The School Social Worker

Anne-Marie Attard, College Social Worker

The school social worker works closely and provides support to students (of compulsory school age) in their educational and personal growth. S/He works holistically with all stakeholders as schools, families, and the community whose contribution is pivotal in ensuring that all students achieve their best potential in their respective school and in life.

The Main Services offered are:

• Providing links between the school and home through social work intervention with habitually absent students, their families and school staff. School visits and home visits are carried out as and where necessary;
• Supporting and guiding students on personal matters, including stigmatisation, scapegoating, labelling, self-fulfilling prophecies, bullying, substance abuse, challenging behaviour and relationship difficulties.
• Working with families concerning home situations that relate to school attitudes and performance.
• Implementing and promoting anti-discriminatory practice.
• Empowering students, parents and school staff to access available opportunities and resources to fully develop each student’s potential.
• Acting as liaison with students, parents, school staff and community resources.
• Ensuring the law on compulsory education is adhered to by parents, keeping track of truant students and addressing issued that are leading to absenteeism.
• Working within a multidisciplinary team situated in the respective College
• Referring students to other professionals and specialist agencies as and when required and subsequently monitoring the student’s process
• Organizing and participating in case conferences and inter-agency liaison meetings.
• Providing the necessary support to students, parents or guardians and other family members, Heads of Schools and teaching Staff and act as a mediator between the school and family
• Serving as an advocate for students by ensuring equity regarding service provision as well as demonstrative awareness of cultural differences and individual needs of students particularly those coming from vulnerable groups
• Preparing and presenting social reports for, and participating in, Education Court Sittings, and the Juvenile Court.
• Providing consultation on relative matters to Heads of Schools, teachers and other professionals; and the Directorate for Educational Services.
• Carrying out relevant research work and preparing reports on specialised issues relating to School Social Work.
• Assessing student’s eligibility to be exempted from school and offer guidance and support on the appropriateness of certain work on work places.
• Providing talks to school staff, parents and students as required.