School Social Worker

About PLN

Founded on Skid Row in 1980, Para Los Niños (PLN) partners with more than 10,000 children, youth, and families each year through integrated education, wellness supports and advocacy, addressing individual and systemic barriers to create pathways to success. In addition to operating early education centers, charter elementary and middle schools, youth workforce development sites and family services, PLN is the only children’s mental health provider in the Skid Row neighborhood. PLN's community transformation work brings together community members, community-based organizations, city and county agencies, elected officials, and businesses to tackle issues that impact PLN families. Ninety-three percent of families served by PLN live in areas with the highest levels of food insecurity and homelessness in L.A. County.

Position Overview

The School Social Worker provides a range of social-emotional, behavioral, mental health, and family support services to students, families, and school staff. The School Social Worker supports the overall educational mission of the school by helping remove barriers to student engagement, learning, attendance, and well-being through collaboration with students, families, staff, and community partners.

The School Social Worker contributes to school-wide prevention and wellness initiatives, while also providing targeted and intensive interventions for students requiring additional support. This role may support services across multiple tiers of intervention and participate in interdisciplinary efforts that promote a positive, safe, and inclusive school environment.

Duties

• Collaborates with school-based support staff, administrators, teachers, counselors, interns, and community partners to coordinate services and support student success.
• Supports the development and implementation of school-wide prevention and intervention strategies that promote positive school culture, social-emotional wellness, student safety, and mental health awareness.
• Provides individual and group interventions, counseling, case management, crisis response, conflict resolution, and restorative practices for students requiring additional support.
• Conducts risk assessments, safety planning, crisis intervention, and required follow-up documentation in accordance with school policies and legal mandates.
• Partners with families to address social, emotional, behavioral, attendance, and academic concerns through consultation, resource linkage, conferencing, home visits, and ongoing communication.
• Consults and collaborates with instructional staff to support student engagement, classroom functioning, and behavioral interventions.
• Participates in multidisciplinary meetings, including student support, intervention planning, case conferences, and Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings as appropriate.
• Provides Educationally Related Mental Health or counseling services as assigned and maintains accurate documentation and compliance requirements.
• Assists with the coordination and facilitation of parent education workshops, support groups, and family engagement activities based on identified school or community needs.
• Builds and maintains collaborative partnerships with community agencies and external providers to increase access to supportive services and resources for students and families.
• Supports attendance improvement efforts through intervention planning, family outreach, progress monitoring, and coordination of supportive services.
• Assists in the onboarding, supervision, training, and support of interns, trainees, or other assigned personnel as needed.
• Maintains timely and accurate case records, service documentation, reports, and data tracking in compliance with organizational, legal, and funding requirements.
• Maintains current knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, ethical standards, and best practices related to child welfare, mental health, special education, confidentiality, mandated reporting, and student rights.
• Supports school staff in understanding mandated reporting responsibilities and assists with child abuse reporting procedures when appropriate.
• Participates in staff meetings, professional development activities, consultations, and other school or organizational initiatives as assigned.
• Performs other related duties as assigned to support student wellness, school climate, and organizational priorities.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Other Characteristics

• Master's degree in social work, marriage and family therapy, school counseling or a closely related field is required.
• Currently registered and in good standing with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences as an Associate Clinical Social Worker (ACSW), Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT), or Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC) required.
• Valid California Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) Credential with Child Welfare and Attendance (CWA) authorization in good standing, issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC), is required.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in a public, charter and/or private school setting.
• Knowledge of child and adolescent development, trauma-informed practices, crisis intervention techniques, mandated reporting requirements, and school-based mental health and behavioral support strategies.
• Knowledge of the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process, Special Education programs, and applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations related to student services, school proficiency standards, confidentiality, and student rights.
• Skill in providing direct services to students and families, including individual and group counseling, case management, crisis response, socio-environmental assessment, conflict resolution, and the preparation of social histories, case reports, and related documentation.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective collaborative relationships with students, families, school personnel, community agencies, and external providers while demonstrating strong communication, consultation, facilitation, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to effectively assess student and family needs, conduct meetings and conferences, exercise sound judgment in complex situations, manage multiple priorities, and develop appropriate intervention strategies to support student success and well-being.
• Strong written and oral communication skills in English and Spanish are required, and we celebrate linguistic diversity, valuing the unique perspectives and strengths that multilingual team members bring to our organization.
• Travel Requirements: Up to 15%, Up to 25% within Los Angeles County and requires a valid driver's license, personal vehicle, and automobile insurance.

Physical Requirements

To perform this job the individual must be able to carry out all essential functions satisfactorily.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

• Approximately 50% of time is spent sitting, while frequently required to walk, stand and bend.
• Must be able to speak and hear well.
• Good vision is imperative.
• Occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.
• Employee will be required to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds without assistance.
• TB test clearance to be renewed every two years.
• Verification of Immunizations required by the California Department of Health (Pertussis, Measles and Influenza).

This job description does not encompass all essential functions and responsibilities. Para Los Niños reserves the right to modify or add to the typical duties of a position at any time.

Expectations for All Para Los Niños Staff

Candidates for employment at Para Los Niños, regardless of position, will consistently demonstrate the following:

• Unwavering belief in and commitment to fulfill the mission of Para Los Niños.
• Deep commitment to the success of all PLN students and families.
• Commitment to excellence and high standards -- for self, students, and colleagues.
• Continuous learning by engaging in reflection, self-assessment, and individual professional development.
• Use of data to inform decisions and drive continuous improvement.
• Ability to thrive as a member of a collaborative team.
• Self-motivation and initiative with solutions-oriented disposition.
• Belief in and ability to develop respectful relationships with families and children informed by the students’ cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to effectively handle challenging situations.
• Comfort with basic Microsoft Office applications and a curiosity and propensity to push own adoption of new technology and approaches.
• Regular, punctual attendance and professional appearance.

Para Los Niños is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

It is the established policy of Para Los Niños (PLN) to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees without discrimination with regard to race, religious belief (including dress or grooming practices), color, sex, sex stereotype, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions (including breast feeding), age, national origin (including possessing a driver’s license issued under Vehicle Code § 12801.9), ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identification and expression, transgender status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic characteristics, genetic information, family care, marital status, enrollment in any public assistance program, status as military, a veteran or qualified disabled veteran, status as an unpaid intern or volunteer, or any other classification protected by law. PLN also prohibits discrimination based on the perception that anyone has any of those characteristics or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of those characteristics.