School Social Worker (2863)

Position Title: School Social Worker

Reports To: Education Director

Location: Futures School | West Hartford, CTPurpose of the Position

Status: Full-Time, Salaried, Exempt

Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:00 PM, following the Futures School calendar (220 workdays), including Extended School Year. Occasional work outside regular hours may be required.

Hours: 40 hours a week

Key Responsibilities: Provide IEP-based counseling and related services: Deliver individual and group school social work services according to each student's IEP, including the required frequency, duration, and service setting. Use evidence-informed approaches that support educational participation, emotional regulation, coping, relationships, and independence. Assess student needs and develop goals: Complete assigned social-developmental histories, school social work assessments, observations, and other evaluations within professional scope and required timelines. Identify student strengths and barriers to learning, and develop proposed measurable goals and service recommendations for PPT consideration. Participate in IEP development and PPT meetings: Prepare relevant present levels, assessment summaries, goals, progress information, and recommendations. Participate in Planning and Placement Team (PPT) meetings and collaborate with the responsible Local Education Agency (LEA), recognizing that IEP changes are determined through the PPT process. Document and verify service delivery: Maintain accurate, timely service logs identifying the student, date, duration, service provided, and connection to IEP goals. Document missed services and the reasons, promptly notify the Director of Education of service gaps, and coordinate an approved response. Provide records needed to verify delivery of IEP services to responsible LEAs. Monitor and report student progress: Collect and review data on assigned counseling and social-emotional goals. Prepare understandable progress reports for students, families, and responsible LEAs according to each student's IEP reporting schedule and school deadlines. Recommend review when progress data indicate that services or supports may need adjustment. Support positive behavioral interventions: Collaborate with teachers, behavior specialists, and related service providers to identify student needs and contribute to functional behavior assessments and behavior intervention plans within professional scope. Implement assigned supports, document interventions and responses, and help staff teach replacement skills consistently. Respond to student crises and safety concerns: Provide assessment, de-escalation, crisis intervention, and safety planning within professional competence and school procedures. Promptly communicate concerns to designated administrators and appropriate caregivers or providers, consistent with confidentiality and reporting requirements. Complete assigned incident documentation and support follow-up and reentry planning. Strengthen attendance and school engagement: Review attendance and engagement concerns with the educational team, identify barriers, and collaborate with students and families on individualized supports. Coordinate with designated attendance and wraparound staff to address needs affecting participation and monitor the effectiveness of interventions. Engage families and coordinate community supports: Maintain purposeful communication with families and authorized providers. Connect students and families with relevant mental health, basic-needs, disability, and community resources. Obtain required permissions before exchanging information and follow up on referrals as appropriate. Support transition and continuity of care: Help students develop self-advocacy, help-seeking, relationship, coping, and decision-making skills connected to their postsecondary goals. Coordinate with the transition team and authorized adult-service providers to support continued access to needed services after graduation, program exit, or movement to another educational setting. Consult with and support staff: Provide practical consultation, modeling, and approved training on social-emotional development, trauma-responsive practices, relationship building, de-escalation, and individualized student supports. Help staff reinforce counseling skills across classroom, workplace, and community settings. Maintain confidential student records: Keep assessments, service records, progress reports, relevant communications, and other required documentation accurate, current, and securely maintained. Follow school procedures for access, information sharing, retention, and transfer of records. Follow safety and professional procedures: Fulfill mandated reporting responsibilities and follow confidentiality, health, emergency response, and student supervision procedures. Use First Aid/CPR and PMT procedures only within the scope of training and authorization. Complete assigned documentation supporting required incident notifications and reports. Participate in professional learning and evaluation: Participate in the school's approved educator evaluation process, required meetings, and at least 18 hours of professional development annually. Maintain required credentials, document professional learning, and apply feedback to improve services and student outcomes. Expected Results: IEP social work services delivered and documented as required; measurable progress toward counseling and social-emotional goals; accurate and timely evaluations and progress reports; prompt identification and escalation of service gaps and safety concerns; coordinated family and community supports; and improved student engagement, self-advocacy, and independence.

Working Conditions & Physical Demands: Provides school social work services and direct student support across school, vocational, and community settings. Requires responsiveness to student safety needs, participation in indoor and outdoor activities, and the ability to perform emergency and PMT procedures as trained and authorized. Student transportation may be assigned only after required credentials and agency authorization are obtained. Ability to perform essential job functions, with or without reasonable accommodation, is required.

Employee Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision insurance for eligible employees and dependents. Pre-tax Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for eligible health care and dependent-care expenses.403(b) retirement plan with an employer match of up to 6%Five paid sick days and nine paid holidays. Employment with Futures Inc., a qualifying employer for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), subject to program eligibility requirements. Benefits are subject to eligibility requirements, agency policies, and applicable plan terms.

Disclaimer: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employees may be required to perform other duties as assigned. Futures Inc. is an equal opportunity employer.

Qualifications: Master's degree in social work from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Valid Connecticut School Social Worker certification (#071).Knowledge of school-based counseling, adolescent development, special education, IEP implementation, transition planning, and positive behavioral supports. Ability to conduct school social work assessments, develop measurable goals, provide evidence-informed interventions, and monitor student progress within the scope of professional preparation and credentials. Ability to obtain and maintain First Aid, CPR, Physical Management Training (PMT), and other required training. Successful completion of required pre-employment screening, including DCF Child Abuse and Neglect records checks, state and national criminal history records checks (fingerprinting), and the Educational Employer Verification (EEV) process, before beginning employment. Strong communication, collaboration, organization, and documentation skills. Experience supporting adolescents or young adults with emotional and behavioral challenges, autism, intellectual disabilities, and other disabilities preferred. Experience with crisis intervention, family engagement, community resource coordination, and transition to adult services preferred. If assigned student transportation duties, must obtain and maintain the required driver credentials, training, screening, and agency authorization before transporting students.

Skills & Abilities: Ability to build trusting, respectful relationships with students and families from diverse backgrounds. Ability to deliver accessible counseling adapted to students' communication, cognitive, developmental, and cultural needs. Patience, sound judgment, and ability to remain calm in challenging situations. Ability to balance scheduled IEP services, consultation, documentation, and urgent student needs. Ability to use data to evaluate intervention effectiveness