HUMAN SERVICES COUNSELOR II - 64003284

Requisition No: 841141 

Agency: Department of Health

Working Title: HUMAN SERVICES COUNSELOR II - 64003284

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 64003284 

Salary:  $33,600 - $37,805 annually 

Posting Closing Date: 11/22/2024 

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Thank you for your interest in career opportunities with the Florida Department of Health in Polk County.  If you are looking to establish a successful career in Public Health, you have come to the right place.  Many of our innovative and successful health programs are recognized throughout Florida.  We hope you decide to join our team!  Applicants will be contacted directly if selected for an interview.

The incumbent if part of a global public health organization and is expected to support the Florida Department of Health in Polk County in its mission to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts and its vision to be the Healthiest State in the Nation. Furthermore, the incumbent is expected to incorporate the agency values of Innovation, Collaboration, Accountability, Responsiveness and Excellence in all aspects of their work.  

Your Specific Responsibilities:

The person in this position provides services to families targeted for outreach and care coordination of high-risk pregnant women and their infants in the Polk County area as determined by the Healthy Start program authorized by the 1991 legislature under the Healthy Start Act, 383.216 F.S., Chapters 100-113, and related activities which identify needs in this population. This position may serve clients that speak only Spanish, Creole, or other languages. It may require performance of interpreter duties, if bilingual, or implementation of the Department's Limited English Proficiency Plan.

Provides outreach, assessment of health, nutritional, developmental, social, environmental, and behavioral conditions, and care coordination of families. Coordinates services with other community agencies serving pregnant women, children, and families.

Uses screening instruments to assess pregnant women and infants.  Act as liaison, communicator, and advocate for at risk pregnant women and children; interfaces with health care providers and other resources to improve service coordination.  Promotes and encourages family self-help and self-responsibility.

Jointly develops written Family Support Plans with clients and families, identifies specific concerns, needs and priorities, and available resources.  Specifies service objectives leading to improved health outcomes. Implements, evaluates, and monitors Family Support Plan Activities and enhanced services rendered to infants and pregnant women determined to be at risk.  Works collaboratively with other community agencies involved with the family.  Documents progress and periodically updates the plan using assessment of risk factors and needs.

Provides supportive counseling on a one-to-one basis. Educates with a preventative approach on various topics such as: smoking cessation, parenting education, breastfeeding, drug and alcohol avoidance, postpartum depression, childbirth, family planning, interconception care, childhood developmental stages, and nutrition. Complete 40-hour Child Passenger Safety Technician Training, as offered, to assist Healthy Start Families to correctly install car seats, as well as inspect for correct installation of car seats previously installed. Follows the National Child Passenger Safety Training guidelines to maintain training bi-annually.

Document all client contacts and services provided in the designated Healthy Start client data system.  Follows Healthy Start Standards and Guidelines about risk assessment, timeliness of client contacts, services provided, coding, documentation, and case closure processes.

Uses a team approach for Healthy Start care coordination and other outreach services.  Serves as resource/support person to other team members. Works with other team members on special projects related to Healthy Start Program.

Maintains professional competency by attending conferences and in-service training. Completes all mandatory training for FDOH and the Healthy Start Coalition.

Although fluency in both English and Spanish and/or Creole are not requirements of this position, because of the large Hispanic and Haitian populations that are served by this program, skills in Spanish and /or Creole, in addition to English, are desirable.

Performs other duties as required.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Ability to organize and coordinate work assignments.
• Knowledge of rules, policies, procedures and laws pertaining to the program.
• Ability to read, understand and apply applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Ability to work with socio-economically and culturally diverse populations.
• Knowledge of community resources.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to schedule and coordinate assigned work responsibilities.
• Ability to compose written correspondence and various reports.
• Ability to operate a computer and navigate FDOH and Healthy Start client data bases.
• Knowledge of problem solving techniques.
• Knowledge of office procedures and ability to operate a variety of office equipment.
• Ability to adapt to change.

Qualifications:

Minimum:

• Valid Florida Driver’s License or the ability to obtain one within 30 days of employment.

Preferred

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university from one of the following areas: social sciences, a health-related field such as nursing, health education, health planning or health care administration, or social work, or, an associate degree with three years of public health/maternal child experience, is preferred for this position.  

Other job-related requirements for this position:

Emergency Duty: Incumbent may be required to work before, during and/or beyond normal work hours or days in the event of an emergency.  Emergency duty required of the incumbent includes working in special needs or Red Cross shelters, or performing other emergency duties including, but not limited to, responses to or threats involving any disaster or threat of disaster, man-made or natural.

Confidentiality: Incumbent may have access to records containing Social Security numbers in the performance of their job duties.

Florida Department of Health Mission, Vision, and Values:

Mission:

To protect, promote & improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county & community efforts.

Vision:

To be the Healthiest State in the Nation.

Values:

I nnovation: We search for creative solutions and manage resources wisely.

C ollaboration: We use teamwork to achieve common goals & solve problems.

A ccountability: We perform with integrity & respect.

R esponsiveness: We achieve our mission by serving our customers & engaging our partners.

E xcellence: We promote quality outcomes through learning & continuous performance improvement.

Where You Will Work:

Lakeland, FL

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits including:

• Annual and Sick Leave benefits;
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year;
• State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental insurance options;
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions

(For more information, please click www.myfrs.com);

• Flexible Spending Accounts;
• Tuition waivers;
• And more!

For a more complete list of benefits, including monthly costs, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

Please be advised:

Your responses to qualifying questions for this position must be verifiable by documentation provided through the electronic application process.  

This position requires a security background check and/or drug screening and participation in direct deposit. Any misrepresentations or omissions will disqualify you from employment consideration. Note: You will be required to provide your Social Security Number (SSN) in order to conduct this background check Successful completion of a drug test is a condition of employment for safety-sensitive positions.

Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion unless they are registered with the Selective Services System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS. For more information, please visit the SSS website: http://www.sss.gov 

If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida.  Your current retirement benefits may be canceled, suspended or deemed ineligible depending upon the date of your retirement. 

The successful candidate will be required to complete the Form I-9 and that information will be verified using the E-Verify system.  E-Verify is operated by the Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security Administration to verify employment eligibility.   

Incumbents may be required to perform emergency duty before, during, and/or beyond normal work hours or days.

Florida has the third largest population of veterans in the nation with more than 1.5 million service men and women.  The Florida Department of Health (department) is committed to serving members of the United States Armed Forces, veterans and their families by encouraging them to apply for vacancies that fit their area of knowledge and/or expertise.  Through the Department's VALOR program, which expedites licensing for military veterans, the Department also waives initial licensing and application fees for military veterans who apply for a health care professional license within 60 months of an honorable discharge. These initiatives help ensure that the transition from military service into the workforce is as smooth as possible and reflects our appreciation for the dedication devoted to protecting our country.    

If there are any problems applying online, please call People First Staffing Administration: (877) 562-7287.

Service Center hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., ET. TTY users, call (866) 221-0268.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE.  Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply.  Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements.  Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code.  Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here.  All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.