HUMAN SERVICES COUNSELOR III-F/C - 60067769

State of Florida•CHATTAHOOCHEE, FL

55d•$35,000 - $50,820•Onsite

About The Position

The Human Services Counselor III works within the Social Services Unit at Florida State Hospital, a Florida Department of Children and Families facility. This professional position provides social services, counseling, guidance, and discharge planning for individuals with acute or chronic mental disabilities, emotional disturbances, indigence, or civil or ex-forensic legal status. Discharge planning includes identifying alternative living environments, securing financial benefits, and addressing barriers to discharge. The counselor coordinates with case managers, Community Case Managers, and Forensic Specialists to develop discharge and conditional release plans and maintain effective working relationships. The role prepares timely social-services progress notes and assessments, including comprehensive psychosocial summaries, Baker Act summaries, advance directive documents, and other discharge-planning records. It supports continuity-of-care arrangements and represents the unit and social services department at legal hearings when applicable. Assessments must comply with Department of Children and Families, Joint Commission, CARF, Performance Improvement and Planning, and Florida State Hospital procedures. The counselor builds professional therapeutic relationships with residents and families, taking account of cultural diversity, age, ethnicity, and individual care and treatment needs. The position contributes to psychosocial assessment, treatment planning, recovery-plan counseling, and recovery team meetings, and coordinates with external statewide systems on residents’ behalf. It also informs residents and representatives about rights, treatment and rehabilitation, and discharge-planning opportunities. The selected candidate must complete a pre-employment medical examination; duties include lifting, pulling, and squatting.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
Two years of professional experience in developmental disabilities, special education, mental health, counseling, guidance, social work, health, or rehabilitative programs; a master’s degree may substitute for one year of the required experience.
Knowledge of counseling or social work theories and practices.
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 court process.
Knowledge of Victims’ Assistance Programs and Florida Statutes concerning victims’ rights.
Ability to coordinate a team approach to rehabilitation.
Ability to plan, organize, and coordinate work assignments.
Ability to actively listen and communicate effectively.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
Ability to complete a pre-employment medical examination and perform duties involving lifting, pulling, and squatting.

Responsibilities

Provide social services, counseling, guidance, and discharge planning to residents with acute or chronic mental disabilities, emotional disturbance, indigence, or civil or ex-forensic legal status.
Identify alternative living environments, secure financial benefits, identify barriers to discharge, and develop discharge and conditional release plans.
Participate in monthly conference calls with case management and interact with Community Case Managers and Forensic Specialists during case-management visits.
Complete social-services progress notes and assessments, including comprehensive psychosocial summaries, Baker Act summaries, advance directive documents, and discharge-planning records, in a timely manner.
Ensure Quality Assurance requirements are met and arrange continuity-of-care plans for residents being discharged.
Represent the unit and social services department at legal hearings when applicable.
Maintain assessments in compliance with applicable DCF, Joint Commission, CARF, Performance Improvement and Planning, and Florida State Hospital requirements.
Establish rapport with residents and provide culturally sensitive, individualized counseling and guidance to residents and families experiencing adjustment problems.
Participate in assessment, planning, and treatment related to psychosocial stressors affecting mental illness and mental health.
Provide counseling and therapeutic sessions in accordance with residents’ recovery plan objectives and needs.
Attend and represent residents’ clinical needs at Recovery Team meetings and interact with external statewide systems on their behalf.
Provide residents and representatives with information about resident rights, treatment and rehabilitation, access to funds, socialization opportunities, and possible discharge environments.
Attend in-service training and review policies or continuing education programs to enhance job knowledge.
Use the principles of Total Quality Management and perform other related duties as required.