Clinical Social Worker (Evening)

Job Description

Job DescriptionDescription:

About The SEED School of Washington, D.C.

The SEED Foundation (www.seedfoundation.com) was created in 1997 to establish college-preparatory urban boarding schools that prepare secondary students both academically and socially, for success in college and beyond. In 1998, the Foundation opened The SEED Public Charter School of Washington, D.C. – the nation’s first public college preparatory boarding school. The school currently serves 250 students in grades 9-12. In 2015, 100% of SEED’s seniors were accepted to a four-year college or university.

All SEED students live on campus from Sunday evening through Friday afternoon when they return home for the weekend. The dormitories are organized into small “houses” of an average of 15-18 students per resident advisor for afternoon and evening routines such as academic study hall, house meetings, SPARKS and other structured activities. We provide a safe and caring 24-hour boarding experience. Our relationship with parents/guardians is essential to the success of their scholar while at SEED.

About The SEED Network

SEED is the pioneering national network of public, college-preparatory boarding schools, offering a unique 24-hour, 5-day per week learning environment. Our tuition-free schools, the first of their kind in the U.S., are intentionally designed to serve traditionally underserved students. Supported by The SEED Foundation, we operate in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Miami, and Los Angeles. The Foundation's College Transition & Success (CTS) team provides comprehensive support to SEED graduates from junior year through college graduation. SEED's success has gained recognition from media outlets like 60 Minutes and The New York Times, and former President Obama has lauded it as "a true success story." Learn more at www.seedfoundation.com.

Position Overview

The Clinical Social Worker plays a pivotal role in fostering the academic, social-emotional, and career development of students in a public charter school setting. This position champions student well-being and collaborates with students, parents, teachers, and administrators to create a supportive, inclusive, and effective learning environment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Conduct preventive work with students, staff, and families to foster a positive school climate.
• Provide consultation to school staff and parents to facilitate student educational, social, and emotional growth.
• Obtain information concerning the effects of environment, including family, cultural, and economic disadvantages that may adversely affect student progress.
• Work collaboratively with the Student Support Team to develop plans of assistance for students at risk of academic and/or behavioral difficulty.
• Coordinate school and community services to ensure comprehensive support for students.
• Serve as the home-school-community liaison, responsible for effective resource utilization and positive relations with all stakeholders.

Program Development & Planning

• Conduct comprehensive risk assessments for students as needed.
• Plan for support services both within and outside the school to meet diverse student needs.
• Facilitate specialized support groups for students, such as those with incarcerated parents, experiencing grief and loss, dealing with divorce, teen parents, or needing conflict resolution.
• Manage family resource centers, providing parents/guardians with access to information and opportunities to support their student(s).
• Work with administrators to implement effective policies addressing school safety, attendance, substance abuse, teen pregnancy, child abuse, and neglect.

Advocacy

• Serve as a mediator within the school to resolve conflicts and promote understanding.
• Communicate effectively with other agencies involved with students to coordinate care and support.
• Attend court hearings as a DC Public Schools representative when required.
• Make appropriate referrals for community resources to address student and family needs.

Direct Services

• Provide individual counseling to students.
• Provide group counseling to address common student challenges and promote social skills.
• Offer psychoeducation to students, families, and staff on relevant mental health and social-emotional topics.
• Provide immediate crisis intervention for students experiencing acute emotional distress or emergencies.

Special Education

• Serve as a member of the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) for student evaluations and planning.
• Social Work Evaluations: Conduct social work evaluations and other related assessments for initial special education evaluations and re-evaluations.
• Provide related services as prescribed by Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), including social skills, life skills, and transitional skills that can be transferred from school to community.
• Participate in MDT, IEP, manifestation determination, and other related meetings.
• Work collaboratively within the classroom setting to support the implementation of student IEPs.
• Collect data to monitor social/emotional progress and evaluate the effectiveness of services provided to students.
• Provide technical assistance on strategies that improve outcomes for special education students.
• Coordinate the design and implementation of behavior intervention plans and functional behavior assessments.
• Keep thorough and accurate records of each student receiving services.
• Complete student progress reports in a timely manner.

Requirements:

Qualifications and Essential Competencies

• Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW).
• District of Columbia Government, Department of Health Professional License, which must be renewed every two (2) years by obtaining the required continuing education units:
  • Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW) and Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW)
• At least two (2) years of work experience as a Social Worker in an urban school/setting with a track record of high student achievement.
• Ability to administer, interpret, and analyze related assessment instruments.
• Commitment to The SEED Foundation’s mission and beliefs.