Elementary School Social Worker

Elementary School Social Worker at Brilla Public Charter Schools (View all jobs)

Bronx, NY

About Brilla Public Charter Schools

Brilla Public Charter Schools is a network of K-8th grade schools that currently serves nearly 1,800 students from Mott Haven, University Heights, and other neighborhoods in the Bronx. The network is growing from its current four elementary and two middle schools to five elementary and five middle schools educating some 4,000 students in the Bronx and Paterson, NJ. The Charter Management Organization (CMO) for Brilla Schools Network is Seton Education Partners, an organization inspired by the Catholic educational tradition, that also manages the Seton Teaching Fellows missionary program and El Camino, an after-school Catholic faith formation program. At the heart of the Seton educational mission is our dedication to help students become young men and women of good character and spirit who are prepared for excellence in high school, college, and beyond. 

Brilla combines a Classical approach to education – an emphasis on an ennobling and content-rich curriculum, inductive inquiry-driven instruction, and virtue formation that fosters an encounter with Truth, Beauty, and Goodness – with co-teaching practices and individualized online instructional support. We approach the formation of our students holistically and maintain high academic expectations. Ours is a joyful community that honors the dignity of each student, our staff members, and the families we serve.

Position Overview

The Social Worker provides direct counseling  services to students according to what is mandated on their Individualized Education Plans (IEPs). Supervised by the Assistant Principal of Student Services, the Social Worker demonstrates high expectations for the achievement and conduct of all students, fostering a safe, joyful, and nurturing learning environment in which students thrive. The Social Worker is responsible for working with students, families, and teachers to provide a social, emotional, holistic approach relating to student achievement and health. The Social Worker collaborates with teachers across all grades to share strategies and to ensure interventions for students on their clinical caseloads are in place at a classroom level. Additionally, the Social Worker implements Tier II at-risk group counseling, as well as Tier III at-risk individual counseling. The Social Worker assists families by connecting them with outside resources when support beyond the school is warranted. 

Core Competencies & Responsibilities

• Provides support and modeling to staff in behavior intervention strategies and dignified engagement and correction.
• Provides support with the creation and completion of functional behavioral assessments (FBA) and behavior intervention plans (BIPs).
• Monitors student progress and makes referrals working with outside agencies, as appropriate, to support individual student needs.
• Conducts at-risk or mandated counseling sessions for students.
• Contributes to school culture through consistent attendance at school and Brilla-sponsored activities and events, and regular, professional communication.
• Plans, facilitates, and attends regular, mission-critical programming including weekly network leadership meetings, school leadership meetings, SSO meetings, IEP meetings, summer development sessions, data days, parent workshops, family conferences, and other administrative activities.
• Strives to be available by phone after school hours until 7:00 pm as needed to address family questions or concerns (cell phone stipended).
• Demonstrates preparation and skill in working with and leading students & colleagues from diverse cultural, economic and ability backgrounds.
• Organizes and manages time and commitments efficiently to maximize productivity and intentionality throughout the school day and school year.
• Maintain regular communications with parents and guardians to build positive and trusting relationships with students and families
• Aid students with behavioral, mental, emotional, and/or physical challenges: counsels students whose behavior, school progress, or mental or physical difficulties or disability indicates need for assistance; arranges for medical, psychiatric, and other tests and examinations that may disclose causes of difficulties and indicate remedial measures; attempts to alter attitudes and behavior of parents and teachers that cause or aggravate problems
• Lead the development and implementation of Functional Behavior Assessments and Behavior Intervention Plans.
• Counsel individual and small group sessions as per Individualized Education Program (IEP) requirements
• Manage crisis situations as they arise; can expect to be on call for such crises
• Provide individual and group counseling to students and their families on a short-term basis
• Serve as a professional resource for school staff in areas of supporting families and students in crisis
• Make home visits; should feel comfortable working with people from all ethnic and economic backgrounds
• Participate in the creation of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), serving as an advocate for the students
• Train staff and parents; works with students on school and behavioral support program
• Maintain clinical records on case-management services, which includes documenting home visits, counseling sessions, and other services
• Provide feedback to teachers and administrators on how to best support caseload and non-caseload students; consults with parents, teachers, and other school personnel to determine causes of problems and effect solutions
• Design and implements a curriculum that allows parents to talk with a counselor and with each other about how to best support their child's academic and social development
• Serve as a consultant to school personnel regarding students or situations that are not referred for direct service
• Design curriculum and facilitates topic-specific groups, workshops, and drop-in discussion groups to address common social, emotional, and/or behavioral issues
• Assess high-risk situations; makes immediate recommendations and referrals in efforts to ensure child safety and reduce or eliminate risk factors
• Work with students and their families to develop strategies, including providing referrals to outside agencies, for addressing the safety, emotional, and basic needs of the students and their families
• Serve as a liaison and advocate among student, home, school, and community resources, such as family-service agencies, mental-health clinics, courts, protective services, doctors, and clergy members
• Commit to be available by phone after school hours until 7:00 p.m. as needed to address family questions or concerns (cell phone provided by the school)
• Perform other duties as assigned
• Maintains high standards of professional attire, modeling of core virtues, execution of professional norms, and enthusiastic, regular engagement in ongoing professional development and community-building.
• Contributes to school culture through consistent attendance at school and Brilla-sponsored activities and events, and regular, professional communication.

Qualifications

• The confidence that education can awaken the imagination to limitless possibility, stir the heart to love what is good, and inflame the mind to seek understanding of truth.
• An unwavering, confident, and enthusiastic commitment to the educational mission of the Brilla Schools Network in service to the school community.
• A relentless dedication to providing all students with an academically robust, inspiring, and joyful learning experience.
• Zest, grit, hope, love, social intelligence, gratitude, and a sense of humor
• Strong competence in behavior management, instructional skills, oral and written communication, organizational skills, and interpersonal relations.
• High Energy Level and a Caring and Engaging Personality
• An appreciation for the continuing development of character and virtue in children and adults, alike.
• Demonstrated proficiency leading students from diverse cultural, economic and ability backgrounds.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work well in a team.
• Ability to build, monitor, and maintain systems that improve organizational efficiency.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment; flexible, able to work independently as well as taking direction as needed.
• Appreciation for Classical liberal arts educational tradition (preferred).
• LCSW or LMSW required (Supervision provided as needed)
• Minimum of two years of counseling experience, preferably in an  urban  school  setting
• Passion for contributing to a team-oriented, mission-driven school culture
• Spanish language proficiency required

​Brilla provides equal employment opportunities for all applicants and employees.
​The base pay range for this position is $79,000 - $95,000 per year. Pay may vary within the stated range, depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. A sign-on bonus for some roles may be provided as part of the compensation package subject to executive leadership approval, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, depending on the position offered.