Since 1975, Birch Family Services has served over 20,000 people with autism and developmental disabilities and their families throughout New York City. We have grown from a single classroom to a provider of educational and long-term supports in 30 locations in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx.

Our programs have expanded over the years and now include a wide array of individualized, person-centered services. Birch’s programs have helped people with autism and developmental disabilities and their families navigate significant transitions across the life cycle for more than 40 years. Throughout our history, we have demonstrated the ability to provide quality programs that support the individual needs of children, adolescents, and adults so that they can reach their full potential.

We Employ:
•Teachers Certified in Special Education and Early Childhood Education
•Teachers Assistants
•Direct Support Professionals
•Day Habilitation Specialists
•Employment Support Specialists
•Educational Supervisors
•Job Developers
•Nurses
•Operations Coordinators
•Residential Managers
•School Administrators
•Shift Supervisors
•Licensed professionals in the following areas: Speech and Language Pathology, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Nursing, School Psychology, &  Social Work

Industry: Individual and Family Services
Company Size: 501-1,000 employees

Birch Family Services

Savvy Admin PROD

Reporting to the Principal, the School Social Worker will assist students with academic learning by providing strategic services that identify social-emotional-environmental issues that interfere with the educational process. Working with parents/guardians, teachers, school Principal/Principal’s designee, and community based resources, the school social worker implements strategies that promote the students’ positive school adjustment.

**Essential Functions**

- Serve as a liaison, facilitating communication between school and family in classes to which he/she is assigned.

- Provide support to staff to work collaboratively with parents, facilitate understanding of family dynamics, and intervenes therapeutically on an as-needed basis.

- Provide individual and family counseling on an as-needed basis, primarily around the concerns of raising a special needs child.

- Provide a variety of group forums to discuss the problems associated with rearing a disabled child and to facilitate better parenting and advocacy skills.

- Seek out community agencies to provide concrete and respite services to families, such as housing, legal, SSI, after school programs,etc.

- Assist parents with the evaluation and intake process, including referral to CPSE, reviewing due process rights, sharing the results of evaluations, and assisting parents in advocating for their children.

- Provide staff training in the area of parent involvement and communication, multicultural sensitivity, mourning and denial, and other appropriate topics as they arise.

- Observe and participate in classrooms to which he/she is assigned and offers consultation regarding family/child interactions, family dynamics, and communicating with the family and the child’s overall functioning within the classroom setting.

- Provide play therapy, consultation with parents of children in play therapy, and attends weekly play therapy supervision.

- Maintain clinical documentation as required and submits within required timeframes.

- Participate in department meetings, staff meetings, and supervision.

- Attend any and all additional meetings, activities or functions of the school as designated by supervisory staff.

- Identifies and responds to possible instances of abuse/neglect.

- Provides supervision of student externs as assigned.

- Maintains clean and organized work areas and common areas.

Maintains appropriate and effective interpersonal relationships with team members, other staff, department members, supervisors, administrative staff, parents, and outside agencies and demonstrates the following skills:

open communication skills with others, the ability to self-evaluate, utilize supervision, flexibility in all facets of the working relationship, ability to both offer and accept assistance to/from others, and the ability to learn and utilize team building strategies.

- Demonstrates respect for families and children we serve and promotes a positive school community and culture.

- Seek to find and offer solutions to problems.

- Demonstrate understanding of the various aspects and functions of our school.

- Demonstrate a commitment to professional and education growth.

- Comply with all school policies and procedures and understands regulatory requirements.

In the Early Intervention Program, assumes all responsibilities identified above. In addition, the Social Worker will serve as the ongoing service coordinator handling the following:

- coordinate service delivery of the IFSP services;

- coordinate IFSP services with other services provided to the child, such as medical and health services;

- assist in resolving any disputes which may arise between the family and service providers;

- participate in collaboration of the development, monitoring, and evaluation of all subsequent IFSPs with the EIO designee, evaluation team, parent and others; this includes the scheduling and leading of the 6 month review;

- prepare, maintain, and distribute any revised or subsequent Individual Family Service Plans (IFSPs); where appropriate, inform the family of advocacy services; in the event of disagreement between the family and the Early Intervention Official Designee (EIOD), inform the family of their right to mediation and/or impartial hearing, and of available advocacy services; complete the Individual Family Service Plan and submit it to the parent, NYC/EIP and each provider of IFSP services.

In the Head Start program, it is the social worker’s additional responsibility to:

- supervise family service workers;

- participate in Head Start administrative team;

- ensure completion of Family Service Plans for all families in program;

- supervise of volunteer coordinator in establishing and maintaining adequate number of volunteers in the program to meet the required

- matching fund allotment;

- work in conjunction with and under the supervision of the educational supervisor;

- ensure appropriate family participation as per Head Start regulations;

- conduct Head Start Open Houses on a regular basis;

- participate in the Outreach Committee;

- know and implement Head Start performance standards;

- Make necessary changes to annual written plans for Head Start

- Performs other duties as assigned.

**Education**

Master’s degree in Social Work

**Experience**

1-3 years of experience working in a school setting with preschool and/or school aged children.

**Skills & Abilities**

**Certificates & Licenses**

NYS Social Work License (LMSW) and NYSED for School Social Work certification;

Social Worker

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