance with the policies defined by the Michigan Administrative Rules for Special Education.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Enrolled in a college or university.
• Responsibility of the employee to obtain and maintain all training(s), certificate(s), approval(s), etc., and provide documentation to the business office before the expiration date of said document(s).
• Must be able to lift 30 pounds.
• Required to have a physical presence at the designated job site each scheduled work day.
• Must have regular and reliable job attendance, performance, and the physical ability to do the job.
• Provide criminal background check clearance.

K-12 BACKGROUND REQUIREMENTS (FINGERPRINTING)

The State of Michigan, as well as Edustaff, requires all individuals regularly providing instructional, food, custodial, transportation, counseling, or administrative services in a public or private school, or instructional or auxiliary services to special education students to be electronically printed under the SE – MI SCHOOL EMPLOYMENT (MCL 380.1230a) reason code.

For K-12 positions, if previously fingerprinted for MI School Employment, your fingerprint results must meet the following requirements in order to be valid:

• Fingerprints were taken after January 1, 2006.
• You have been regularly and continuously employed by a K-12 educational institution or its 3rd party staffing company since being printed.

If your fingerprints do not meet these requirements, you must use the Edustaff live scan request form to be fingerprinted. For a list of approved live scan vendors, please visit the Michigan State Police Live Scan vendor list at the following link: Live Scan Vendors. Other live scan sites may be available through the sheriff or local police departments. Fees vary depending on choice of location.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Responsibilities within School Systems (under the supervision of the SSW Mentor):
• Identify and coordinate accommodations and modifications of the school environment for students’ access to general education curriculum and instruction.
• Provide support to facilitate successful transitions in areas that affect students' learning opportunities.
• Provide crisis prevention, planning, and intervention services, including assessments of the impact of trauma on development, learning, and school performance.
• Develop functional behavior assessments and behavior intervention plans to facilitate successful learning and socialization opportunities.
• Provide services and disseminate information to encourage school-wide positive behavior support.
• Roles of the SSW Intern within Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) (under the supervision of the SSW Mentor):
• Implement school social work services within a multi-tiered intervention model for programs and services.
• Provide instruction, and modeling, to students, parents, and school staff in the implementation of effective behavior intervention strategies and techniques, including coaching in the development of Functional Behavior Assessments.
• Provide ongoing guidance and training services to parents and school staff on topics pertinent to the development, mental health, and learning needs of students.
• Conduct needs assessments and advocate for policies, programs, and services to meet the educational and mental health needs of all students, and to support safe school climates conducive to learning. Identify issues that may interfere with student development, learning, and school success.
• Identify and work to prevent bias, prejudice, discrimination, and oppression that interfere with individual rights in the educational process.
• Special Education Evaluation of Students (under the supervision of the SSW Mentor):
• Provide comprehensive written reports of assessments and evaluations of students that specifically address the reasons for referral. Utilize multiple methods of collecting data, and provide appropriate measurable goals for intervention and anticipated outcomes from service.
• Provide and interpret assessments and evaluations to determine eligibility for special education, and identify needs for programs and services.
• Utilize home and community settings, as appropriate, to collect assessment information, collaborate with parents, and provide interventions.
• Collaborate with parents, multidisciplinary evaluation team members, school administrators, and other community agencies to develop an accurate understanding of a student's disability, the impact of the disability on students' educational performance, and provide information regarding whether behaviors and school performance are attributable to manifestations of the disability.
• Ensure that prevention, assessment, evaluation, and intervention services are sensitive to the diverse needs of the student's multicultural differences.
• Perform systematic direct observation of students.
• Other/Miscellaneous (under the supervison of the SSW Mentor):
• Maintain proper records and reports regarding evaluations and contact with students and others.
• Complete other duties as assigned by the SJCISD Administration or Mentor.

PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE REQUIREMENTS

The requirements described below are representative of those necessary to perform the essential functions of the positions. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Frequently receive, understand, and communicate information necessary to carry out lesson plans, supervise students, and respond to the school personnel.
• Remain in a stationary position and move throughout classrooms, hallways, and other school areas for varying periods of time.
• Occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, climb stairs, and lift or move materials or equipment weighing up to 50 pounds, depending on the assignment.
• Maintain attention and situational awareness sufficient to respond appropriately to student needs and emergency procedures.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed in a school environment and may involve moderate to high noise levels, frequent interaction with students and staff, changing assignments, and exposure to typical classroom and school conditions. The employee is responsible for supporting student safety and maintaining appropriate supervision throughout the assignment.

GENERAL DISCLAIMER

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications, or working conditions. Duties may be modified or assigned based on operational needs, the specific school assignment, and applicable law. Edustaff is an equal opportunity employer and provides reasonable accommodations in accordance with applicable law.