School Social Worker - Midwest

As a School Social Worker at Parallel, your primary responsibilities include delivering direct and indirect social work services, collaborating with the clinical team to create tailored treatment plans or IEPs, providing insights on the cultural and societal factors impacting student behavior, and developing intervention strategies. These duties aim to enhance student well-being and academic success across our school partnerships in the Midwest.

To qualify as a School Social Worker with Parallel, you must hold an active LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) credential, possess a valid state license to work in K12 schools, and have at least one year of full-time on-site experience in school social work. Remote experience and proficiency in the National SSW Practice Model domains are also advantageous.

At Parallel, we offer a robust support system designed to help School Social Workers excel. This includes streamlined scheduling tools, efficient administrative support to minimize paperwork, smart client matching based on individual skills, and comprehensive client information. We also foster innovation and feedback, empowering you to shape the future of our programs while collaborating closely with other professionals.

While remote experience is not strictly required for School Social Workers at Parallel, it is a plus. This role involves providing services through tele-health platforms, so familiarity with these tools can enhance your effectiveness as you engage with students and staff.

We ask that our School Social Workers have availability during traditional school hours, from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Monday through Friday. A minimum commitment of 15 hours per week is ideal, which allows for meaningful interactions and support for our students.

When answering this question, highlight specific roles you’ve held in school settings, the types of populations you’ve served, and the strategies you used to support students. Illustrating outcomes, such as improved student behavior or successful IEP implementations, will show your impact.

In your response, mention specific assessment tools you've used, your approach to collecting and analyzing information, and how you involve students, families, and staff in the assessment process to create a well-rounded view of the student's needs.

You should emphasize your communication skills and willingness to build professional relationships. Discuss any strategies you’ve found effective in fostering partnerships, such as regular meetings to address student needs or joint planning for interventions.

Describe specific interventions or strategies you have used to address challenging behaviors, such as positive reinforcement, behavioral modification techniques, or creating individualized plans. It’s also beneficial to mention how you involve students in creating these strategies.

Explain your philosophy around family engagement and share examples of how you foster parental involvement in their child’s education and support system, such as holding workshops, regular communication, or involving them in treatment planning.

When addressing this question, offer a concrete example of an IEP you've developed, including the student’s specific needs, the goals you established, and how you measured success. Highlighting collaboration with other professionals can add depth to your response.

Highlight your understanding of cultural competence in your work with diverse populations. Discuss specific training you’ve received, how it has influenced your practice, and how you adjust your approach when working with students and families from varying backgrounds.

You should emphasize your commitment to professional development and continuous learning. Mention relevant conferences, workshops, journals, or online courses you follow to stay updated with the latest practices and trends in social work and mental health.

Use this question to showcase your versatility with various tele-health platforms. Discuss specific platforms you’ve used, your comfort level with technology, and how you’ve effectively engaged with students and families through these mediums.

Here, you should share personal anecdotes that reflect your passion for helping students and families. Talk about what drives your commitment, whether it's seeing students succeed or making a difference in their lives.