The principle tasks of the School Social Worker are to help students and families make the best use of available opportunities and resources and to fully develop each student's individual potential. The School Social Worker rings to the educational process an understanding of the psychosocial development of children and the influences of family, community, and cultural differences as they interact with the educational process.

Further, the School Social Worker provides the necessary professional skills to assist students and communities in problem

solving and conflict resolution in a safe and healthy manner. School Social Work is founded on the following premises:

Definite and identifiable reasons exist why some students are not successful in school and exhibit undesirable behavior (including at-risk factors, dropping out and truancy).

It is critical to assist families in alleviating adverse conditions in order to promote resiliency and academic success for at risk students.

It is important to assist parents in utilizing school and community resources to help children maximize their educational abilities.

Parental involvement with the school is essential to create positive academic and social outcomes for students.

It is essential that school staff listens to and respects the feelings and sensitivities of students and parents of all cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

Education becomes a successful experience for students who are helped to overcome the social and emotional problems interfering with adjustment and achievement in school.

Special education and related services must be provided for students with physical, mental, social, emotional, or other educational disabilities.

Social justice and equal opportunity for all students and families will increase educational attainment and enhance the educational experience for everyone.

Direct Services with Students:

The School Social Worker employs appropriate social work methods in situations affecting the student's educational process.

School Social Workers:

Conduct assessment of student needs
Promote regular school attendance
Conduct home visits
Promote safe, caring, and drug free schools
Empowerment of/advocacy for students
Provide culturally competent services
Provide appropriate services for homeless students
Provide individual counseling
Facilitate group counseling
Self-esteem
Anger management
Impulse control
Social skills training
Substance abuse prevention
Provide crisis intervention services
Complete social developmental case studies
Participate in the evaluation of special education placements
Participate in the development of behavioral modification plans
Functional Behavioral Assessments (FBA), and Supportive Intervention Plans (SIP)
Provide short/long-term case management services to individual students
Referrals to community agencies
Coordination of services with community agencies
Coordination of services with other disciplines within the school
Participate in transition planning for students
Coordinate pregnancy prevention programs
Coordinate drop out prevention programs
Report suspected child abuse/neglect
Provide Willie M. case management services

Direct Services with Families/Communities:

The School Social Worker employs appropriate social work methods to assure students' positive academic and social outcomes.

School Social Workers:

Promote parental involvement in the schools
Promote parental involvement in school conferences
Promote parental responsibility for regular school attendance
Conduct home visits
Conduct family needs assessments
Promote safe, caring, and drug free schools
Empowerment of/advocacy for families
Provide culturally competent services
Provide appropriate services/referrals for homeless families
Provide crisis intervention services
Refer to community agencies
Facilitate parent groups
Parenting skills
Substance abuse awareness
Special needs children
Child abuse prevention
Appropriate discipline

Assist families with the interpretation of school policies and procedures

Collaborate with community agencies
Collaborate with support personnel within the school
Participate in case conferences with other school specialists
Participate in the identification and resolution of school-wide/community needs
Interpret the School Social Work role to the community
Serve as a liaison between the school/family/community
Participate in referrals and case management of students/families involved in the court system
Serve on school-based committee meetings
Serve on community interagency teams and other task force teams relevant to School Social Work (Child Fatality Team, Child Protection Team, Governor's One-on-One Board)
Serve on the school Crisis Team to promote a safe school environment
Promote a safe, caring, and drug free school environment

Program Planning and Evaluation:

The School Social Worker facilitates, participates in, and provides input for system wide, school based, and departmental program planning, evaluation, and development of policies. All program planning and evaluation activities are done in accordance with state and federal laws, regulations and school board policies.

School Social Workers:

Conduct individual and/or system-wide surveys to assess the school and/or community needs
Implement appropriate programs, groups and initiatives to target at-risk populations (according to the assessment)
Plan individual school and/or system-wide programs to promote a positive and caring school climate
Collaborate with community agencies to coordinate services within the school system

Advocacy:

The School Social Worker operates as an advocate with all community populations utilizing skills that respect issues of cultural and ethnic diversity and equity for every student and family.

School Social Workers:

Facilitate the implementation of federal and state education regulations
Address child abuse and neglect, due process, and liability issues
Advocate for school environments to operate in the best interests of children
Encourage parents to be actively involved in their children's educational experiences
Adhere to the National Association of Social Workers code of ethical behavior and professional practice.(see attachment)

Consultation and Education:

The School Social Worker provides specialized consultative services to school staff, community agencies and other professionals. Services are designed to assist families, students, and educational professionals in providing quality interventions, which allow students to reach their highest educational, developmental and social potential.

School Social Workers Consult in Such Areas as:

Preventive interventions
Classroom management
Child abuse and neglect
Mental health and emotional impairments
Family and psychosocial functioning
Parent involvement
Maintenance of caring, safe and drug-free learning environments
Identification of barriers to educational achievement

Professional Practice, Development and Management:

The School Social Worker shows evidence of professional growth, development and management and adheres to a professional code of ethics.

The School Social Workers:

Adhere to the values and ethics of the social work profession and use the NASW Standards for School Social Work Services and Code of Ethics as guides in decision-making model professional behaviors that contribute to addressing the needs of students, families, and the school community. When necessary and appropriate, actively seek the supervision of a school social work supervisor or another School Social Work professional
Keep abreast of current community resources and determine how these resources may be beneficial to the student, her/his family, and the family's involvement in the academic process
Understand, and practice in accordance with, federal, state, and local laws, statutes, and/or policies that relate to students and families; such as, child protection/child abuse, special education, attendance, education rights and privacy
Consult with school personnel to encourage compliance with laws, statutes, and policies
Assume responsibility for her/his own continued professional development
With support from the LEA, maintain professional materials for professional growth and development; including periodicals, books, and software
Practice professional renewal through a variety of means; such as, attending regional and national conferences, participating in professional organizations, and remaining abreast of current research and literature
Expand and exchange knowledge through consultation with coordinators, specialists, psychologists, counselors, and other colleagues
Contribute to the development of the profession by educating and supervising social work interns
Evaluate, interpret, and perform research with specific application to student, family, and community issues
Develop and maintain skills that increase the social worker's initiative and effectiveness in working in school settings
Manage time based on school social worker-to-student ratios; advocate for worker-to-student ratios consistent with those developed by the National Council of State Consultants for School Social Work Services
Maintain accurate and appropriate case records and documentation
Maintain a statistical, demographic breakdown of current caseload

Borrowed from North Carolina State University

This job description can also be found in Word form here

Social Service Network