Accountable to:

Site Administrator and Director of Social Services

Position Summary:

The social worker (Crisis Support) responds to needs related to student, family and staff situations district-wide as needed. Social Worker (Crisis Support) will provide crisis support, direct and indirect services, counseling support and links to needed services. The position is grant funded for two (2) years and is contingent upon grant availability. Local travel to district school sites required.

Essential Functions:

• Facilitates and supports  crisis response planning with site level and district team(s)  by providing best-practices in crisis response, safety, mental health triage, social/emotional development, and trauma-informed school practices
• Provides appropriate support at all tiered levels - I , II and III
• Engages in the development of an appropriate intervention to address crisis
• Conducts or co-facilitates crisis assessments including psychosocial histories and analysis of presenting and underlying issues to determine client needs and level of risk 
• Assesses immediate mental health needs to ensure the safety of the student, staff and school campus
• Provides expertise to the appropriate crisis team(s) with response protocols and guidelines
• Reviews effectiveness of response and interventions with school level teams

• Coordinates with appropriate stakeholders before, during and after a crisis occurs
• Engages in timely and accurate documentation and record keeping
• Organizing and maintaining timely confidential records, assessments and intervention plans
• Research, consult and train school staff and administrators concerning policies and procedures dealing with mandated reporting, bully prevention, trauma or crisis, domestic violence, etc.
• Perform appropriate alike duties as assigned

Required Qualifications:

To be eligible for this position, an applicant must meet the following required qualifications. Verification of required qualification(s) is necessary. 

• Master’s degree in Social Work; or
• Master’s degree in Counseling/School Counseling; and
• Minimum of three (3) years experience or like experience in school-based mental health services and crisis management 

Preferred Qualifications:

It is preferred that the applicant possess the following qualifications; however, the following qualifications are not required to be eligible for this position.

• Current licensure with Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners as a Licensed Masters Social Worker (LMSW) or a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
• Current certification with the Arizona Department of Education as a school social worker
• Bilingual abilities

Knowledge and Skills Required:

To perform the job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The qualifications for this job description are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Skills required, but not limited to, for this position include:

• Knowledge of current policies, procedures and protocols related to crisis and social service supports
• Effective communication and assertiveness skills
• Understanding causative factors of social, emotional and behavioral issues associated with PreK through 8th grade students
• Applying supportive counseling and crisis response strategies and practices in work with students, staff and families
• Providing consultation to administrators and school staff concerning student and family needs, strengths and areas of concern 
• Networking with community agencies to create and coordinate resources and services. 
• Ability to foster resilience with interventions that target the development of specific skills needed for adaptive coping, sound decision-making and effective self-regulation
• Proficient computer software and technology skills
• Bilingual abilities or ability to arrange for interpreter services and direct services in appropriate language.

Physical Requirements: 

The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear.  The employee frequently is required to stand and walk.  The employee is occasionally required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Working Conditions: 

The working environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; moving mechanical parts; high, precarious places; fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; and outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.