Specialist Unit for the Coordination of School Social Work

School social work is an independent field of child and youth welfare. It supports children, adolescents, and young adults in their personal, social, and educational development and connects the areas of school and youth welfare. It contributes to schools to complement the educational and teaching mission of schools. The goal is to strengthen young people in their development, promote talents, reduce disadvantages, and foster a positive school climate.

The Specialist Unit for the Coordination of School Social Work is part of the Oberberg Education Office and is therefore firmly anchored in the Oberberg Regional Education Network. We are a support service for all those involved in or in contact with school social work.

Our mission is to align the activities of school social work across providers and school types and to strengthen cooperation in accordance with the funding guidelines of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia (BASS 11-02 No. 45) – in the sense of a joint support network, taking existing structures into account.

The specialist unit is closely networked with professionals in school social work as well as with the diverse providers and institutions in the field of education and upbringing in the Oberberg region. Together with partners, it works to meet the diverse tasks in shared responsibility.

The specialist unit is aimed at professionals in school social work, school principals and school staff, municipalities, employers, and school authorities. Together, we create strong networks for a successful educational biography – because educational opportunities are opportunities for the future, both for the individual and for our entire region.

The Coordination Office for School Social Work continuously strengthens and develops school social work in the Oberberg district with the aim of sustainably ensuring the quality of school social work, promoting professional exchange, and competently supporting schools and professionals with current challenges. Since 2022, it has supported municipalities, schools, providers, and professionals in planning, implementing, and further developing school social work through professional advice, accompanying new employees, and organizing training and exchange formats. Moreover, the Coordination Office coordinates needs, documents the deployment of professionals, develops cross-provider quality standards, and promotes networking at district, state, and federal levels.

School social work in North Rhine-Westphalia is based on the legal regulations of the Eighth Social Code and the corresponding decrees of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. These form the foundation for the tasks, goals, and design of school social work and provide a reliable framework for its implementation in schools.