School Social Worker/ School Adjustment Counselor Position - Brookline School District

The School Social Worker/ School Adjustment Counselor (SAC) promotes and enhances the overall academic mission of the PSB/BHS Comprehensive School Counseling Program by providing services that strengthen home, school, and community partnerships and address barriers to learning and achievement. Under the direction of the Brookline High School Coordinator of Guidance and Counseling Services and BHS Head of School, the School Social Worker delivers comprehensive school counseling services to students, parents, and school staff by providing direct and indirect mental health services to students experiencing social, emotional and/or behavioral problems that interfere with their performance in school, and facilitates communication among school, home and community providers. The BHS SAC/ SW position covers a Grade 9-12 student caseload.

The SSW/ SAC significantly contributes to the development of a healthy, safe, caring, inclusive, and active anti-racist high school environment. Such an environment is achieved by advancing the understanding of the emotional and social development of children and the influences of family, community, and cultural differences on student success along with the implementation of effective intervention strategies.

Primary responsibilities, include, but are not limited to:

1. Provide short-term individual and group counseling to students who are experiencing social/emotional/behavioral problems that interfere with their learning or the ability of others to learn, during transitions and other high-stress situations.

2. Provide social skills, anger management, stress reduction or other similar instruction to students who are experiencing social/emotional/behavioral problems that interfere with their learning or the ability of others to learn.

3. Assist teachers and parents in developing and implementing behavior management plans to remediate behaviors that interfere with a student’s success.

4. Assist students to improve their academic, personal and social functioning. 5. Attend and participate in Section 504, IEP, Student Intervention Team (CST), Hospitalization Re-entry, and Manifestation meetings contributing to a multidisciplinary team.

5. Develop and implement treatment plans and discharge plans that support student self-determination.

6. Interview students and parents to discuss issues related to non-attendance and develop a plan of action.

7. Conduct home visits as a method to access the family and conduct interviews in response to school referrals.

8. Provide case management services including, but not limited to, referrals to community resources.

9. Provide information to families and assist them in accessing long-term or intensive counseling services, as needed.

10. Assist and support staff and students in the other schools when needed.

11. Consult and collaborate with social services, mental health and other community providers

12. Provide crisis management services, including assessment for safety.

13. Assess students for substance use, support systems, physical and emotional functioning, barriers to academic performance, peer issues, suicidal/homicidal ideation, and similar issues.

14. Provide crisis management services, including assessment for safety.

15. Assess students for substance use, support systems, physical and emotional functioning, barriers to academic performance, peer issues, suicidal/homicidal ideation, and similar issues.

16. Provide direct support and consultation for BHS students who identify as LBGTQ+ and have social/emotional/behavioral problems that are directly impacting their school functioning.

17. Provide individual and/or group counseling in response to school-wide crises. 17

18. Coordinate home, school and community resources in addressing the crisis situation.

19. Provide trainings and workshops to teachers, school staff and parents.

20. Maintain an accurate record of caseload and student, parent and other contact.

21. Complete recordkeeping and administrative responsibilities in an organized and timely manner.

22. Adhere to professional ethical standards, policies and laws in conduct and practices, District Policy, and Administrative Rules.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Knowledge and skills for direct and indirect intervention including: counseling on an individual, group, or family basis; consulting with administrators, teachers, parents, and other professionals about student challenges and appropriate change strategies; and networking with school programs and community agencies to provide essential services for families and children; understanding of the knowledge, skills, and processes for effective

casework practice; understanding of associated laws (IDEA, ADA, compulsory attendance, etc.), ethical issues, professional issues and standards; foundations of school counseling and psychology; understanding of child development, psychopathology, social and environmental conditioning, cultural diversity and family systems.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. per Unit A Contract

? Some evening and weekend work may be required (i.e. program visits, parent/caretaker meetings, home visits, etc) with an option to flex the default work schedule as approved by BHS Coordinator of Guidance/Counseling.

QUALIFICATIONS:

-Masters Degree in Counseling or Social Work
-Licensed as a School Adjustment Counselor/Licensed Mental Health Counselor/ Social Worker in Massachusetts -Independent Counseling License preferred (LMHC or LICSW) -Bilingual preferred
-PSB is especially interested in candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of this academic community. Applicants are encouraged to include in their cover letter information about how they contribute to this goal.