SENIOR ABUSE COUNSELOR - 60073903 1

Requisition No: 843458 

Agency: Children and Families

Working Title: SENIOR ABUSE COUNSELOR - 60073903 1

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 60073903 

Salary:  7.5% increase of current salary 

Posting Closing Date: 12/24/2024 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Requisition job Description

Senior Abuse Counselor

Department of Children and Families

Tallahassee, Florida

**INTERNAL AGENCY ONLY**

Examples of Work Performed in Addition to Standard Abuse Counselor Duties:

• Must Mentor Abuse Counselors.
• Must be primary “Point of Contact” for hotline counselors when supervisors are not readily available to assist with complex situations such as: provide guidance with call assessments and decision making; and review intake documentation prior to finalization.
• Must be available to have visitors and abuse counselor trainees to shadow/observe them as they perform the functions of the job.
• Must serve as Acting Hotline Supervisor, when needed, even if the hours fall outside of your normal shift.
• Must assist the training team as needed.
• Must process assigned screen-out read reviews; regional field feedback requests; webmaster requests; Information and Referral reviews; and, Hang-up reviews as contact queues permit
• Must assist supervisors with daily workload (ex: daily adherence logs, additional reviews for counselors under Action Plans and CAPs, hold unit meeting, etc.
• Must work from the physical building, as needed.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of professional ethics relating to child and adult protective services.
• Knowledge of interviewing techniques.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality.
• Ability to apply critical thinking skills.
• Ability to make decisions independently.
• Ability to conduct thorough assessments via telephone.
• Ability to analyze information.
• Ability to understand and apply Chapters 39 and 415, Florida Statutes, and other relevant laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Ability to provide guidance and assistance to persons in crisis.
• Ability to conduct fact-finding interviews.
• Ability to assess for indicators of abuse, neglect or abandonment of children to begin the determination of a child being Safe or Unsafe.
• Ability to assess risk factors for indicators of abuse, neglect or exploitation of vulnerable adults.
• Ability to multi task.
• Ability to actively listen to others.
• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to write accurate allegation narratives that support the need for an investigation.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to utilize personal computer systems and associated applications, including Microsoft® Word.
• Ability to navigate multiple computer systems simultaneously.
• Knowledge of web-based applications.
• Ability to use general office equipment, such as facsimile and copying machines. 
• Ability to make accurate and independent decisions.
• Ability to relay information in an accurate and cohesive manner.

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.