HUMAN SERVICES COUNSELOR III - 60024699

Requisition No: 837174 

Agency: Children and Families

Working Title: HUMAN SERVICES COUNSELOR III - 60024699

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 60024699 

Salary:  $1,298.46 

Posting Closing Date: 10/05/2024 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Agency: Department of Children and Families

Working Title: Human Services Counselor III

Position Number: 60024699

Salary:  $1,298.46 

Posting Closing Date: 09/17/2024

Human Services Counselor III

Adult Protective Services/Department of Children and Families

Miami, Florida

OPEN COMPETITIVE

This posting will be used to fill position vacancies in Career Service.

Current employees will be compensated in accordance with the DCF salary policy.

Bilingual English/Spanish preferred

This is a professional position providing confidential case management/guidance to vulnerable adults the following service programs: 1. Protective Intervention (PI), a. Placement, b. Supportive Services, c. Short Term Case Management 2. Protective Supervision (PS), 3. Home care for the Disabled Adult (HCDA), 4. Community Care for Disabled Adults (CCDA)

Prepares and maintains detailed client assessments and service plans for each client and records/documentation in accordance with department and program policies and procedures. Provides/arranges for all services identified in the service plan, ensuring the client in the least restrictive residential setting, when possible.

Visits clients regularly, documents observes and revisits client assessment and service plans, as necessary, and monitors the provision of services. Meets with clients, caregivers, and /or significant others to provide guidance on available services, adjustment problems, and/or major changes/transitions in life situations. Assesses the need for emergency intervention and/or on-going services for all victims in accordance with the policies and operating procedures. Arranges and participates in all staffing for clients.

The person in this position may be specialized in one or more of the following functions: CCDA - a. Completes an initial screening form b. Places eligible clients on the appropriate community-based services waiting list. Ensures all active case clients in this position's caseload: a. Maintains the proof of eligibility and any identified change in eligibility noted during the annual reassessment. b. Completes: Annual Comprehensive Client Assessment, Release of Information, Care Plan, Income Verification, and Cost of Care Documents all case activity and uploads all documents within 5 working days. Notifies the client of client appeal rights, provide Due Process, at the time of the initial comprehensive assessment, and documents the notification.

HCDA, Placement Services, Supportive Services: Makes contact within 3 working days of receipt of initial request for services, documents proof of eligibility for clients; completes, updates, signs, and dates client assessments and care plans within time frames established in program policies, documents the clients were provided information regarding the client's rights to appeal the actions by providing Due Process. Applies to HCDA cases only. Adult PS: Initiates contact within established time frames for all cases. Prior to case closure, updates risk assessment and case plan. Completes an in-depth services assessment to include a. Uniform client assessment, b. Risk assessment, c. PS case plan Complies with and monitors compliance of the mandatory requirements of Section 215.422, F.S., and Chapter 3A-24, F.A.C. Maintains liaison with community resource agencies. Participates in all staffing for clients referred for early services intervention and PS. Maintains waiting list for CCDA and HCDA. Ensures clients are annually rescreened then submits the any updates to the program office to verify the wait list information is correct. Maintains cooperative working relationships with organizations/agencies involved with Adult Protective services such as community-based providers, law enforcement, medical personnel, and other community/agency resources. Appropriate and timely follow-up on referrals and obtains available information from departmental background checks through Florida Abuse Hotline, criminal background re-checks, and other program components to include Agency for Persons with Developmental Disabilities, Substance Abuse and Mental Health, Department of Health, Economic Services, and Agency for Health Care Administration.

Testifies in court hearings, attend fair hearings and legal proceedings. Arranges for the presence of clients at court hearings. Attends in-service and pre-service training as required. Participates in conferences, meetings, staffing, trainings, and workgroups.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities, including utilization of equipment, required for the position: (Note: The knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) identified in this class specification represent those needed to perform the duties of this class. Additional knowledge, skills and abilities may be applicable for individual positions in the employing agency.) 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 processes. 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. Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments: Ability to actively listen, communicate effectively and establish and maintain effective working relationships with others; Ability to utilize computer systems and work in a paperless environment This work requires a high degree of tact, patience, and courtesy dealing with vulnerable adults. Incumbents in this class must be able to maintain a calm, professional. demeanor while handling a variety of emergency and non-emergency calls. The work requires independent judgment and initiative to complete field assignments. Typing and good time management skills are necessary for this job.

Associate’s degree or minimum of 60 semester hours and two years of professional experience in education, mental health, counseling, guidance, social work, health or rehabilitative programs; Professional experience as described above can substitue on a year-for-year basis for the required college education.

