SOCIAL SERVICES COUNSELOR - 67011776 (SUNLAND - UNIT 2)

Requisition No: 831959 

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: 07/10/2024 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

AGENCY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

 POSITION: Social Services Counselor - Career Service

POSITION NUMBER:  67011776

OPEN COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITY

This posting may close before the posted closing date.

CANDIDATE POOL: Future vacancies may be filled from this advertisement for a period of up to six months.

This position is located in Unit 2 Social Services

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 eligible 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, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.
• Paid Maternity and Parental Leave.

The Agency seeks team members who demonstrate the qualities of being humble, hungry, and smart and lead others to embody the same. This entails lacking excessive ego, sharing credit, being self-motivated, and exercising good judgment and intuition regarding the subtleties of group dynamics. 

This position with APD will serve staff and management across the Agency. Your work will impact the workplace culture, our community, and the population we serve as we continuously strive to achieve the Agency’s mission.

*Responses to the qualifying questions are required and must be verifiable based on your submitted application, and “see resume” will not be considered an acceptable response.

SALARY RANGE

$42,906.24 - $44,662.96 Annually                       $1,650.24 - $1,717.80 Bi-weekly

Position Summary

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.

The Work You Will Do 

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 Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in social work.

Preference will be given to those with experience working with persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

Knowledge of: Theories and practices in counseling or social work. Professional ethics relating to counseling or social work. Interviewing techniques. Criminal justice system and the court process. Victims' Assistance Programs. Florida Statutes of victims' rights.

Ability to: Provide counseling or social work services to others. Coordinate a team approach to the rehabilitation process. Plan, organize and coordinate work assignments. Actively listen to others. Communicate effectively. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.

Additional Information

Profile Completion

To qualify for this position, applicants must complete all fields in the Candidate Profile, including their work history with the month and year. 

Resumes and other documentation can be attached to provide additional information but will not replace the required completed Candidate Profile.

Retiree Notice

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 suspended or voided, and you will be required to repay all benefits received depending upon your retirement date.

Direct Deposit Program

As a condition of employment, a person appointed to a position in the State Personnel System is required to participate in the Direct Deposit Program.  Rather than receiving a paper paycheck, your funds will be deposited directly into your account at your financial institution. This will be accomplished by Electronic Funds Transfer. Banks, savings and loan associations, and credit unions are eligible to accept such deposits. Retirement funds are also required to be 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.

Pursuant to S. 110.1127(1), Florida Statutes, this position requires a background investigation, including fingerprinting.

APD only hires 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), which electronically confirms an employee’s eligibility to work in the U.S. after completing the employment eligibility verification form (I-9).

All applicants should complete the online application process. If you need assistance applying 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.

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

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.