School Adjustment Counselor

Reports to Director of Special Education

The clinician for the Compass program promotes the mission of the program by providing support services that improve the home, school, and community connections which in turn reduces barriers to learning. The counselor provides consultation, direct service and advanced understanding of how social emotional disabilities potentially impact students success and plays a key role in creating and implementing effective intervention strategies.

Duties & Responsibilities: The role of the clinician is to ethically and collaboratively consult with lead teachers and ESPs on how to engage students and families in their learning community. The clinician''s role may include case management, parent and student education, training delivery, direct student support, assessment and/or program development.

1. Assessment of student, family, and school needs

a. Conducts assessments and evaluations based on lead teacher requests with parent or guardian consent b. Use student, family and school assessment results to identify needs that impact learning and develop appropriate interventions. c. Assists the lead teacher and family in developing short-term and long-term educational and social-emotional goals that honor the students needs, strengths, cultural context, families and community. d. Consistently uses a variety of formal and informal tools, therapeutic techniques including observations and interviews to evaluate ongoing academic and social-emotional skill development.

2. Direct Services/Service Delivery a. Develops programming and provides training''s for lead teacher and ESPs that offers foundational professional knowledge in how to provide programming that addresses the goals and mission of the social skills program b. Provides individual, groups and psycho-educational services to students with social-emotional challenges and their families that aims to enhance understanding, competency and cohesion among team members. c. Engages in frequent and meaningful discussions with students, families and treatment providers to maximize their participation in the planning and direction of the students learning experience d.Provides support to the program in whatever way is needed, as directed by the Director of Student Support Services.

3. Advocacy: a. Advocates and facilitates change that responds to the needs of students with social-emotional disabilities, their families, and the school system using appropriate statues, case law, policies, and procedures b. Assists lead teacher in helping students and their families gain access to formal and informal/supportive community resources dedicated to helping children and families with social-emotional disabilities c. Attend training''s that are determined necessary which utilize current research to inform best practice in educating children with social emotional challenges.

4. Consultation and Collaboration: a. Consults with stakeholders to facilitate understanding of factors impacting the student''s current performance and educational experience. b. Provides consultation to lead teacher about issues related to attendance, mental health, behavior, discipline, crisis intervention, trauma and child abuse and neglect. c. Initiates school-community teams to promote collaboration among community health and mental health providers and facilitates access to these services

5. Accountability: a. Follows ethical practices consistent with the National Association of Social Work (NASW) or National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) Code of Ethics and Standards for School Social Work practice. b. Maintains accurate case records and documentation Organizes time, resources and work load in order to meet the demands and responsibilities c. Participates in relevant professional development to improve skill set to keep current on knowledge related to persons with disabilities in school settings including student and parent rights