.0 FTE Licensed Mental Health Specialist (Social Worker) - Student Support - Leave Replacement (One Year Only)

Employment Begins: 202526 SY

*This is a oneyearonly leave replacement position*

LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER (LCSW) OR
LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR (LMHC)
STANDARD POSITION DESCRIPTION

Classification: Certificated Location: Assigned School(s)
Reports to: Director of Student Support FLSA Status: Exempt
Bargaining Unit: NTEA

This is a standard position description to be used for certificated educational staff associate positions with similar duties responsibilities classification and compensation. Social worker/mental health clinical counselor assigned to this position description may or may not be assigned all of the duties identified herein.

This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

Part I: Position Summary:
The licensed clinical social worker or licensed mental health counselor works with the principal in carrying out the schools mental health program as a professional educator with a mental health perspective the social worker or mental health counselor understands and responds to the challenges presented by todays diverse student population. The social worker or mental health counselor provides proactive leadership to engage all stakeholders in the delivery of programs and services to support the students personal mental health and social development. The social worker or mental health counselor may be assigned at the elementary middle or high school level.

Specific to Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC): The licensed clinical social worker or licensed mental health counselor will work as a member of the schools Tier III intervention team in collaboration with administrators and school counselors to provide support to students school staff and parents in the development of a positive school climate and a successful learning environment. The focus of the position will be to serve as a resource for students school staff and parents/families by addressing the needs of students identified as at risk for school failure because of behavioral social mental and/or emotional challenges through individual and group counseling intervention using selected evidencebased programs to promote student mental health as well as prosocial relational and selfmanagement development. Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW) or Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHC) will also develop and implement with school counselors a staff training program to enhance knowledge of classroom management social skill building mental health awareness and suicide prevention strategies. The individual will act as a direct provider of both group and individual counseling services to students identified as experiencing significant mental health
Licensed Clinical Social Worker or Licensed Mental Health Counselor 2 of 4 11.8.21
challenges and needing specialized mental health intervention in order to gain the social and behavioral skills necessary to engage in learning.

The District represents a diverse community with a population ofmore than 50% of students with diverse backgrounds. We seek an individual who has successful experience in working with culturally diverse families and communities. The selected candidate must demonstrate a commitment to strengthening community engagement and communication with the Districts diverse populations.

Part II: Supervision and Controls over the Work:
The employee works with a high level of independence and professional discretion under the general supervision of a designated district administrator. The employees work is governed controlled and evaluated by acceptable professional practice school and district policies and regulations provisions of Washington Administrative Code and Revised Code of Washington direction of the supervisor and performance standards and expectations as set forth in the collective bargaining agreement.

Part III: Major Duties and Responsibilities (depending on specific assignmentduties and responsibilities listed may include but are not limited to the following):
1. Implements the districts mental health program and serves as a resource for building staff administrators and parents in working with students creating a positive school climate and helping students develop a positive selfconcept. Consults with district administration and building staff with respect to development of the curriculum to meet the identified needs of the students. Participates or leads development of positive behavior support systems and development of intervention strategies in Tier 2 and 3.

2. Works directly with students to help them learn how to manage themselves make decisions and deal with change. Guides and assists students in peer relationships and in developing effective coping skills necessary to refuse participation in substance abuse physical violence or other atrisk behaviors. Provides individual and smallgroup counseling to support peer mediation and crisis intervention.

3. Coordinates the effort necessary for the referral of families to special indistrict and out of district services. Assists with staff training including training in the identification of highrisk youth and effective interaction with those students in the school setting. Provides referrals for students and their families related to use misuse and abuse of drugs alcohol and tobacco.

4. Initiates and maintains adequate student and office records.

5. Required to follow Board policies and stay abreast of updates and changes.

6. Performs other duties as assigned.

Part IV: Minimum Qualifications:
1. Candidate must have successful experience in working with culturally diverse families and communities or have otherwise demonstrated a commitment to strengthening engagement of a diverse community and skill in communicating with a diverse population.

2. Successful completion of a masters degree in school counseling psychology therapy or social work and required state certification as an educational staff associate (ESA) in counseling psychology or social work AND be a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Washington state.

3. Demonstrated knowledge of current trends in the field of counseling/mental health and counseling/therapy techniques.

4. Demonstrated ability to use conflict resolution and crisis intervention skills
5. Demonstrated ability to apply and effectively use a variety of evidence based personal and family counseling models.

6. Strong assessment analytical and diagnostic skills.

7. Demonstrated ability to relate in a positive way with students staff parents and the community.

8. Demonstrated skills in human relations including demonstrating sensitivity to the needs and concerns of others.

9. Understanding of unique physical social emotional and intellectual characteristics of students.

10. Ability to communicate orally and in writing with clarity.

11. Ability to work cooperatively in a team and with staff administrators and support personnel in a team approach to solving individual student learning and behavior problems.

12. Ability to maintain high ethical standards throughout all duties.

13. Ability to provide direct counseling and social skill building to groups of identified students.

14. Ability to appropriately intervene in crisis situations.

15. Ability to establish and maintain open and stable interpersonal relationships.

16. Ability to maintain confidentiality.

17. Demonstrated sensitivity to cultural developmental religious and ethnic diversity of students and community.

Part V: Desired Qualifications:
1. Bilingual skills

2. Successful experience at the level of assignment

Part VI: Physical and Environmental Requirements of the Position:
The physical demands and work environment 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 sit move about hear and speak.

The employee must routinely lift and carry materials weighing up to 50 pounds and may be required to restrain students weighing more than 100 pounds most typically when required to intervene in student safety issues.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision distance vision color vision peripheral vision depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

While performing the duties of this job the employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions fumes or airborne particles toxic or caustic chemicals. It may be expected that the individual could be exposed to blood or other potentially infectious materials during the course of their duties. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but can be loud on occasion.

The employee may be exposed to infectious disease as carried by students exposed to student noise and learning resource noise levels may sit or stand for longer than 2 hours at a time may lift objects repeatedly and may undertake repeated motions.

The employee may be required to travel in school owned or leased vehicles while supervising and assisting students.

Insurance Benefits

Employees who are anticipated to work 630 hours during the school year (September 1 through August 31) are eligible for medical dental vision long term disability and basic life insurance benefits.

North Thurston Public Schools benefits are administered by the Washington State Healthcare Authority under the School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB). Click on the link for information on available benefit options.

Retirement and Deferred Compensation

Eligible employees are required to be a member of the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems Plan. . For eligibility information check on the link to theDepartment of Retirement Systems web site.

Employees also have the ability to participate in tax deferred 403(b) and 457 Deferred Compensation Plans (DCP). These are supplemental retirement savings programs that allows you control over the amount of pretax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.

Clink on the link for information on 457 plan (DCP) with the Department of Retirement Systems.

To enroll in an eligible 403(b) plan employees must consult with their own financial planner that is an approved vendor.

THIS IS A UNION POSITION

Equal Opportunity Employer

North Thurston School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex race creed religion color national origin age veteran or military status sexual orientation gender expression or identity disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Civil Rights Coordinator and Title IX Officer: ; Section 504 Coordinator at Address for both: 305 College St. NE. Lacey WA 98516.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Effective June 11 1992 pursuant to Public Law 92544 all new employees must complete a satisfactory fingerprint and sexual misconduct background check. All employment is considered temporary until receipt of satisfactory check. Proof that the fingerprinting process has begun must be supplied to Human Resources prior to the first day of employment.