HUMAN SERVICES COUNSELOR I - 64084427 1

Requisition No: 842021 

Agency: Department of Health

Working Title: HUMAN SERVICES COUNSELOR I - 64084427 1

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 64084427 

Salary:  $1512.34 Bi-weekly 

Posting Closing Date: 12/06/2024 

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Thank you for your interest in career opportunities with the Florida Department of Health in Pinellas 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 is part of a global public health organization and is expected to support the Florida Department of Health in Pinellas 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 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.

Human Services Counselor I

The Human Services Counsleor I is a home-visiting Family Support Specialist utilizing trauma informed practices to support and provide assistance to high-risk pregnant women and families with newborns to optimize the home environment for their physical and mental health well-being.  Empowers families with the tools and resources to break negative intergenerational cycles. This is a child abuse/neglect prevention program. 

Your Specific Responsibilities:

Establishes a trusting relationship with culturally diverse families by initiating and maintaining regular client contact as prescribes by Healthy Families America accreditation standards.  Provides case management/care coordination for pregnant women and families of infants by visiting families in their homes for a period of up to 5 years.  Serves as primary coordinator on multi-disciplinary team including therapist, nurses and father support specialists.  Maintains a case weight according to program requirements. Meets Healthy Families Pinellas guidelines for home visiting and risk appropriate care. Links pregnant women, families and infants to supports and services available in the community. Assures continued participation in prenatal and infant health care. Communicates and coordinates with other providers, especially the health care provider.  Tracks prenatal care, immunizations, and well-baby care.  Closes cases in a timely manner when no further services are needed or the client is ineligible for services. Ensures services are provided that satisfy the needs of the participant. Is a mandated reporter

While in the home:

Determines the participant's needs through screenings and assessments including the initial home assessment, home safety questionnaires, HFPIs, CCIs, Edinburgh Depression Screens, and developmental screening tools. Assists the family in developing a Family Goal Plan. Strategically implements curriculum and referrals on the HVSP to address risk factors. Capitalizes on identified protective factors to address risk factors as well as facilitates the development of additional protective factors within the family. Implement reflective strategies to promote attunement within the parent-child relationship. Provides in-home parent education utilizing recommended curriculums, including GGK, the Gold Within, and the FSU curriculums.  Provides women/parents with family planning options and education on planning future healthy deliveries with an emphasis on women’s health. Provides tobacco risks and smoking cessation education/counseling and referrals

Utilizes Healthy Families Pinellas forms to document case management, client progress and home visiting activities.  Maintains an electronic health record for each client served. Responsible for maintaining the integrity of the EHR in HMS and completing service ledgers for services to be entered the HFF data tracking system. Utilizes HFF data reports to ensure timely administration of required tools/assessments as determined by HFF policies.  Completes Encounters and EARS in HMS to document direct services, risk factors, service checks and other work activities. Completes all HVRs within program standards.

Meets grant goals, performance measures and objectives, programmatic and funder requirements.  Maintains standards/applicable regulations for personnel, medical records management, programmatic/funder requirements.

Meets weekly with supervisor for a minimum of 1.5 hours for reflective supervision to discuss case findings and corresponding case management activities.  Levels cases according to need. Participates in regular staff meetings. 

Participates in regular staff meetings and support groups.Attends training to promote professional and personal growth. Completes all mandatory trainings as required by the program, the funder, and the agency. Performs all other duties and completes reports as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Demonstrates motivation to learn & apply knowledge of child development, family development and family planning. 
• Effectively applies basic counseling skills with families such as developing rapport, establishing & maintaining effective supportive professional boundaries, using active listening & reflection & empowerment to support families in reaching their goals. 
• Maintains case work standards as developed by program.
• Documentation will be completed electronically in HMS within 2-working days of date of service. 
• Maintains dependable, punctual work schedule appropriate to the needs of the program.
• Willing to work a flexible schedule to meet the needs of families, which can include evenings and weekends. 
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments. 
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing. 
• Knowledge of basic computer software and ability to enter data in computer.  

Qualifications:

Minimum –

• At least one year of experience working with children and/or families.
• Valid driver's license with daily access to reliable transportation. 
• Ability to work a flexible schedule to include evenings and weekends, as needed.

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:

St Pete Health Center

205 Dr MLK Jr St N, St. Petersburg FL 33701

Travel throughout Pinellas County is required for home-visiting purposes. 

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, 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.

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

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-877-562-7287). 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. 

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.

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.