Job Description

Title: Social Worker
Division: School-wide
Location:  Reports to: Status: Salary: 

Position Summary

Under the supervision of the Lead Social Worker, the Social Worker works directly with stakeholders, including students, families, MWA personnel, and external providers, in addressing student-related social and emotional challenges and behavioral health needs.  These challenges may derive from both school-based and/or external factors.  The Social Worker will work in a variety of ways with internal and external stakeholders and is pivotal in connecting services that will support a successful learning experience.  The Social Worker will also take the lead in developing relationships and networks that allow MWA to provide and refer a myriad of services for MWA students and families. In addition to direct work with students and families, the Social Worker will play a role in compiling and sharing data with parents, faculty, and staff to further train and educate the MWA community on various non-cognitive developmental challenges, possible solutions, and overall progress that students are making in developing the adequate non-cognitive skills necessary to effectively navigate college and other post-secondary life skills.

Primary Responsibilities

Protocol/Policy Development

• Partner with the Lead Social Worker, Dean of Students, Director of Student Support Systems, and the CEO to identify and develop criteria for designating the varying levels of need and/or concern for students and families in order to prioritize interventions and adjust response/turn-around times; Identify and develop transparent and consistent criteria for case management protocols that enable effective collaboration with various internal and external constituent groups; Create and identify communication protocols for student and family meetings and sessions; and develop school-wide policies and practices that address crisis intervention/response, as well as mental/behavioral health.

Data Reporting

• Work with the Lead Social Worker, Dean of Students, Director of Student Support Systems, and the CEO to identify and develop a non-cognitive data dashboard consisting of various measurable data points that provide indicators of growth or concern for specific students or groups of students.
• Collaborate with the School Leadership and Deans of Students to develop and/or administer school climate survey(s) for the student body, including California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS).
• Ability to utilize non-cognitive and cognitive data to form analysis and recommendations for action to address division-wide, subgroup, and individual challenges or concerns regarding students and families.

Student and Family Engagement

• Work with students and families to form healthy, strength-based approaches to problem-solving. Enlist a variety of school-based and community resources to refer students and families to in the greater Richmond area, or community of residence.
• Provide opportunities for students and families to access services and resources that address specific needs and/or concerns.
• Present and meet with MWA Middle or Upper School parents regularly in monthly Parent Meetings, one-on-one meetings, Home Visits, and school events.

Record Management

• Work with the Lead Social Worker, Dean of Students, Director of Student Support Systems, and the CEO to identify and develop safe and best practice methods for recording, storing, and organizing student and family information.

Additional Responsibilities and Expectations

Mission Alignment

• Demonstrate knowledge of, and support, Making Waves Academy’s mission, core values, standards, competencies, and code of conduct outlined in the Employee Handbook.
• Participate in the school community – attending school competitions, performances, assemblies, and extracurricular activities.

Other

• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Work Environment

This job operates in an office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as laptop computers, photocopiers, portable two-way radio transceivers, and smartphones.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be required to adhere to the following:

• Frequently walk across the middle and upper school campus.
• Participate in campus supervision duty each week – Monday through Friday frequency may vary based on the supervision assignment each semester.
• Lift files, open filing cabinets, bend or stand on a stool as necessary, and sit for long periods.

Travel

Some travel is required for MWA-related events, such as workshops or conferences.

Qualifications

Experience

• Experience working with executive-level administrators and staff
• Dedication, commitment, and resilience to succeed in an urban public school
• Experience in and an advanced degree in social work, psychology, or related behavioral health services.
• Experience working with students and families from historically underserved communities.

Skills

• Highly effective and professional communication skills with staff, students, and families
• Ability to adapt and align on school-related initiatives and time-sensitive tasks
• Highly organized, goal-oriented, and focused on outcomes
• Demonstrated understanding of school systems and integrated referral processes
• Ability to build relationships with stakeholders within the culturally and linguistically diverse MWA community
• Ability to uphold and reinforce school policies and procedures when addressing students and families
• Ability to work collaboratively and independently
• Ability to work effectively in fast-paced environments with limited supervision
• Demonstrated understanding of technology and literacy learning platforms (Microsoft Office Suite, PowerSchool, Canvas, Blackboard, Google Drive, and Calendar, if applicable)
• Professional orientation – appearance, communication, organization, and attitude

Education

• Masters in Social Work or equivalent field of study required

Preferred but not required

• Pupil Personnel Services Credential (PPSC) or eligibility for a PPSC program
• CA BBS Licensure or currently on licensure track
• Spanish language proficiency

Reasonable Accommodation

Consistent with its obligations under the law, MWA will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of his or her job.

Equal Employment Opportunity Is Our Policy

Making Waves Academy is an equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of the School to afford equal employment and advancement opportunities to all qualified individuals without regard to their perceived or identified: race (including traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and hairstyle, including but not limited to braids, locks, and twists); color; gender, (including gender identity, gender expression, and transgender identity, whether or not the employee is transitioning or has transitioned); sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and medical conditions related to such); religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices); marital/registered domestic partner status; age (forty (40) and over); national origin or ancestry (including native language spoken and possession of a driver’s license issued to persons unable to prove their presence in the U.S. is authorized by federal law); physical or mental disability (including HIV and AIDS); medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics); taking of a leave of absence pursuant to the Family Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”), Pregnancy Disability Leave (“PDL”) law, Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), California Family Rights Act (“CFRA”), the Fair Employment and Housing Act (“FEHA”), or laws related to domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking laws; genetic information; sexual orientation; military and veteran status; or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy extends to all job applicants and employees and to all aspects of the employment relationship, including the hiring of new employees and the training, transfer, promotion, discipline, termination, compensation and benefits of existing employees. For a full copy of our non-discrimination policy, visit:

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