26-27 Afterschool PT Behavioral Specialists (Argenziano)

Somerville Public Schools; Somerville (MA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 39,000; Part time

Job summary

The Somerville Public School system seeks a Therapeutic Specialist to provide a safe, enriching environment for children enrolled in the Community School After-School program. This part-time role supports students in grades Pre-K through 8 and coordinates with the Student Services Coordinator.

Responsibilities include facilitating social-emotional activities, guiding emotional expression, and collaborating with Special Education staff.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work, counseling, or related field; master’s degree preferred.
• High school diploma plus nine months of school-age child care experience.
• Experience with project-based curriculum.
• Ability to set clear limits and supervise school-age students.
• Experience with diverse cultural, socioeconomic backgrounds and abilities.
• Ability to work with students with special educational or emotional needs.

Responsibilities

• Communicate with youth in a therapeutic manner to facilitate emotional expression, self-awareness, self-esteem and social skill development.
• Plan and lead social-emotional activities to facilitate healthy expression and communication.
• Help youth enhance social skills, build healthy peer relationships, and better communication with peers.
• Provide modifications and/or accommodations for students with higher needs as designed by qualified Special Education staff.
• Provide supervision and support to special education students in non-instructional settings.
• Maintain daily communication with the student services coordinator, site coordinator, parents, and program staff.
• Attend to crisis situations that may arise during After-School hours.

Skills

Bachelor’s degree in psychology/social

HS Diploma + 9 months experience with

Education

Bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work, counseling

Master’s degree in related field preferred

High School Diploma required

Job description

Position Summary

The Somerville Community Schools Program provides After School and Out of School Time Care in the Somerville Public Schools. We operate After School programs from school dismissal until 5:30 pm including early release days; full day programs during school vacation weeks and during summer. It is our mission to provide high quality, affordable, Out of School Time Care to Somerville children in grades Pre-K through 8.

The person selected for this position will be under the direct supervision of the Student Services Coordinator for Community Schools program of Somerville Public Schools. The therapeutic specialist will be responsible for providing an appropriately safe, caring and enriching environment for the children enrolled in the Community School After-School program.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

The essential functions or responsibilities listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

• Communicate with youth in a therapeutic manner to facilitate emotional expression, self-awareness, self-esteem and social skill development
• Plans and leads social-emotional activities to facilitate healthy expression and communication
• Helps youth enhance their social skills, build healthy peer relationships, and better communication with their peers
• Provide modifications and/or accommodations (i.e. academic or behavioral support) to students with higher needs as designed by qualified Special Education staff according to individual IEP goals, to special education students in both inclusive and separate class settings
• Provide supervision and support to special education students in non-instructional settings as assigned by coordinators and administrators.
• Maintain daily communication with the student services coordinator, site coordinator, parents, and program staff.
• Attend to crisis situations that may arise during After-School hours

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the position's essential functions.

• During a typical workday, incumbent will perform functions that will necessitate him/ her to have a strong overall level of strength and physical ability.
• The incumbent will be expected to exert an extensive and frequent level of talking; seeing; hearing; walking
• The incumbent will be expected to exert a moderate level of standing; sitting; walking; lifting; carrying; pushing/ pulling; bending; climbing and kneeling.

Qualifications, Knowledge And Skills

• Hold a minimum of a Bachelor's Degree Clinical Psychology, Social Work, Counseling, or related field; preferably currently pursuing Master's degree in related field
• Hold a High School Diploma and have nine months experience working with school age children including three months supervised experience at a school age child care program
• Experience actively participating with project based curriculum
• Ability to set clear limits and supervise school age students
• Experience working with children and families from diverse cultural, socioeconomic backgrounds and abilities
• Ability work with students with special educational or emotional needs

Reporting Relationships

• Position Reports to: School Director(s) and Clinical Consultant of Out of School Time

Terms of Employment

• Position Type: Part Time / Up to 15 hours per week
• Schedule: September - June (Monday-Friday)
• FLSA Classification: Non Exempt
• Union Status: Non Union
• Benefits: Non Benefits Eligible position

Pre-Employment Requirements

• MA Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) Clearance
• Fingerprints

The Somerville Public School does not discriminate in its programs, facilities or employment of educational opportunities on the basis of race, color, age, religion, disability, pregnancy, home status, marital/civil union status, sex/gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, citizenship status, place of birth, national origin, ancestry, cultural identity, genetics or military status, and does not tolerate any form of retaliation, or bias-based intimidation, threat or harassment that demeans individuals' group or interferes with their ability to learn or work.