SOCIAL SERVICES COUNSELOR - 67011776 (SUNLAND - UNIT 2)

Requisition No: 827435 

Agency: Agency for Persons with Disabilities

Working Title: SOCIAL SERVICES COUNSELOR - 67011776 (SUNLAND - UNIT 2)

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 67011776 

Salary:  $42,906.24 - $44,662.96 

Posting Closing Date: 05/01/2024 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Agency for Persons with Disabilities - Sunland - Social Services Counselor - Career Service

Average Annual Salary: $42,906.24 - $44,662.96

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M. Central Standard Time

 Health Insurance Premiums $25.00- Single / $90.00- Family - Biweekly

                Life Insurance $25,000 (100% employer paid)

10 Paid Holidays annually

                   4 hours of annual leave and 4 hours sick leave bi-weekly

      Additional supplemental insurances available such as dental, vision, etc.    

           In-State Tuition Waivers

  State of Florida Retirement package –  www.myfrs.com

Benefits information can be found at https://www.mybenefits.myflorida.com/

This advertisement is for Unit 2 Social Services

In addition to the wide variety of opportunities available for job seekers, the State of Florida also offers comprehensive benefits for its employees.

State of Florida Total Compensation Estimator (myflorida.com)

Description

This is a specialized social work position established as a Social Services Counselor.  The primary function of this position is to provide social services to clients with intellectual and/or physical disabilities.  An employee in this position works as part of an interdisciplinary team to accomplish assigned responsibilities.  The employee is responsible for the following functions that support residents in multiple residential units: Ensures clients' residence are in compliance with F.S. 393 and other state/federal standards

Prepare complete initial psychosocial assessment for new admissions.  Annually develop and update psychosocial report for each client on caseload for inclusion as required.  Prepare and send an annual interpretative letter to parents/guardians or the responsible judicial circuit and include a copy of the Individual Program Plan (IPP). Arrange and coordinate interpretative conference with parents/guardians concerning client's program; communicates by letter, telephone call or meeting regarding client's needs.

Monitors spending of clients' monies, counsel with clients and families regarding third party benefits, the ICF/DD program and DCF policies.  Compiles and submits applications for social security, Medicaid or other benefits.  Also, provides oversight monitoring of client’s personal possessions to include new purchases, current inventory, discards, etc.  Completes all forms as required by policy and procedure.

Actively participate and maintain the role of advocate to support resident’s needs and family/guardian/guardian advocate desires. Assists in legal matters such as guardianship, involuntary admissions, consent issues, etc.  Attends competency and other court proceedings involving the client.  Ensures consent forms are obtained from appropriate sources (ie, guardian, court).

Visits with each client on caseload at least monthly (both on and off house) and documents observations, progress, and/or major changes/transitions in life situation.

Counsels with clients/parents/guardians or other Sunland staff regarding the clients' programs, adjustment problems, and/or major changes/transitions in life situation.

Promotes and arranges for normalizing therapeutic home visits and documents the quality of home visits.  Completes referrals for clients in need of alternate placements and coordinates smooth transitions/placements.  This includes the completion of referral packets, counseling with parents/guardians to encourage involvement and participation in the process.  Completes discharge process (i.e., transfer of the client record, funds, personal possessions, writes discharge summary, etc.).  Conducts aftercare follow-ups on clients placed in community facilities or other institutions.

Assist treatment team to support goal/skill development in social area by participating in shopping trips, outings, and other social events.

Maintains up-to-date input of data into the Allocation, Budget & Contract Control System (ABC).  Reviews the ABC printouts regularly to determine the accuracy of information and submits revised information as needed.  Updates information for fee maintenance annually or as changes occur.

Notifies supervisors and contact person of significant events within time frames established by policy and procedure.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in social work.
• Preference will be given to those with experience working with persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities. 

Experience, education, and/or training used to meet the minimum qualifications and in response to the qualifying questions must be verifiable through information contained in your application.

This position may be required to perform essential services before, during, and after an emergency per APD OP 2-0035. This position is critical to the safety and supervision of residents and may require the incumbent to work beyond their normal work schedule to maintain minimum coverage levels in the facility.

Other job-related requirements for this position:

• To support the goal of establishing APD as the most sought-after place to work in Florida, the employee will create an environment that cultivates people and transforms teams by increasing transparency and providing opportunities for professional development. The employee actively works to demonstrates the qualities of being humble, hungry, and smart and leads others to embody the same. The team member lacks excessive ego, shares credit, is self-motivating and exercises good judgement and intuition around the subtitles of group dynamics.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities, including utilization of equipment, required for the position:

• Knowledge of theories and practices in counseling or social work.
• Knowledge of professional ethics relating to counseling or social work.
• Knowledge of interviewing techniques.
• Ability to provide counseling or social work services to others.
• Knowledge of the criminal justice system and the court process.
• Knowledge of Victims' Assistance Programs.
• Knowledge of Florida Statutes of victims' rights.
• Ability to coordinate a team approach to the rehabilitation process.
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments.
• Ability to actively listen to others.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.

Recruiting Contact:

Lizzie Holland 

Human Resource Specialist

Recruitment Manager

Agency for Persons with Disabilities

Sunland Center – Marianna

3700 Williams Drive

Marianna, FL 32446

E-mail Lizzie.Holland@apdcares.org

Direct Deposit Program 

As a condition of employment, a person appointed to a position in State government is required to participate in the Direct Deposit Program.

BACKGROUND SCREENING REQUIREMENT:

It is the policy of the Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities that applicants for employment undergo Level 2 employment screening in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, Florida Statutes, as a condition of employment or being permitted to serve as a volunteer. No applicant for a designated position will be employed or permitted to volunteer until the Level 2 screening results are received, reviewed, and approved by the Agency.

Level 2 background screening shall include, but not be limited to, fingerprinting for Statewide criminal and juvenile records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and Federal criminal records checks through the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and may include local criminal records checks through local law enforcement agencies.

THIS POSITION REQUIRES A BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION INCLUDING FINGERPRINTING, PURSUANT TO S. 110.1127(1), FLORIDA STATUTES.

WE HIRE ONLY U.S. CITIZENS AND THOSE LAWFULLY AUTHORIZED TO WORK IN THE U.S.  APD PARTICIPATES IN THE U.S. GOVERNMENT’S EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION PROGRAM (E-VERIFY). E-VERIFY IS A PROGRAM THAT ELECTRONICALLY CONFIRMS AN EMPLOYEE’S ELIGIBILITY TO WORK IN THE UNITED STATES AFTER COMPLETION OF THE EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION FORM (I-9).

ALL APPLICANTS SHOULD COMPLETE THE ON-LINE APPLICATION PROCESS.  IF ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION, PLEASE CALL THE PEOPLE FIRST SERVICE CENTER AT 1-877-562-7287. RESPONSES TO THE QUALIFYING QUESTIONS ARE REQUIRED TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION. ANSWERS TO THE QUALIFYING QUESTIONS MUST BE VERIFIABLE BASED ON YOUR SUBMITTED APPLICATION.

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.