School Social Worker - ESM/Park Hill Preschool

Join Our Dynamic Team!

Looking for a motivated social worker to work in our preschool special education program with children with disabilities and their families to support them at home and the preschool environment.

- High quality early childhood environment with multi-disciplinary teams

- 35 hours a week, pay range $29-$30/hour, salaried position

- Strong relationships with children and families

- Opportunity to make a lasting impact

- Benefits include paid time off, school breaks off, health/dental/vision insurance for full-time employees, 401K matching, professional development assistance, employee discount for childcare at our centers, Tickets at Work discounts, Employee Assistance Program

Come join a team that values excellence, collaboration, and children first!

The School Social Worker is a member of a multidisciplinary team that provides special education services to preschoolers with disabilities. This person has the responsibility of functioning as a liaison between home, school and the community, to support the optimal functioning of children in the program. The social worker provides information and support to families and school staff, as well as providing counseling or parent education services as identified on individualized education programs (IEPs), in accordance with New York State regulations. The social worker also works as an advocate for families and children and connects families to resources in the community.

Responsibilities:

- Develop professional, positive, and productive relationships with children, families, agency staff, visitors, outside agencies, and the general public.

- Express a supportive and caring demeanor to relate sensitively to children, families, teachers, and multidisciplinary providers.

- Coordinate intake for the program and facilitate the enrollment process with families, including managing referrals, providing tours of the program, and assisting families with completing enrollment paperwork.

- Provide case management services to families to provide information and to connect families to community resources.

- Participate in team meetings concerning diagnostic and treatment needs of specific children.

- Act as a consultant for teachers and support staff regarding behavioral interventions, child or family health/mental health concerns, family dynamics, community supports and resources, or other issues that arise and are under the purview of social work.

- Identify families in need of support with the holidays, and assist them with referrals to community agencies and/or Elmcrest holiday resources.

- Collaborate with team members and community service providers to provide continuum of care.

- Provide individual counseling for children or parent training/education services to families according to student IEPs.

- Maintain contemporaneous session notes for all therapy sessions provided in accordance with student IEPs, per the guidance of the New York State Preschool/School Supportive Health Services Program (SSHSP).

- Review IEPs for all children on the caseload, and provide written updates for regular progress reporting and for annual reviews.

- Support families with understanding CPSE and CSE information/processes, as well as with the transition from preschool to kindergarten.

- Attend CPSE and/or CSE meetings to help determine appropriate programming for children.

- Provide regular feedback, information, and crisis intervention support for parents as needed.

- Coordinate visits with families at their homes and/or at community locations for program enrollment and additional needs as they arise.

- Offer parent workshops/parent groups to address topics of need or interest for families.

- Attend training/conferences for professional development and to meet continuing education requirements for licensure.

- Adhere to all scope of practice standards pertaining to the field of Social Work in New York State.

- Other Duties as Assigned: Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Department & Program Specific Responsibilities:

- Follow all State Education regulations and OCFS Day Care regulations, as well as agency and program policies and procedures.

Qualifications

Qualifications:

- Elmcrests Core Values & Competencies:

- Honesty: Act with integrity and behave in a manner consistent with our policies, Code of Conduct and any regulatory and ethical guidelines. Utilize practices and techniques professionals train to interact with children, families and co-workers appropriately.

- Willingness to Learn: Open to new experiences and learning new skills and information that can improve professional development, progressive work environments and support the mission of Elmcrest.

- Dedication to Purpose: Display the necessary passion and empathetic abilities to serve the Elmcrest mission. Committed to improve the lives of children and families.

- Social Concern: Value human dignity and have respect for others. Actively seek out diverse approaches and points of view.

- Self-Examination: Systemically observe, analyze and utilize self-reflection to improve actions or results. Listen to constructive feedback and concerns and maintain positive relationships in the workplace.

- Competencies:

- Experience with young children.

- Ability to present with warmth, nurturing and kindness.

- Willingness to be a team player and work in a collaborative teaming environment.

- Knowledge of child development.

- Knowledge of mental health diagnoses, behavioral disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorder, sensory integration, developmental issues, and behavioral interventions preferred.

- Ability to work independently.

- Required Education and Experience:

- Masters degree in Social Work (MSW) required.

- Additional Eligibility Qualifications:

- New York State Department of Education licensure preferred: Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).

- Driving license for transportation to homes and community settings.

Essential Job Qualifications:

- Ability to lift 50 pounds without assistance.

- Ability to sit, squat, crouch and stand for elongated periods of time.

- Ability to lift arms over head in upward reaching motion.

- Ability to walk up and downstairs up to several times per day.

Equal Opportunity Statement: Elmcrest Childrens Center prohibits discrimination of any kind based on race, color, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.

Accommodations: Elmcrest Childrens Center will reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with a disability so that they can perform the essential functions of a job unless doing so causes a direct threat to these individuals or others in the workplace and the threat cannot be eliminated by reasonable accommodation or if the accommodation creates an undue hardship to Elmcrest Childrens Center. Contact Human Resources with any questions or requests for accommodation.

At Will Employment: Your employment with Elmcrest Childrens Center is at will. This means your employment is for an indefinite period of time and it is subject to termination by you or Elmcrest Childrens Center, with or without cause, with or without notice, and at any time. Nothing in this job description or in any other policy of Elmcrest Childrens Center shall be interpreted to be in conflict with or to eliminate or modify in any way, the at-will employment status of Elmcrest Childrens Center employees.