This position ensures that all students receive the counseling support that they need in order to be successful in their learning endeavors in accordance with general education and/or State and Federal Special Education Laws and Regulations.
Essential Functions Other duties may be assigned. Write Psychosocial Assessments and apply DSM diagnostic criteria. Network with child and adolescent state agencies such DMH, DSS, DDD and other community supports for students and families. Provide cognitive-behavioral and short-term solution focused treatment interventions. Facilitate topic focused adolescent groups and social skills training. Develop and measure treatment goals and objectives. Assist in analyzing data to assist in the development of behavioral support plans Understand and apply family and organizational systems theory and intervention to practice. Crisis intervention and crisis management across student populations. Knowledge of state and federal laws relative to IEP's and 504's. Provide direct instruction to students in large and small group settings. Experience as part of a multi-disciplinary team and/or building support team. Provide consultation to individual students, classroom teachers and teaching assistants. Provide consultation to families as appropriate. Ability to use technology for data collection and analysis. Provide training and support to staff related to the implementation of recommendations, including modeling of recommendations as appropriate. Provide professional development opportunities for teachers, teaching assistants and parents. Chair/attend TEAM meetings and/or building support teams. Develop IEP goals and objectives as appropriate. Ensure that treatment methodologies are evidence based and reflect the most recent research findings. Assist in planning and implementation of transition services for students moving from elementary to middle school, middle to high school, and high school to adult services. Work closely in the oversight and/or consultation with specialized programs. Work collaboratively with administrators to provide consultation as needed. Write progress reports relative to goals on those students with IEP's as appropriate.
Supervision Responsibilities include training teachers/teaching assistants; planning, assigning and directing work related to student behavior/performance.
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 the essential functions.
While performing duties of this job, the employee works inside and outside. The noise level in the work environment is moderate to loud.
Education and experience Master's Degree in Special Education, Counseling, or related field required. Strong background in education with emphasis on special education and the special needs and requirements of individuals with acquired brain injury, neurological disorders, behavior disorders and autism spectrum disorders. Valid Massachusetts Teaching Certificate, School Adjustment Counselor. Other mental health professional licensure and experiences preferred.
Knowledge Ability and Skills Ability to apply knowledge of current research and theory in education; to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, staff and families; to communicate clearly and concisely both in oral and written form; and to perform duties with awareness of all district requirements and School Committee policies. Ability to read, analyze and interpret general periodicals, professional journals, research based studies, technical procedures or governmental regulations; write reports, professional correspondence and procedure manuals; effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of administrators, staff, parents and the general public. Ability to calculate figures and amounts as required such as percentages, frequency and duration to analyze and interpret data. Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists and to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral and diagram or schedule form.
Physical Requirements: 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 regularly required to sit, walk, stand, talk, hear, twist, bend, stoop and use fine hand and finger movement; routinely perform light lifting of 10-20 pounds and pushing or pulling of 20-40 pounds with occasional moderate lifting of 11-40 pounds and pushing or pulling of 41-60 pounds. Position includes travel from building to building and/or other sites. Specific vision abilities required by the job includes close vision, such as reading handwritten, typed or electronic material, distance vision and the ability to adjust focus. The position requires the individual to meet multiple demands from several people and interact with the public and other staff.
| Location | Norfolk, MA |