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POSITION: School Social Worker

LOCATIONS: Livingston, NJ (Pillar High School & Pillar Elementary School)

Status: Full Time

Hours: Monday- Friday 8:15 am-3:15 pm; 12 months with approximately 8 weeks paid recess plus personal time

Salary: $72,000.00 Annually

ABOUT PILLAR CARE CONTINUUM:

Pillar Care Continuum is dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with disabilities and other special needs by supporting personal growth, independence and participation in the community. Founded in 1953 to meet the needs of children with cerebral palsy and their families, Pillar Care has steadily grown and now delivers life-affirming services to infants, children, adults and their families throughout northern New Jersey through 27 program locations. Pillar Care provides specialized programs to meet a wide range of educational, therapeutic, and social needs of people with various disabilities. The agency serves over 1,650 families each year and employs 700 full- and part-time employees.

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY:

We are seeking a dedicated and compassionate School Social Worker to provide counseling and social-emotional support aligned with student IEPs, as well as in-class support to both students and teachers across multiple schools. The ideal candidate will be experienced in working with students with special needs and familiar with the DDD population and regulatory requirements.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

+ Provide individual and group counseling to students based on their IEP needs.

+ Support teachers and students directly in classrooms across elementary and high school settings.

+ Participate in IEP meetings and provide professional input on counseling-related goals.

+ Train and guide classroom staff on techniques to support student behavior and social-emotional growth.

+ Assist in student intakes to support smooth school transitions.

+ Collaborate with therapists and behavior teams in implementing behavior plans.

+ Provide crisis response counseling as needed.

+ Maintain accurate documentation of student progress and counseling sessions.

+ Serve as a liaison with families and community agencies (e.g., DCF, DDD, PerformCare).

+ Conduct transition workshops for parents (e.g., SSI application, guardianship, DDD resources).

+ Develop and facilitate social skills groups.

+ Coordinate and host family engagement events and PTTA meetings.

+ Maintain regular communication with school leadership and attend all required meetings, trainings, and conferences.

+ Support school-wide initiatives and fulfill additional responsibilities as assigned by school administrators.

+ Strong knowledge of counseling techniques for individual, group, and family sessions.

+ Understanding of IDEA, ADA, and other relevant education laws.

+ Familiarity with child development, family systems, and culturally responsive practices.

+ Experience with NJ DDD, PerformCare, and DCF strongly preferred.

+ Effective verbal and written communication skills.

+ Ability to maintain confidentiality and work in a collaborative educational setting.

+ Excellent organizational and case management skills.

QUALIFICATIONS:

+ Master’s Degree in Social Work, Public Administration, Health Administration, or a related field.

+ At least 3 years of experience in a school, rehabilitation, or health-related setting (1 year in a supervisory capacity preferred).

+ Current NJ DOE School Social Worker Certification required.

+ Must pass fingerprint and background check as per NJ State requirements.

+ Reliable transportation to travel between school locations.

Pillar Care Continuum is an Equal Opportunity Employer: committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.

Learn more about our schools here: Pillar Care | Special Needs Schools NJ (pillarnj.org) (https://pillarnj.org/services/special-needs-schools/)