OCDSB School Social Workers
School social workers work from a perspective that acknowledges the links between a student’s home, school, and community life. School social workers intervene directly with students, parents, and school staff to resolve / manage a range of social, emotional, and mental health issues affecting school performance.
- Assess the strengths and needs of students within the context of school, family and community
- Provide psycho-social assessments for systems class placements & Care and Treatment applications.
- Provide counselling to high risk students, families and groups to resolve issues affecting school performance
- Address trauma issues with students and families
- Address attendance/truancy as mandated under the Education Act
- Provide outreach to students and families
- Facilitate access to resources for students and families in need
- Offer classroom, staff and parent presentations to promote social-emotional health
- Collaborate with teachers, parents and administration to find effective solutions to learning and behavioural exceptionalities
- Work as members of the school multidisciplinary teams
- Work with community partners to plan coordinated services that will benefit students and families
- Provide innovative approaches to building positive school culture
- Help students, families and schools manage crises such as death, illness, or community trauma
- Provide immediate response as part of Tragic Events Team
- Conduct risk assessments
- Conduct threat assessments
- Assessments re: harm to self or others and provide intervention and access Urgent Care Protocol with CHEO as needed
Develop and implement programs for students, parents and school staff to promote a safe and caring school environment (Roots of Empathy, Second Step, Anti-Bullying initiatives, ASIST, social skills, Collaborative Problem Solving, Restorative Practices, etc). Collaborate with community partners in the delivery of specialized programs (ie. violence prevention programs and healthy relationships).