Specialist, Social Work Clinical Supervision*

Openings (3)

Our public school students need your expertise, passion and leadership.

We are looking for highly motivated and skilled talent to join our team at District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS). We seek individuals who are passionate about transforming the DC school system and making a significant difference in the lives of public school students, parents, principals, teachers, and central office employees.

DCPS serves 45,000 students in the nation’s capital through the efforts of approximately 4,000 educators in 123 schools. As part of a comprehensive reform effort to become the prominent urban school system in America, DCPS intends to have the highest-performing, best paid, most satisfied, and most honored educator force in the nation and a distinctive central office staff whose work supports and drives instructional excellence and significant achievement gains for DCPS students.

The District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) is seeking experienced Specialists to provide clinical supervision to school social workers. The Specialist will be responsible for providing immediate clinical supervision of social work services delivered to students. The needs of DCPS students are high and often acute, requiring skilled mental health clinicians who can work with children and families while exercising initiative, judgment, and creativity in carrying out their responsibilities. Clinical supervision aims to improve the quality and safety of services by developing clinician’s knowledge and skills through reflective practice to better meet the needs of the students and their families.

These positions are located in the Office of Youth Engagement. The Office’s goal is to ensure that all students are able to engage fully and effectively in the academic curriculum. The office works towards this goal by focusing on five major initiatives: increase student attendance, improve student behavior, enhance positive school culture, ensure student health and wellness, and provide intensive support for our most disengaged youth. The Office of Youth Engagement and the Office of Special Education collaborate to coordinate the clinical supervision of school social workers in DC Public Schools.

The Specialists report to the Mental Health Program Manager.

* Provide clinical supervision to social workers licensed at the LGSW level of licensure
- Provide direct supervision of practice, in collaboration with local school principal and Office of Special Education, of social work services and behavioral support services delivered to students and families
- Develop a trusting, confidential, and reflective professional partnership with supervisee
- Provide weekly onsite support to supervisees minimally for one hour per week.
- Maintain supervision record documenting feedback and recommendations provided in supervision.
- Provide guidance and support through leading professional development workshops, and helping connect social workers with other professional development resources
- Assist supervisee in reflecting and analyzing their practice to inform service delivery and improve practice.
- This part of the role will comprise approximately 70% of the work.

* Work in collaboration with program managers in social work program development-
- Collaborate with program managers to support all school social workers in delivering school mental health services to students across the spectrum of student need. This range includes prevention work within the school and Individual Education Plan services (e.g., Behavioral Support Services).
- Confer with colleagues and local school leaders , as appropriate to assist with DDCPS programs and services
- Determines resource needs for program success within context of broader DCPS school mental health strategy and initiatives
- Helps manage the analysis and presentation of data and progress of data-driven initiatives for senior management team and external audiences; communicates progress to key stakeholder groups and incorporates their input
- This part of the role will compromise approximately 30% of the work.

* Possess a Masters in Social Work from an accredited social work program by the Council on Social Work Education
* Possess an independent clinical social work license in Washington, DC, in good standing (LICSW) (A clinical social work license from another jurisdiction is acceptable as long as the license can be transferred to DC and the applicant is willing to do so).
* Have at least five years of post-master’s direct clinical social work experience in an organized clinical setting, preferably a school setting or other multi-disciplinary setting, with concentration in working with children and families
* Demonstrate deep knowledge and extensive expertise in clinical casework serving students. This includes being able to provide supervision on assessing student needs, developing intervention plans/Individual Education Plans with accompanying measureable goals, and implementing evidence based interventions. In addition, supervisors must be able to give guidance on co-intervening and psycho-education to facilitate collaboration between social workers, teachers and parents.
* Thorough knowledge of the challenges and obstacles encountered in implementing special education services; well versed in DCPS programs for students receiving behavioral support services
* Demonstrated skill and ability in delivering behavioral support services and social work services within the framework of established laws, school policies, procedures and priorities

* Some knowledge of the principles of supervision and training- Social work supervisor must be able to evaluate case problems and provide leadership and consultation to social workers in the development and implementation of case plans
* Respect and Humility - Social Work Supervisors must be sensitive to diversity in all its forms and committed to learning from the school and neighborhood communities in which they work.
* Exceptional Interpersonal Skills - Social Work Supervisors must be able to interact comfortably with a wide range of individuals, including school leadership, both one-on-one and in groups, and must be particularly skilled at giving constructive criticism.
* Problem Solving Orientation - Social Work Supervisors must be solutions-oriented and approach challenges as opportunities for growth.
* Communication and Customer Service Skills: Social work supervisors must communicate clearly and compellingly with diverse stakeholders in both oral and written forms; anticipate and respond to school and student needs in a high-quality and courteous manner.
* Commitment to Continuous Learning - Social Work Supervisors must be receptive to feedback and committed to improving their own practice.

Master's Degree Required

Notice of Criminal Background Check. In accordance with the Criminal Background Checks for the Protection of Children Act of 2004, this position has been designated and identified as one which requires a criminal background check and/or traffic record check. If you are tentatively selected for the position, a criminal background check and/or traffic record check (for positions which require the operation of a motor vehicle) will be conducted. A final offer of employment is contingent upon the receipt of a satisfactory criminal background check and/or traffic record check.

Notice of Non-Discrimination. In accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the D.C. Human Rights Act of 1977, as amended, District of Columbia Official Code Section 2-1401.01 et seq. (Act), the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) does not discriminate (including employment therein and admission thereto) on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family status, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, genetic information, disability, source of income, status as a victim of an interfamily offense, or place of residence or business. Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination, which is prohibited by the Act. In addition, harassment based on any of the above-protected categories is prohibited. Discrimination in violation of the aforementioned laws will not be tolerated. Violators will be subject to disciplinary action. Inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies of DCPS will be handled as follows:

Employees with inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies related to employment and employees should contact:
Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist
Office of Labor Management & Employee Relations
District of Columbia Public Schools
1200 First St, NE, 10th Floor Washington, DC 20002
(202) 442-5424

Students, parents and/or guardians with inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies related to students and student activities, including Section 504, should contact:

Director of Targeted Student Support
Office of Youth Engagement
District of Columbia Public Schools
1200 First St, NE, 10th Floor Washington, DC 20002
(202) 442-5099