School Social Worker - Livonia Public Schools : Job Details

School Social Worker JobID: 2280 Position Type: Special Education/Social Worker Date Posted: 1/17/2025 Location: Livonia Public Schools - Central Office Date Available: ASAP Closing Date: 01/27/2025 or filled JOB DESCRIPTION Livonia Public Schools is seeking a highly qualified school social worker. The school social worker will work to help students address and resolve personal, emotional, and social problems that interfere with their adjustments to school and their capacity to enjoy the fullest benefits of the education offered to them. The school social worker may have assigned responsibilities for evaluation, consultation, and other services to Livonia Public Schools students in pre-school through post-secondary levels. DISTRICT OVERVIEW: Livonia Public Schools employs approximately 1,900 staff members, serving approximately 13,300 students pre-K - post secondary. There are 15 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, 3 high schools, 1 career technical center, 1 early childhood center, and 1 vocational and transition center in the school district. The annual budget for Livonia Public Schools is $175 million, with a state funding of $9,608 per pupil. BENEFITS OF WORKING WITH LIVONIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Newly hired public school employees are eligible for a traditional pension and tax-deferred retirement savings accounts with an employer matching contribution. The pension component guarantees you monthly retirement benefit payments over your lifetime once you meet age and service requirements. Additionally, as a new public-school employee, you will be automatically enrolled in a Personal Healthcare Fund (PHF), which is a portable, tax-deferred investment account that can be used to pay for healthcare expenses in retirement. Livonia Public Schools will contribute a dollar-for-dollar match on the first 2% you contribute. As an employee of Livonia Public Schools, you will be a part of a team working together in a positive work climate and a culture of mutual respect to support the successful education of children. You will also have the satisfaction of knowing you are a team member with Livonia Public Schools, which means you will have the following perks of employment available to you: Medical insurance, including prescription drug coverage: The district's contribution is the maximum allowed by Michigan law. Family coverage eligibility for employees working 30 hours or more per week. Single coverage eligibility for employees working 20 hours but less than 30 per week. Optional cash in lieu of medical insurance for those who qualify. Dental, vision, and life insurance: The district pays 100% of the premium for all employees. Long-term disability coverage: The district pays 100% of the premium for employees working 20 hours or more per week. Employee Assistance Program for employees and their eligible family members. This includes a completely confidential, short-term counseling service that utilizes a practical approach toward problem resolution and is available 7 days a week, with no cost to the employee. Paid holidays; earned vacation, sick, and bereavement days. Longevity pay. Paid act of God days, such as snow days. Additionally, the children of employees working 20+ hours, living outside the district's attendance boundaries, are eligible to attend Livonia Public Schools via schools of choice. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS The following is a list of minimum qualifications for this position, any one of which may be waived by the Administration in exercising its prerogative to determine qualifications. Minimum of a Master of Social Work and have current approval as a School Social Worker A passionate commitment to improving learning for all students Demonstrated positive interpersonal relationships Evidence of ability to establish positive working relationships with all stakeholders Superior verbal and written communication skills MAJOR FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES Exhibits a commitment to the District's Shared Vision and Collective Commitments Creates a welcoming and positive classroom climate and culture Provides school social work services to any student in order to actively identify and address systemic barriers to learning Directly intervenes during crises (e.g. suicidal assessments) to ensure safety or in the case of tragedy (e.g. traffic fatality) to lower distress Responds to threatening behaviors, by investigating the reasons behind the threat and recommends interventions designed to lower the likelihood of violent behavior to ensure the safety of all students and to eliminate sources of provocative behaviors (e.g. harassment, bullying) that impacted the student reacting due to victimization Contributes to initial problem identification or the likely nature of a student, classroom, or school problem in order to help develop intervention efforts as part of a problem-solving team Accurately identifies, through comprehensive evaluations, students' specific strengths and weaknesses, helpful evidence-based intervention options, and eligibility for an accommodation plan (504) or special education under rules for Emotional Impairments, Other Health Impairment, or Autism Spectrum Disorders Systematically gathers information (e.g. Functional Behavior Assessment) needed to determine the need for and, if needed, the specific features of a Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) or variation (e.g. Antecedent Intervention Plan, Anti-harassment interventions) Meets with colleagues to develop classroom-based approaches to help with one or more students experiencing academic, emotional, behavioral, social, and/or physical difficulties Teams with colleagues for extended interventions to help with initial implementation, monitoring, modification, and ultimately, evaluation of plans designed to address student needs Contributes to problem-solving procedures required to determine the need for, nature of, and specific accommodations for students to have access to a free and appropriate public education (i.e. 504 plans) Contributes to team problem-solving procedures required to determine the need for ongoing intervention or further assessment for students for whom there is suspicion of a disability Provides professional development related to specific disabilities (e.g. Autism Spectrum Disorders, Anxiety Disorders to help staff work effectively with students (e.g. Classroom behavior plans, Student Behavior Intervention Plans, Evidence-based strategies helpful for specific problems), and/or service delivery systems (e.g. Child Protective Services, Positive Behavior Support, Bullying Prevention, Trauma Informed Care) Presents annual review of abuse/neglect and suicidal policy procedures and serve as a resource on these subjects Provides IEPC directed individual or group counseling services to students. Actively assists parents when their children are in crisis when in the school setting and connecting them to community resources when difficulties extend beyond the school setting Provides feedback, consultation, recommendations using a collaborative approach with parents regarding their children's strength and weaknesses and how best to help them with a wide range of obstacles / challenges Shares information with parents, families, and the community regarding helpful information regarding child development, academic skill development, motivation and learning, common areas of difficulty, resources to parents and their children where there is evidence supporting their effectiveness Works in a partnership with parents as part of intervention assistance for their children (e.g. home-school intervention plans, parent responses to anxiety) Facilitates and coordinates the delivery of wrap-around educational and mental health services with and by community agencies and service providers Follows all District guidelines, protocols and procedures Executes other duties and assumes other responsibilities as assigned by building administrator CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: The work year, salary, and fringe benefits will be consistent with the current agreement between the Board of Education and the Livonia Education Association. The deadline for applications is minimally 4:00 pm on January 27, 2025. This position will remain open until filled. APPLICATIONS: All applicants, including current LPS employees, must complete and submit an application through Applitrack which can be accessed through the Livonia Public Schools webpage. All applicants must also upload a cover letter, professional resume, copies of educational documents (transcripts/certificates), and three current letters of recommendation to their online application. It is the policy of the Board of Education that Livonia Public Schools School District will not discriminate against any person on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin, religion, height, weight, marital status, handicap, disability, sexual orientation, sexual identity, or transgender status. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries and grievances for: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, height, weight, and marital status - Director of Human Resources, 15125 Farmington Road, Livonia, MI 48154 at (734) ###-####. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries and grievances for: handicap or disability - Director of Student Services, 15125 Farmington Road, Livonia, MI 48154 at (734) ###-####. Attachment(s): SSW 1-17-25.pdf