AZTEC MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Job Description

Social Worker

Job Summary

Remains readily available to students to provide counseling that will lead each student to increased personal growth, self-understanding and maturity.

Reports To:    Building Principal

Minimum Qualifications

1. Must have a valid Social Work license.
2. A Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent; representing intensive course work in the principals and practice of educational guidance, educational testing and measurement, counseling, the organization and administration of guidance services, and the psychology of learning.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

In conjunction with the principal, interprets the school’s objectives to students, parents and community.

1. Works with teachers/staff to familiarize them with services offered by the social work department.
2. Assists as required in maintaining attendance records, cumulative progress records and activity records.
3. Works to relieve student’s educational and personal handicaps.
4. Works with students with different exceptionalities in individual or group sessions.
5. Works to discover and develop special abilities of students.
6. Provides individual and group counseling as needed.
7. The Social Worker assists in the referral process to child welfare in situations involving suspected child abuse, incorrigibility, truancy and unsafe or unfit living conditions.
8. The Social Worker maintains regular contact with counselors and staff

members at MH/MR Centers, CYS, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, and hospital facilities to coordinate efforts towards helping children.

8. The Social Worker maintains a regular work load of individual cases under his/her responsibility. These cases are quite diverse in nature.  Examples are: pregnancies, chemical dependency, family problems, (including parental abuse and neglect), mental health problems (including depression and suicide), medical problems that require parental involvement, behavior problems, attendance problems, including school refusal.
9. The social Worker collaborates with the police and utilizes their assistance in such instances as runaways, incorrigibles, truancy delinquents and students with alcohol or drug addiction problems.
10. Conduct home visits when necessary.
11. Adheres to Board and administrative directives.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position supervises the following positions:  None

Confidentiality

Due to the sensitive nature of this position and access to personal information, the highest degree of confidentiality is required.

Qualification Requirements

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

Education and/or Experience

Please see Qualifications.

Communication and Language Skills 

• Ability to read and analyze and interpret technical procedures and governmental regulations. 
• Ability to assist with preparation of reports and correspondence. 
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from staff, peers and community.

Other Skills and Abilities 

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, peers and community.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely. 
• Ability to use computers and other technology to accomplish job responsibilities. 
• Ability to perform tasks quickly and efficiently and follow verbal directions.
• Ability to work around congested areas. 
• Ability to work a flexible work schedule around job responsibilities.

Analytical and Reasoning Ability 

• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions. 
• Ability to interpret a variety of technical instructions in written, verbal or diagram form, and deal with abstract variables.

Temperaments 

• Ability to teach others, work with people and influence people in their opinions, attitudes, and judgments. 
• Ability to perform a variety of duties. 
• Ability to work with people who express conflicting opinions. 
• Ability to solve problems, make sound judgments and reach conclusions. 
• Ability to express personal feelings professionally, and perform effectively under stress.

Physical Attributes

The physical demands 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 frequently required to stand, walk, talk or hear and use hands to finger, handle, type or feel.  The employee may occasionally sit, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and reach with hands and arms.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and distance vision.

Work Environment

The work 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 essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.  The employee must possess and maintain a current driver’s license and take a Defensive Driving course at the District expense if you drive a district owned vehicle.  The employee is frequently required to interact with the public and other staff. 

Certificates Licenses

Must possess a New Mexico Social Worker’s License

Terms of Employment

Appropriate placement on the Salary Schedule and the Aztec School District Calendar.

Evaluation

Performance of duties will be evaluated at least annually in accordance with Aztec School Board Policy.

Physical Rating Level

This position will require the employee to function at a “Medium” physical capacity as defined by Worker’s Compensation Statutes.  “Medium” physical capacity indicates the ability to lift up to 50 pounds occasionally or up to 25 pounds frequently.

Physical Requirement Details

Definitions:     R = Rarely = 1% to 9% of an eight hour day

                        O = Occasionally = 10% to 33% of an eight hour day

                        F = Frequently = 34% to 66% of an eight hour day

                        C = Continuously = 67% to 100% of an eight hour day

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work expected.  They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of employees in this job classification.