Social Worker Job at LEARN Charter School in Chicago

About LEARN

Founded in 2001, LEARN is a network of high-performing college preparatory, tuition-free public elementary and middle schools with the mission of providing children with the academic foundation and ambition to earn a college degree. There are 11 LEARN Schools serving 4,100 students in grades PK-8 across Chicago, Waukegan, North Chicago, and Washington, D.C.

It is our goal to create an environment, on every campus, in which our staff members feel supported, respected, and appreciated. Our staff work together at each school and across the network to share ideas, problem solve, and innovate to move our schools and students beyond the expected.

It is our goal to create an environment, on every campus, in which our staff members feel supported, respected, and appreciated. Our staff work together at each school and across the network to share ideas, problem solve, and innovate to move our schools and students beyond the expected. LEARN has been honored by having one of our school leaders recognized as the 2022 Principal of the Year by the Illinois Network of Charter Schools, in addition to LEARN 9 Waukegan earning a Exemplary school designation by the Illinois State Board of Education. LEARN also received a $7 million dollar gift from Mackenzie Scott in honor of our positive impact on education in Chicago.

LEARN's mission remains crystal clear: to provide children with the academic foundation and ambition to earn a college degree. LEARN is currently looking for hard-working and passionate professionals that are dedicated to transforming public education.

About the Opportunity

At LEARN, we recognize our Social Workers face unique challenges, but they say their hard work proves to be incredibly rewarding and worthwhile. LEARN is a great place to work because colleagues are empathetic and encouraging. Administrators are on their side by providing a supportive and nurturing environment with resources for scholars, professional development, and internal transfer opportunities.

LEARN wholeheartedly embodies staff appreciation. From a genuine interest in staff opinions, to celebrating and promoting professional advancement, to providing a yearly retention bonus and other rewarding perks like gift cards, LEARN values our staffs dedication to our scholars.

What differentiates LEARN staff is their passionate advocacy for students and their commitment to set high expectations. We welcome inspired professionals and give them the opportunities to do work that excites them.

Through our implementation of a Multi-Tier System of Support (MTSS) at all of our campuses, LEARN embraces the idea that ALL scholars are capable of becoming expert learners. Staff and administrators are constantly evaluating how to best support and celebrate our diversity to benefit ALL scholars academic and social-emotional needs and create learning environments that tear down barriers.

The Social Worker will provide social work services to students and their families using various social work methods, including individual, group and family counseling.

Role and Responsibilities

As a Social Worker, your critical tasks will include:

• Participating with interdisciplinary team members in developing and implementing program policies and procedures and preventing crises.
• Assessing the social and emotional needs of students.
• Providing direct social work minutes/services to students referred by self, faculty, administration, special education team members, and other ancillary staff.
• Participating and occasionally presenting at teacher meetings, assemblies, etc.
• Serving as an advocate for students' rights within the school and serving as a mediator between parents, child, and school.
• Attending all scheduled clinical team meetings.
• Establishing referral network/linkages with outside agencies for both students and parents. Tracking and following up on all referrals made in and out of school.
• Coordinating social work services and student referrals between LEARN and other agencies providing social and educational services in both the school and local community.
• Ensuring that all clients, (students, parents, families) visitors, guests, as well as coworkers, receive personalized, prompt attention and are treated with receptiveness, dignity and respect, no matter how limited the contact.

Additional tasks may include:

Remaining available for crisis intervention social work as the need arises or arranging for such coverage by emergency social services.

Required Qualifications

Education, Training and/or Experience

This job is a great fit if:

You have a masters degree in Social Work and valid State/District School Social Work Endorsement/Licensure

Preferred Qualifications

This job is an ideal fit if:

• You are bilingual
• You have 2 or more years of direct Social Work experience

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Personal Characteristics

To succeed as a Social Worker,you have a high degree of initiative and independent judgment and are capable of engaging and diffusing crisis situations. You love working effectively with children, families, professionals, and other personnel from a wide range of cultural, social, and economic backgrounds.

You demonstrate our core values by setting high expectations for yourself and our scholars, along with bringing a high level of energy and consistently positive attitude. You are proficient with Microsoft Office and Google applications, databases, and intranet and internet usage. You possess strong written and verbal skills, and the ability to express yourself effectively and concisely.

Above all, you are a collaborative professional with superior interpersonal skills who is comfortable interacting with internal and external stakeholders. You are a detail-oriented professional with the ability to defuse situations and get others organized to meet project expectations. You have the capacity to tactfully and effectively deal with families, students and staff in a personable and professional manner.

Benefits Summary

We offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package for all full time employees, including health insurance, dental, vision, paid vacation, personal days, paid holidays, short and long term disability, paid life insurance, 403B and the Chicago Teachers' Pension fund.