Multilingual  High School Social Worker

BELA Charter School

Brooklyn Emerging Leaders Academy Charter School (BELA), a new all-girls high school located in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, focused on SISTERHOOD, SCHOLARSHIP, STRENGTH and SERVICE is deeply committed to a 100% of our students completing college. Founded on the belief that academic and life preparation is equally as important; each BELA young woman will embark on her own personal and intellectual journey. Students will empower and uplift, while respectfully questioning norms to develop their own identities within their rich cultures and communities. This unique learning environment is designed for educators who are intrigued and motivated by the potential that exists within each of our Bedford Stuyvesant young women and thrives in a start-up atmosphere where outcomes are clearly defined, but allows for creativity and risk taking as we define the process to meeting our goals as a school community.

The Role

The Multilingual Social Worker will provide Individual and group counseling, as well as crisis management and other supports to help ensure BELA runs smoothly. This person reports to the Dean of Student Life and provides individual and group psychotherapeutic counseling and case management to all multilingual students and families in the community, along with providing support to the Class of 2029 cohort (Year 9). The social worker will offer social-emotional, developmental, and academic support, and evaluate the scope of student therapeutic need for clinical referrals. The Social worker provides crisis intervention support, including collaboration with the Student Life Team.

The position is a full-time 12 month position with an immediate start date

Responsibilities Include:

Multilingual Support

• Serve as the social worker for all multilingual students and families, providing clinical services to them for their high school experience 

• Create and deliver comprehensive and rigorous social emotional skills based curriculum, bridging English and other languages to include self awareness and management; social awareness and relationship skills; and responsibility decision making. 

• Work with student life team and teaching staff to acclimate students to the cultural expectations at BELA

• Onboard any multi-language speaking students and families 

• Work closely with Linguistically Gifted Lead Teacher to develop, manage and provide a curriculum to support students in securing graduation requirements

• Coordinate student final presentations  in collaboration with the Bilingual Seal of Literacy Coordinator.

• Provide individual and group counseling for multilingual students in the community

• Provide collateral support to families of students, referring them to community resources where appropriate

• Develop partnerships with organizations that will provide comprehensive family supports to meet the needs of families who are  newly arrived to the United States 

• Support a strong and cohesive school culture through restorative and transformative justice practices and community building.

• Provide mandated counseling and advocacy for multilingual and 12th grade  students with Individualized Education Plans, including attending IEP meetings

• Active member of Linguistically Gifted Team on staff

• Create and participate in annual new student orientation experiences and community building activities (virtually and in person) for linguistically gifted students, where students are also integrated into community events. 

• Create events to build relationships with linguistically gifted students and other  students within the community. 

• Serve as an interpreter and liaison for students, families and staff (some of which may be virtual)

• Consult with teachers to provide collaborative supports, ensuring the success of students

• Work with Student Life Team to provide evening workshops and meetings for families, staff professional development workshops, and student life team departmental trainings to support the needs of LG students

• Conduct academic check ins with students and families

9th Grade Support

• Serve as the primary social worker for all senior cohorts. Provide a twelve week model for student counseling, aligning with the collegiate model

• Provide monthly opportunities for Power Group/SEL themed workshops targeting students, ensuring that all students are in at least 1-2 groups annually. 

• Provide mandated counseling and advocacy for bilingual and 9th grade  students with Individualized Education Plans, including attending IEP meetings

• Work closely with Dean of Postsecondary Success to support with any complex student/family situations 

• Support students with PID, including contacting families and supporting the development of  an Academic Success Plan. 

• Attendance meetings for students whose attendance is of concern

• Conduct trimester academic check-ins with students

Administrative Support

• Provide referrals to families for mental health, therapy and psychiatric services as needed and act as the liaison between outside service providers and the school (i.e.: ACS workers, mental health, therapists, caseworkers, etc.) by maintaining regular contact in order to facilitate holistic student support. This includes all multilingual families and students in need of these services within the 12th grade cohort

• Attend community events, including school Open Houses, Fairs, and Family Meetings as needed 

• Ensure clinical practices are carried out in culturally and racially sensitive manner

• Participate in weekly student life team meetings to discuss school wide student concerns and interventions

• Work with the EmpowerMEnt team to manage any behavioral challenges that may present with linguistically gifted students

•  Advocate for students at meetings,  in the Academic Team Meetings, and Student Life Team and in Restorative/Transformative Justice processes.

• Prepare all case notes, and all other necessary documentation pertaining to clinical supports in a timely manner (all case notes need to be in English; translation to preferred language upon request)

• Support the student life team in facilitating meditations and responding to crisis situations presenting for students and families

QUALIFICATIONS:

LMSW or LCSW

• NY state/city experience is strongly preferred.

• Bilingual English & Spanish required

• Some clinical experience in a mental health or school setting preferred

• Ability to engage and diffuse crisis situations

• An ability to thrive in a dynamic environment and a capacity to remain calm, focused, and solution oriented when faced with unexpected challenges

• Ability to work effectively with adolescents, families, professionals 

• Commitment to working in Bed Stuy Community

• Interest in supporting students and families via a transformative justice lens

• An ability to  actively engage students in their own learning and social and emotional development

• Strong written and oral communication skills including an acumen for participating in sensitive conversations

• A disposition toward teamwork and collaboration

Benefits and Salary 

Salary for this position is competitive and depends on prior experience. In addition, a comprehensive benefits package is included. 

Anti-Discrimination Policy and Commitment to Diversity 

BELA seeks individuals of all religious, ethnic and racial backgrounds, sexual and gender identities to apply for this position. We are committed to maximizing the diversity of our organization, as we want to engage all those who can contribute to this effort. This job description reflects BELA’s assignment of essential functions and qualifications of the role. Nothing in this herein restricts management’s right to assign, reassign, or eliminate duties and responsibilities to this role at any time.