The School Family and Support Specialist will address the social, emotional and psychological issues that can impede students’ academic success. S/he will provide social work counseling to students and parents; provide psycho-social assessment and diagnosis of behavioral disabilities with recommendations and/or environmental manipulations at the school, home and/or in the community with periodic reevaluations; makes referral to public or private agencies with appropriate follow-up; and serve as a liaison between school, family and community resources.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

This position will play a critical role in achieving our mission of providing all children the opportunity to achieve all they can and be a part of the Freedom Prep community. Below are some of the tasks required of the School Social Worker:

• Serves as a source of information regarding community resources.
• Maintains appropriate school records and provides written reports and communications.
• Provide individual or group counseling for children who are experiencing problems in school, home, or community adjustment with an emphasis upon early intervention.
• Encourage and assist families in their pursuit of community services that may assist in the remediation of school-centered problems.
• Mediate and advocate on behalf of students with family, school, and community.
• Conduct home visits to gain a better understanding of the family dynamics, in order to better meet the student’s individual needs.
• Provide collaboration and consultation regarding student problems and coordinating plans and actions to meet them. Early identification of problems is emphasized.
• Facilitate the involvement of community agencies in efforts directed toward the remediation of student problems in school adjustment.
• Collaborate with teachers and other professionals in assessing student needs and designing strategies to help individual students.
• Assist parents in preventing problems by facilitating communication with the school.
• Assist parents with understanding problems experienced by their children. This is accomplished through home visits, group counseling, parent training and referrals to community services.
• Assist families with understanding their children’s educational needs and resources available within the school.

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Energy and entrepreneurial spirit for the charter school environment
• Comfortable with ambiguity and creative problem solving ability
• Deep commitment to the FPA mission and a desire to transform the lives of the underserved.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships and collaborate with others.
• Sense of creativity that infuses work with new ideas and energy.
• Self-imposed orientation toward achievement that leads to producing A-level work.
• Demonstrated individual initiative and flexibility including planning ahead for upcoming challenges or opportunities and managing change effectively
• Strong organizational and analytical skills including the ability to plan and execute a course of action to accomplish objectives and the use of knowledge and experience to address problems and opportunities
• Passionate about and has a personal commitment to improving education opportunities for public school students ·
• Sound judgment and decision-making abilities.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work required.
• Master’s Degree in Social Work preferred.

Certification:

• C-SSWS or C-CYFSW certification preferred.
• Ability to obtain Tennessee credential authorizing pupil personnel services as a social worker (K-12)

Other:

• Must possess a valid driver’s license.
• Willingness to travel locally using own transportation; willingness to travel within the state, as required
• Willingness to work additional hours and/or evenings, on occasion

Experience:

• 2+ years of professional work experience with background in education and urban communities preferred.
• Making referrals to public or private agencies with appropriate follow-up.
• Serving as a liaison between school, family, and community resources
• Experience with special needs students.
• Experience with Crisis Management
• Experience with social and community organization coordination of benefits.