Required to travel to clients' homes or to facilities to complete casewor; drive to multiple locations throughout the circuit to conduct interviews, provide case management, direct services to clients, may be required to transport clients. Driving will be on an intermittent basis for up to 8-hours per day but may require longer hours in certain cases. Other physical tasks associated with this position include extensive use of the telephone, writing, typing, pushing, pulling, lifting and carrying file folders, walking, climbing stairs, and use of a personal computer.  Ergonimic chairs and workstations are available to enable the incumbent to perform this job. The Department of Children and Families' seeks to serve its clients more effectively, creative approaches are necessary to focus resources on clients. The availability of mobile technologies, better security, and more access points statewide allows the Department to shift the main work location from the office to the field for some workers in this class.

All Human Service Counselor III employees are considered essential personnel and are expected to report to work during emergencies or natural disasters. Must be able to work non-traditional work hours, which may include nights and/or weekends.

Must have a valid driving license, vehicle registration, and appropriate automobile insurance., Incumbents will receive a Vehicle Insurance allowance. Incumbent in this job class are required to use a personal vehicle to conduct field visits.

Working hours 8:00 AM TO 5:00 pm. Total hours in workweek 40 hrs.

• This position is not eligible for remote work, or “hoteling”.

Candidate Profile (application) must be completed in its entirety.

• Include supervisor names and phone numbers for all periods of employment.
• Account for and explain any gaps in employment so that the hiring process is not delayed.
• Experience, education, training, knowledge, skills and/or abilities as well as responses to pre-qualifying questions must be verifiable to meet the minimum qualifications. 
• It is unacceptable to use the statement “See Resume” in place of entering work history.
• If you experience problems applying online, please call the People First Service Center at (877) 562-7287.

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:

• No state income tax for residents of Florida
• 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.

Growth Opportunities:

With 12,000 employees across the state DCF promotes opportunities and training for all.  Our jobs are among the most challenging, complex, and difficult in State government. They are also among the most rewarding. All employees are encouraged to take advantage of available Department opportunities for advancement and professional development.

Where you will work:

Florida is the only state that borders both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.  In other words, no matter where you land in Florida, you’re never more than 60 miles from a body of saltwater.  And if the beach isn’t your scene, there are 175 state parks to explore!  Meanwhile, Floridians hail from a wide range of backgrounds, cultures, ethnicities, and walks of life, making it an incredibly diverse melting pot that many residents and visitors to Florida love.  The Sunshine State is a great place to live and work – Come join our team!

About Department of Children and Families:

Mission:  The mission of the Department of Children and Families is to work in partnership with local communities to protect the vulnerable, promote strong and economically self-sufficient families, and advance personal and family recovery and resiliency.

Vision:  We are a highly skilled workforce committed to empowering people with complex and varied needs to achieve the best outcomes for themselves and their families. In collaboration with community stakeholders, we will deliver world class and continuously improving service focused on providing the people we serve with the level and quality that we would demand and expect for our own families.

Values:  A workforce that operates with integrity maintains loyalty to a code of ethics that requires the courage to take responsibility for providing the highest quality of service to the vulnerable. We are a solutions-focused learning organization built on a foundation of transparency in action and accountability of results. Both within the organization and among our stakeholders, we thrive in a culture of respect for diversity of opinion that is nurtured through open communication. High performing and committed, we are unified in our goal of excellence in achieving quality outcomes for those we serve. 

To learn more please visit https://www.myflfamilies.com/.

• 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 the date of your retirement.
• The position will perform all job tasks in accordance with laws, rules, regulations, policies, and requirements applicable to state and federal laws or procedures.
• We hire only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized alien workers.
• Participation in the State of Florida Direct Deposit Program is required as a condition of employment per F.S. 110.113, and enrollment must be completed within the first 30 calendar days of your appointment.

SELECTIVE SERVICE:  Male candidates born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion into an authorized position unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS) before their 26th birthday or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS.  Verification of Selective Service registration will be conducted prior to hire.  For more information, please visit the SSS website: http://www.sss.gov.

BACKGROUND SCREENING REQUIREMENT: It is the policy of the Florida Department of Children and Families that any applicant being considered for employment must successfully complete a State and National criminal history check as a condition of employment before beginning employment, and also be screened in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, F.S., and, if applicable, Chapter 408, F.S.

No applicant may begin employment until the background screening results are received, reviewed for any disqualifying offenses, and approved by the Agency.  Background screening shall include, but not be limited to, fingerprinting for State and Federal criminal records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and may include local criminal history checks through local law enforcement agencies.

Nearest Major Market: Miami

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.