Social Skills Specialist, Functional Therapeutic School - Heron Creek
Location: Heron Creek Campus, 17600 Pacific Hwy, Marylhurst, OR 97036
Schedule: 4 hours per day / 5 days per week / 190-day Instructional Calendar - This is only a 0.5 FTE position.
FOR 2025-26 SCHOOL 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 hr@clackesd.org 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. Learn more.
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:
Applies principles of human development, learning, and behavior, to functionally assess students’ social-emotional and behavioral needs
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
Participates in the therapeutic team to plan for the needs of each child and family
Creates a comprehensive plan and delivers instruction in social skills.
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
Works with students on an individual and group basis, to provide skills training consistent with the students’ IEPs and Behavior Support Plans
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.
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
Assists with transition activities related to students' transition to their next educational placement, including return to the student’s local district or discharge from the program
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
Minimum qualifications:
Qualified mental health professional (QMHP) per state statute or Licensed Clinical Social Worker or Master’s of Social Work or Licensed Professional Counselor, or ability to obtain such license
Demonstrated ability to provide child and family centered social-emotional supports
Ability to assess and teach developmentally relevant social and behavioral skills
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
Ability to compose and produce concise professional documents
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 develop and utilize scheduling and time management techniques in the daily performance of responsibilities
Ability to acquire and maintain a valid first aid and CPR card
Written and oral communication skills sufficient to perform essential functions
Physical attributes sufficient to perform essential functions
Mental attributes sufficient to perform the essential functions, including the ambiguity associated with program development
Ability to acquire and maintain NCI certification as appropriate
Technology skills sufficient to perform essential functions
Salary: Licensed Salary Schedule can be found here for the 2024-25 and the 2025-26 school years.
Benefits:
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
Paid time off, including paid holidays, sick leave, and other personal leave
Opportunities to grow with us with generous professional development expense reimbursements
Clackamas ESD covers the full cost of fingerprinting for new employees, saving you $82.50 - a benefit not offered by most other districts
Read more about our benefits here
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 at https://www.applitrack.com/clackesd/onlineapp/. Applications for this position must be submitted by 11:59 PM on the listed closing date and must include:
Cover Letter
Resume
Completed application form
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.
Clackamas ESD Notice of Nondiscrimination
