Social Skills Specialist (2023-24)

Social Skills Specialist
Heron Creek atMarylhurst Campus
8 hours per day / 5 days per week / 190- day Instructional Calendar
2023-24School Year

Clackamas ESD strives to infuse equity in all our programs and bodies of work by maintaining an inclusive, barrier-free environment in which everyone participates and fully benefits.

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every one of the qualifications as described in the job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be the one who comes from a less traditional background. We would encourage you to apply, even if you don't believe you meet every one of our qualifications described. If you are unsure whether you meet the qualifications of this position, or how this would be determined, please feel free to contact Human Resources at [email protected] to discuss your application.

Find your "why" with Clackamas ESD
At Clackamas Education Service District, our mission is to lead, serve and innovate for learning. Clackamas ESD provides services in early learning, special education, technology and teacher/staff support to Clackamas County school districts. We ensure students and families in all of our communities big and small have access to equitable education services. Learnmore.

About the program:
The Heron Creek Programs assess the collective strengths of students, families, schools and the community to develop collaborative plans, enabling students with significant social, emotional, behavioral and academic challenges to learn and use skills to meet their educational goals in the least restrictive environment. The Heron Creek Programs will be differentiated from behavioral classrooms in the inclusive approach of the team. The programs are evidence-based with an emphasis on family participation; integration of education and school based mental health service throughout the day, as well as the maintenance of continuous connections between the student, family and local school district personnel. The program will emphasize strengths-based assessment and collaboration with local systems of care.

About this position:
The Social Skills Specialist instructs and provides social and behavioral supports to students whose significant social, emotional, and behavioral challenges severely impede their educational progress. The Specialist participates on the therapeutic team to functionally assess the needs of each child. The Specialist collaborates with the team on the development of individualized behavior support plans, and the integration of special education and social/emotional skills training services. The Specialist assists the classroom team in implementing skill development strategies designed to facilitate learning. The Specialist provides training and support to families including case management and community support.

Essential functions:

• Creates a comprehensive plan and delivers instruction in social skills.
• Applies principles of human development, learning, and behavior, to functionally assess students social-emotional and behavioral needs
• Contributes to team development using a solution-based focus, seeking and using the expertise and perspectives of other team members to develop common understandings and agreements
• Communicates with students using language structure, tone, and body language that promotes positive student behavior, conflict resolution, problem solving, effective management of power struggles, and applies proactive strategies for management of escalating behavior
• Monitors and records student progress
• Implements specially designed behavior intervention plans, coordinating with the classroom team, and collaborating with related service staff
• Utilizes Crisis Prevention and Intervention strategies including NCI.
• Participates in the therapeutic team to plan for the needs of each child and family
• Provides group activities and supervision for children during parent groups, toward a specific outcome. Provides information to the team on family dynamics, needs of the children in the family, and observational data regarding the child
• Maintains a safe, therapeutic environment for students
• Uses technology to produce and manage student information
• Collaborates with the therapeutic team to develop specially designed social skills and behavior intervention plans, which are integrated into the daily instructional experience for each child
• Assists with transition activities related to students' transition to their next educational placement, including return to the students local district or discharge from the program
• Works with students on an individual and group basis, to provide skills training consistent with the students IEPs and Behavior Support Plans

Minimum qualifications:

• Ability to develop and utilize scheduling and time management techniques in the daily performance of responsibilities
• Ability to acquire and maintain NCI certification as appropriate
• Ability to assess and teach developmentally relevant social and behavioral skills
• Demonstrated skills working with other professionals such as educators, counselors, social workers, psychologists, and psychiatrists, as resources for planning and delivery of specially designed programs
• Ability to compose and produce concise professional documents
• Demonstrated ability to provide child and family centered social-emotional supports
• Mental attributes sufficient to perform the essential functions, including the ambiguity associated with program development
• Written and oral communication skills sufficient to perform essential functions
• Technology skills sufficient to perform essential functions
• Qualified mental health professional (QMHP) per state statute or Licensed Clinical Social Worker or Masters of Social Work or Licensed Professional Counselor, or ability to obtain such license
• Ability to acquire and maintain a valid first aid and CPR card
• Recent successful experience working in an educational/mental health setting, with students who have serious social- emotional challenges
• Ability to learn and apply mental health based strategies with education services in a public school setting
• Physical attributes sufficient to perform essential functions

Salary: Salary based on experience. See the 2022-23 Licensed Salary Schedule. The 2023-24 Licensed Salary Schedule has not yet been released.

Benefits:

• Paid time off, including paid holidays, sick leave, and other personal leave
• Full medical, dental, and vision insurance with generous district-paid contribution (most employees pay $0 out of pocket to maintain health insurance coverage)
• Retirement through the Oregon Public Retirement System (PERS) includes pension and individual account program
• Opportunities togrow with us with generous professional development expense reimbursements
• Read more about our benefitshere

Retirement plan contributions:
Clackamas ESD employees working 600 or more hours in a calendar year are eligible for the Oregon Public Employee Retirement, or PERS. There are two components to PERS, including the pension, which is primarily funded by CESD and The Individual Account Program, or IAP, which is funded by a six-percent deduction from your paycheck. If you are new to PERS, your PERS deduction will begin automatically after a six-month waiting period.

How to apply:
Submit your application athttps://www.applitrack.com/clackesd/onlineapp/. Applications for this position must be submitted by 11:59 PM on the listed closing date and must include:

• Resume
• Completed application form
• Cover Letter

Clackamas Education Service District is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We respect and seek to empower each individual and support the diverse cultures, perspectives, skills and experiences within our workforce along with the students and families that we serve.

Clackamas ESD policy provides veterans and disabled veterans with preference as required by law.
Additional requirements:
Clackamas ESD complies with the Oregon Health Authority mandate that requires all staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19, or have an approved religious or medical exception. New hires will be required to provide proof of their vaccinated status, or receive approval on a submitted OHA exception request form for a qualifying medical or religious reason, prior to their first day of employment.